Qatar: Revise Draft Media Law to Allow Criticism of Rulers

Drop Charges Against Poet Charged With Insulting Emir  

"(Beirut) ­– Qatar’s ruler should not approve a draft media law unless loosely worded provisions penalizing criticism of Qatar or neighboring governments are removed, Human Rights Watch said today. The draft law builds in a double standard on free expression that is inconsistent with Qatar’s claims to be a center for media freedom in the region.

The draft law, which the Shura Council, Qatar’s legislative body, approved in June 2012, would be the first change to the country’s media laws since Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani,set up the Doha Center for Media Freedom in 2008 to promote press freedom and quality journalism in Qatar and the region. Although the draft law calls for abolishing criminal penalties for media law violations, the broadly worded provisions of article 53 prohibit publishing or broadcasting information that would “throw relations between the state and the Arab and friendly states into confusion” or “abuse the regime or offend the ruling family or cause serious harm to the national or higher interests of the state.” Violators would face stiff financial penalties of up to 1 million Qatari Riyals (US$275,000).

“Qatar’s commitment to freedom of expression is only as good as its laws, which in this case do not meet the international standards it professes to support.” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Instead of supporting press freedom, this draft media law is a commitment to censorship.”......"