Peter was bylined on the Press Freedom Centre launch story -- it must have been pretty weird to sit listening to the plaudits about the country's protection of journalists, when you've just been charged for writing an embarrassing story.
There have been other cases like this. The cannibal story led to the charging of seven journalists with spreading of racial hatred and bringing of Qatar into disrepute. Even if you think the story was stupid, and should never have been printed, it sends a clear message to local journalists that they will be punished for crossing boundaries that are poorly defined. The cannibal case has been adjourned until it can be dealt with by the constitutional court, but there doesn't seem any rush to bring forward the trial.
A female journalist was recently sentenced in-absentia to a lengthy jail term after writing a story about a man waking up in Hamad Hospital's morgue. In her circumstances, skipping the country was probably sensible from a personal point of view, but it meant that the constitutional arguments were never heard.
Richard Roth of Northwestern University has spoken in support of the status quo, and I think he needs to be challenged to stand up for press freedoms. He says: "While many journalists in Qatar are hesitant to question the government, it has less to do with oppressive rule and more to do with civic pride." I think he's wrong, and local journalists would be happier to question authority if they weren't sat next to others who were facing lengthy jail-time for reporting the news.
Peter was bylined on the Press Freedom Centre launch story -- it must have been pretty weird to sit listening to the plaudits about the country's protection of journalists, when you've just been charged for writing an embarrassing story.
There have been other cases like this. The cannibal story led to the charging of seven journalists with spreading of racial hatred and bringing of Qatar into disrepute. Even if you think the story was stupid, and should never have been printed, it sends a clear message to local journalists that they will be punished for crossing boundaries that are poorly defined. The cannibal case has been adjourned until it can be dealt with by the constitutional court, but there doesn't seem any rush to bring forward the trial.
A female journalist was recently sentenced in-absentia to a lengthy jail term after writing a story about a man waking up in Hamad Hospital's morgue. In her circumstances, skipping the country was probably sensible from a personal point of view, but it meant that the constitutional arguments were never heard.
Richard Roth of Northwestern University has spoken in support of the status quo, and I think he needs to be challenged to stand up for press freedoms. He says: "While many journalists in Qatar are hesitant to question the government, it has less to do with oppressive rule and more to do with civic pride." I think he's wrong, and local journalists would be happier to question authority if they weren't sat next to others who were facing lengthy jail-time for reporting the news.