Qatari Blogger detained

The Peninsula's articles explains the way certain QLers react to what and how I write here as well as the way the individual hiding behind the MOD's reacts to certain participants’ and their inputs.

When compared to the substandard local written media, Peninsula delivered here an excellent job!

"According to analysts, the problem in this part of the world is that people like to have democracy in their midst but at the same time they abhor criticism. Free expression being an indispensable feature of a democratic polity, it is thus hard to see a democracy at work without people being allowed freedom of speech"

the ceilings

the tea boy:-(

the floor

the eyes.

The Walls

The govt doesnt even have to try hard at censorship, self censorship is everywhere. I raised one topic at work and the qataris said let's talk about something else. Who knows who is listening.

journalist, previously mentioned by genesis:

"The government has every right to vet the choice of a citizen to be editor-in-chief of a newspaper"

Er, No. Where else in the world, that has a free press, does the government get a say in the appointment of staff in a private publication.

If journalists think like this then Qatar is sooooo far away from even the right attitude regarding press freedom.

Thank you for your insight

On a different note, peninsula Qatar have " pushed the envelope " earlier today with two articles.

A crippled fourth state, a bold perspective of the local journalists struggle with expressing their opinion  

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/144697-a-crippled-fourth-estate.html

“The editors-in-chief practice self-censorship as their main aim is to stick to their chair,” wrote Mariam Al Saad, one of the “affected” columnists.Editors-in-chief consider themselves to be more patriotic than the king and holier than thou, she said.

People have for long wondered why freedom still eludes the Qatari media if the country’s top leadership had lifted media censorship by disbanding the ministry of information way back in 1995.

In countries which have media freedom and extensive laws to protect the media, defamation suits are filed against reporters and their newspapers directly by those aggrieved.

In Qatar, however, the situation is different in the absence of a media law. Here, anybody can simply file a complaint with the police against a reporter and his newspaper.

The police then call the reporter and question him in a harassing way, and if they (the police) feel there is merit in the complaint, the journalist is referred to the Public Prosecution for further questioning.

Since it is the prosecution’s prerogative to refer a matter to court, many complaints against journalists do not reach the court at all and end up in journalists being harassed and humiliated rather than being put on a fair trial.

Many a time prosecution officials call a journalist concerned at 5am, when he is in the middle of sleep.

The entire process is so harrowing and humiliating for a journalist that he chickens out when it comes to writing critically on issues"

Why are we so timid? Also discussed journalists take on the status of media freedom in the country

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/144698-the-issue.html

"The culture in the country is such that people tend to take criticism as personal even if it is objective and directed at institutions and procedures. The problem with local journalists, insiders would tell, is that they suffer due to a severe lack of information flow. Government officials are hard to access and open sources virtually non-existent so scribes are often forced to base their stories on half-truths in the absence of details.This leads to confusion and readers are sometime left misguided. As an example, reports of crime and corruption are accessed by the local media through the courts whereas they should be sourced directly from the law-enforcement departments concerned, which is the case in most countries around the world except, perhaps, in the GCC member states. Then there is the conflict of interest. The owner of a business, including the media, or the head of an institution is obviously an influential person so the entity cannot be criticised. Newspapers are essentially a business, so they have to think many times over before writing critically of a business since advertisement (ad) interest is involved. There have been instances where companies, and even public corporations and institutions, have stopped giving ads to a newspaper as “revenge” against critical writing. So these businesses and institutions are treated as “holy cows”. Some institutions cannot be touched by newspapers for critical treatment because they are headed by highly influential people. This must change if the media has to enjoy freedom which is its basic right. “And to solve this problem, commitment is required from the top,” says a senior Qatari journalist"

I don't think those articles were published without TPTB approval. Maybe , it's a sign that a new media law will soon see the light and freedom of expression can finally be availed 

You, more than anyone must realise that with the changes Qatar is going through - there'll be changes for and against. There will be liberals and conservatives.

Amnesty says "he is at risk" - not that he is being tortured.

Let us hope for the best.

Sultan Al Khalafi has been outspoken about his opinion for few years whether through his blog, local Internet forums & local media. Few years ago his call over a local radio talkshow have resulted in the closure of nightclub/ restaurant " Amigos" and created controversy among locals over the sell of alcohol in " non 5 star hotel sector " premises.

I don't know if his detention is only Based on his blog or is it a national security measure. I hope he receives a fair trail & not be ill treated

it is his right to have his own opinion. To take away his freedom for it even if I disagree with his views is wrong

But it doesn't look good for Qatar at this point in time. I was surprised to see it covered on AJE as I never have seen them cover anything critical of Qatar.

it's all puzzling to me :(

i don't want to rush into conclusion, but Dr.Najib al-Nuaimi appearing at Aljazeera & Pursuing this case is alarming

one year is a long time for changing ideology/opinions/thoughts of a person. U never know.

Strange he speaks for what Amnesty International speak against yet they have flagged it up on their web site.

waiting to hear you.

I was hesitant in posting this on QL, as i never thought that blogger sultan al-Khalaifi is human rights activist as it contradicts with his ideology & opinion expressed over his blog

http://binkhaleefa.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=3

sultan al-Khalaifi is an ultra conservative who has expressed over his blog opposition to sell of alcohol, Secularism, westernization, co-ed & building of churches in Qatar