December 12, 2008
3rd Arab Free Press Forum: Tyrant Regimes Block Participation
The Yemeni government stopped our buddy al-Khaiwani at the airport last week but reversed its ban. The Saudi Kingdom prohibited blogger Fouad al-Farhan from going, Tunisia also blocked two journalists from attending- and sent government representatives in their place- and Syria blocked one. Its an interesting article here from Menassat.
Nearly not attending was Yemeni journalist Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani, the former editor in chief of Al-Shoura newspaper in Yemen. Al-Khaiwani was recently stopped from traveling to a UN-sponsored human rights conference in Cairo. It appeared that a travel ban resulting from his prison sentence on charges of aiding terrorism—charges that rights groups say were trumped up—had not been lifted, despite Al-Khaiwani having received a presidential pardon in September.But the travel ban was eventually lifted, and Al-Khaiwani (photo) was able to participate in a panel discussion under the title, Oblique Government Tactics to Impede a Free Arab Press. Al-Khaiwani began by bringing a salute to his four missing colleagues. "I would also like to condemn those who prevent journalists from traveling because they think they can hide what is happening in their countries," he said.
The panelists all mentioned that one of the major problems in their home countries is the accusation of terrorist activity, which governments are increasingly using to silence independent journalists, bloggers, and activists.
"Most journalists are accused of terrorism or of other accusations that have to do with defamation. Other times they are accused of attacking the reputation of their country," Al-Khaiwani said. "The government is using the war against terror to attack journalists and the press."
But he also said that government repression is a sacrifice that journalists have to make for freedom. "Yes, the price is high... but it is not too high for a person who believes in change and equality... There is no value for life without sacrifice."
