The Saudi-led bloc has “strongly stated its firm position to suppress media freedom” by demanding the closure of Al Jazeera, the network’s acting director-general Mostefa Souag has said.
He made the observation while speaking during a panel discussion held as part of the ‘Freedom of Expression: Facing up to the Threat’ international conference in Doha yesterday.
The panel, moderated by Ireland’s National Union of Journalists acting general secretary Seamus Dooley, deliberated on media freedom and journalists’ rights.
Souag described Egypt - one of the siege nations - as the most prominent country to suppress media freedom after the revolution, where many journalists have been put behind bars.
The Egyptian government jailed and tried journalists working for the network in past years, which received strong condemnation from various media organisations.
Souag also blamed erring politicians and the “politicised judicial system” of some countries for the abuse and harassment of scribes.
He also called for these states to implement their laws on media freedom and journalists’ rights.
“Think about the international court and think whatever... before we get the system to work, journalists and media institutions have to think about some tools to make governments behave differently,” he stressed.
According to Souag, they have faced a lot of challenges in the past and believe they will encounter more in the future.
However, he said Al Jazeera continues to do its work professionally and independently.
He lauded journalists for risking their lives in providing the truth and serving as catalysts for change.
About media freedom in Qatar, Souag said he has seen an “immense improvement” since 2002 when he came to Qatar.
“You cannot create a free and professional media in one day or a year, you need one generation to learn the culture, skills. It is not an easy thing,” he said.
About ensuring the protection of journalists, Souag noted that “we have to work, band together and organise ourselves”.
The conference, which concludes today, is addressing a number of other topics as well. These include “Media Freedom and Internet Universality”, “Media and War (protecting journalists on the frontline)”, and “Ethics in the News.”
A panel discussion titled “The Fight Goes on for Global Media Freedom,” moderated by Fairouz Ziani from the Al Jazeera Arabic channel, will be held today.