April 30 - May 10, 2007

The following is a summary of reform related articles appearing in outlets from the region from April 30 to May 10:

Bahrain

• Speculations suggest that a deal stricken between Al-Wefaq bloc and Al-Menbar bloc had lead the legislative committee to reject lifting the diplomatic immunity of Deputy Mohamed Khalid to allow the proceedings of a court case brought against him by Editor in Chief of Al-Ayam and Chairman of Bahrain Journalists Association.  To that, BJA decided to stage a sit in front of the Parliament to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3^rd and called on all journalists to join the sit-in in support of freedom of press. (Gulf Daily News, Al Ayam)

• The International Organization for Freedom of Press mentioned that freedom of press in Bahrain witnessed retreat.  The organization did not mention the reasons that lead for that retreat.  It singled out Kuwait and Lebanon as the only Arab countries that have free press to some extent whereas as all other countries in the Middle East lack freedom of press except in Israel.  (Gulf Daily News, Al Ayam, Akhbar AlKhaleej)

• The Central Informatics Organization rejected AlMenbar’s proposal on giving information access to citizen. According to CIO the law does not provide enough guarantee or insurance required to protect individual’s privacy. It demanded a data protection law. (Al Wasat)

• On the occasion of World Freedom Press Day, 100s of journalists, intellects and artists gathered outside parliament to demand an advanced press law and an end to the threats made against intellects and innovators.  Isa Al Shaiji, president of Bahrain Journalist Association handed a letter addressed to Chairman Khalifa AlDhahrani, demanding the removal of MP Mohamed Khalid’s immunity and re-voting on the decision of the investigation committee on Spring of Culture.  On the same issue, Bahrain Human Rights Society issued a statement expressing its concern over the threats and court cases filed against journalists and artists.  (Al Wasat, Gulf Daily News, Al Ayam)

• 31 students have registered their names for the University of Bahrain student council elections, which will take place on May 17, 2007.  (Al Wasat, Gulf Daily News, Al Ayam)

• The Cabinet discussed the draft law on amending some articles of the press law no. 47 for 2000. The amendments will be submitted to the ministerial committee for legal affairs, without forwarding it to the legislative authority.  AlWasat sees this move an attempt by the government to repeat the 2004 scenario, whereby it intentionally pushed for amendments on the press law for 2002 and not for a new law proposed by Shura member Ibrahim Bashmi.  (Al Wasat)

• Members of the Legislative Committee in parliament affirmed that the government’s submission of the press law to the legislative committee will speed up the endorsement of the draft law. MP Maki AlWadei underlined that the committee will discuss both drafts submitted by the government and the Shura in one discussion. MP Hamad AlMohanadi asserted that the draft will not be approved without the consensus of both chambers.  (Al Wasat, Al Ayam)

Jordan

• Islamist students at the University of Jordan (UJ) announced they would boycott student council elections, slated for next Thursday, in rejection of the council’s formation. Half the council members will be elected, while the other half will be appointed. In a statement issued at a press conference, Islamic Action Front deputy secretary general and spokesperson, Irhil Gharaibeh, criticised the principle of appointments. Some 230 candidates are running for the elections.  (Jordan Times, Al Dustour)

• As the country joins the world in marking World Press Freedom Day, media watchdogs say they are feeling a deeper sense of dissatisfaction and frustration.  This year in specific, they say, was one of anxiety and fear of what is about to come, especially under two recently endorsed press legislation deemed “restrictive and backwards.”  A report issued by the Jordan Centre for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ) to mark World Press Freedom Day said prior-censorship was still a common method to curb freedoms and “remains like a phantom that haunts the media scene, especially the weekly press.”  The report also revealed a general sense of dissatisfaction with press freedoms over the past year, with 91 per cent of 250 practicing journalists saying they were dissatisfied with the status of media freedoms. (Jordan Times)

• Students and young professionals from across Jordan, representing civil society, universities and media organizations,  graduated from a two-week intensive training course on media law and policy with professors and senior experts from the US, Europe and the Arab world. The training dealt with aspects of communication policy and offered participants the chance to interact and discuss the relationship between media, democracy and civil society. Courses were designed to offer international standards and best practices in the communication policy arena as well providing a wide range of local Jordanian expertise. It was the first time that such a training program has been offered in Jordan. The “Jordan Media Law and Policy Institute” was delivered as part of the USAID-funded Jordan Media Strengthening Program, which is implemented by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX). The Centre for Global Communication Studies from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, one of IREX’ partners organized the two-week training. (Jordan Times)

Kuwait

• Kuwaiti MP Hassan Jawhar said the National Assembly (Parliament) would give a priority to an audio-visual media bill to be decided upon ahead of the end of the current parliamentary session. Jawhar, reporter of the National Assembly Committee on Educational, Cultural and Guidance Affairs, told reporters following the meeting that the Ministry of Information had vowed to send the bill to the assembly within a couple of weeks' time.  The committee will prioritize the draft law in order to complete its relevant report, he said, hoping that this would take pace before the end of the current session. He quoted Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information Sheikh Faisal Al-Malik Al-Sabah as affirming that cabinet committees involved had already discussed the draft law, which was not put on the Cabinet's agenda for approval and then referral to the National Assembly. (Kuwait Times, Al Qabas)

• The Kuwaiti woman is the center of proposals and drafts regarding women's law, said head of parliamentary human rights committee MP Saleh Al-Fudhala. Speaking at the conclusion of a forum regarding challenges facing Gulf women at Kuwait University (KU), Al-Fudhala said the woman's affairs committee has received a number of proposals to amend some laws, noting that Parliament has not taken a stance about them yet.  All papers and proposals made during this forum and other relevant events will be taken into consideration when drafting the law by Parliament, he added.  The three-day Third Gulf Forum, entitled "Political and Social Challenges of Gulf Women," was organized by KU's Social Sciences Faculty with the participation of MPs, scholars and activists. ((Kuwait Times, Al Qabas, Al Watan)

 

 

Oman

• As per the memorandum of agreement between Muscat College and the University of Stirling, Professor Rob Ball, the Program Director, recently made his annual visit to Muscat College to discuss relevant issues including teaching, students’ performance and progression, staff development, training and adequacy of library, IT and other resources at the college.  The purpose of his visit was to assure the quality of the programs and a review of the operation of the administrative guidelines. This follows on the highly successful report on Muscat College from the British Quality Assurance Agency, QAA. At the end of his visit to Muscat College, Professor Ball said: “I am delighted that Muscat staff is continuing to make closer link with their Stirling colleagues so that the quality of teaching and award is equivalent to that of Stirling. Question papers and student exam papers are checked and approved by Stirling examiners (internal and external).”  (Oman Daily Observer, Al Watan)

• The embassy of the United States has announced a new fellowship offered by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a program of the US Department of State. Applications are now being accepted for candidates of the Leaders for Democracy fellowship program, which will provide young leaders from the Middle East and North Africa with the opportunity to complete both academic coursework and a practical, skill-building experience in their field of choice in the United States. (Oman Daily Observer)

 

• The 5th regional seminar on ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, hosted by the Sultanate in conjunction with the International Labor Organization, kicked off under the auspices of Dr Jumaa bin Ali al Jumaa, Minister of Manpower. Adopted in 1998, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is an expression of commitment by governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations to uphold basic human values — values that are vital to our social and economic lives.  The Declaration covers four areas: freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of forced and compulsory labor; the abolition of child labor, and the elimination of discrimination in the workplace. The three-day seminar aims at enhancing the knowledge of professionals at ministries, social organizations and private labor establishments on rights at work stated in the declaration with focus on association freedom and avoidance of discrimination in the workplace. (Oman Daily Observer, Al Watan)

 

Saudi Arabia

• The Canadian pavilion at the Jeddah Educational Exhibition was closed 24 hours before end of the exhibition because of female participation. The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce is investigating the closing of the Canadian education pavilion.  The Canadian Embassy, in a press statement, described the closure as “unjustified and unprofessional.”  (Al Watan, Al Madinah)

 

• The Jeddah education department will introduce a pilot English language program in elementary schools the next academic year. (Al Madinah)

 

• A female blogger in Sahat writes about converting Saudi students to Christianity in the U.S., stating that those who try to convert students offer university assistance and help with obtaining a driver’s license.  The story is based on four Saudi students who have converted.  The writer criticizes sending young students who can be easily influenced to the States.  (Arab News)
  
• The Shoura Council approved the new judicial grievance by-laws, to be submitted to the King for final approval.  (Arab News, Al Madinah, Al Watan, Al Riaydh)

• The Deputy Minister of Culture and Information called upon the Ministry of Higher Education to include media curricula by using advanced technology and English instruction.  (Arab News, Al Watan)

 

UAE

• Around 300 students, both boys and girls, took part in a cleanliness drive aimed at ridding the emirate's beaches of different kinds of waste material.  The beach clean-up campaign was carried out over the past two months as part of the Ras Al Khaimah Environmental Awareness Program.  The Public Works and Services Department (PWSD), Government of Ras Al Khaimah, Environment Protection and Development Authority RAK (EPDA) and Ceres Associates Gulf, a waste management company, were associated with the initiative in which school teachers were designated REAP coordinators.  During the program, students were also educated about the types of municipal solid wastes and recycling processes. (Khaleej Times, Al Ittihad)

• The Ministry of Federal National Council Affairs has released a comprehensive report on the nation's first elections to the Federal National Council (FNC) held in December 2006 with the aim of developing an election culture in the UAE.  The landmark elections were conducted in accordance with President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's call for modernization of the FNC and wider political participation for UAE citizens.  The 136-page report in Arabic has been distributed to ministries and government institutions, media organizations and universities across the country.  The report carries details of the election process, an analysis of the ministry's media outreach, a statistical analysis of the Electoral College and candidates, and documents the ministry's role in facilitating the elections. (Khaleej Times, Al Ittihad, Al Khaleej)

Yemen

• Women Journalists without Chains demand to establish their own newspaper was denied on 2nd of May by the Ministry of Media. Ms. Tawakul Karman, Director of the organization said that this act by the Ministry of Media was a deliberate attempt in order not to allow civil society organizations play a more active role in the democratic development of the country.  She said that Under Secretary of Media Mr. Mohammed Shaher stated that the organization has no right to publish a Newspaper, and that he, in the name of the government, will deny Journalists without chains the license to publish or operate a newspaper.  Karman indicated that this action is in continuation of the Ministry’s desire to limit freedoms in the country, adding that over 60 requests to establish newspapers since 2006 has been rejected.  (Yemen Times, Al Ayyam)

• Representatives of civil community organizations, politicians, women leaders, journalists, lawmakers and students staged a sit-in at the Ministry of Information in solidarity with Women Journalists without Chains because the ministry has refused to grant the organization a license to issue a newspaper.  WJWC Chairwoman Tawakul Karman believes the Ministry of Information’s behavior aims to restrict press freedom and violates the Yemeni Constitution, which grants citizens the right to own media outlets. Additionally, she pointed out that ministry officials are prolonging or suspending issuing many licenses. (Yemen Times, Al Ayyam, Al Sahwa)