Princess Haya calls for lifting media restrictions in Arab world

[Bilad al-Haramayn]

Princess Haya calls for lifting media restrictions in Arab world
​

MAY 11TH, 2016 12:25PM

​

Opening the Arab Media Forum in Dubai on Tuesday, Princess Haya bint Hussein argued for increased press freedom within the Arab world, saying that journalists must be allowed to report the truth.

https://twitter.com/x/status/726657421326716928

“I call for the lifting of restrictions on the fourth estate, the ‘media,’ in order for them to play their role in the disseminating the real image of the Arab world with credibility and respect for the law,” the Jordanian princess and wife of Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, said, according to Al Arabiya.

“Give professionals their due rights to secure a decent living. We need a new charter for this profession, where the truth is our objective, and is delivered through credible news.”

Princess Haya continued by calling for the creation of a “Charter for Arab Media” and highlighted the importance of tolerance and respect, praising her husband’s efforts in the UAE.

“The idea of tolerance and respect for mankind regardless of race, color, creed or religion came from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, who created two new ministries in the UAE – one for tolerance and one for happiness,” she said, according to The National.

“It is an unprecedented step and provoked others to follow the example of the UAE. Praise for Sheikh Mohammed is endless.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/729955861758652416

Princess Haya, who is a U.N. Messenger of Peace and chairwoman of Dubai’s International Humanitarian City, is definitely promoting a message that media professionals and ordinary citizens can appreciate, however, her message is drastically different than the reality of the UAE and her home country of Jordan.

According to Freedom House, the UAE’s laws regarding media are considered to be some of the most restrictive in the Arab world: “It authorizes the state to censor both domestic and foreign publications prior to distribution, and prohibits criticism of the government, UAE rulers and ruling families, and friendly foreign governments. The law also bans publication of information that ’causes damage to the national economy.’ Violations of the law can result in fines and prison sentences.”

In 2012, the UAE tightened its cybercrime law and since, individuals and journalists have been prosecuted – and even deported – for offenses such as posting photos on social media that were deemed to defame others or even swearing on a Whatsapp chat.

As for Jordan, Freedom House’s most recent report says that media faced “decreased levels of overt harassment and violence in 2014 after withstanding an escalation of violence and threats in the previous year.” However, their are still serious issues to be addressed as “press laws contain vague clauses that restrict media activity in practice.”

Princess Haya’s words are an encouraging message, especially considering her prominence. It remains to be seen whether they will affect real and lasting change.

http://stepfeed.com/business/media-...for-press-freedom-in-arab-world/#.VzUp6mOYX-Y

 

[Zibago]

Govt dont like criticism if media restrictions are lifted there will be issues

 

[Bilad al-Haramayn]

Govt dont like criticism if media restrictions are lifted there will be issues

Yes, but we should not underestimate the importance of a free and independent media. I have noticed in the past few years that Arab media have gotten more and more powerful in almost every single Arab country and they are now engaged in journalism that was unthinkable decades ago. For good and bad.

The real "revolution" however has occurred on social media. Twitter in particular.

I believe that the course of history (development) and the wishes of the Arab youth (2/3 of the entire 450 million big Arab population if not more is under the age of 30 or 35, don't recall the exact number) cannot be ignored on the long run so we will see continuous progress on this front. Hopefully as quick as possible as it is very much needed.

Unfortunately we can say the same about the Muslim world as a whole and most developing states with few exceptions. Some states that showed progress (Russia etc.) have now even regressed on this front.

 

[T-Rex]

Princess Haya calls for lifting media restrictions in Arab world
​

MAY 11TH, 2016 12:25PM

​

Opening the Arab Media Forum in Dubai on Tuesday, Princess Haya bint Hussein argued for increased press freedom within the Arab world, saying that journalists must be allowed to report the truth.

https://twitter.com/x/status/726657421326716928

“I call for the lifting of restrictions on the fourth estate, the ‘media,’ in order for them to play their role in the disseminating the real image of the Arab world with credibility and respect for the law,” the Jordanian princess and wife of Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, said, according to Al Arabiya.

“Give professionals their due rights to secure a decent living. We need a new charter for this profession, where the truth is our objective, and is delivered through credible news.”

Princess Haya continued by calling for the creation of a “Charter for Arab Media” and highlighted the importance of tolerance and respect, praising her husband’s efforts in the UAE.

“The idea of tolerance and respect for mankind regardless of race, color, creed or religion came from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, who created two new ministries in the UAE – one for tolerance and one for happiness,” she said, according to The National.

“It is an unprecedented step and provoked others to follow the example of the UAE. Praise for Sheikh Mohammed is endless.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/729955861758652416

Princess Haya, who is a U.N. Messenger of Peace and chairwoman of Dubai’s International Humanitarian City, is definitely promoting a message that media professionals and ordinary citizens can appreciate, however, her message is drastically different than the reality of the UAE and her home country of Jordan.

According to Freedom House, the UAE’s laws regarding media are considered to be some of the most restrictive in the Arab world: “It authorizes the state to censor both domestic and foreign publications prior to distribution, and prohibits criticism of the government, UAE rulers and ruling families, and friendly foreign governments. The law also bans publication of information that ’causes damage to the national economy.’ Violations of the law can result in fines and prison sentences.”

In 2012, the UAE tightened its cybercrime law and since, individuals and journalists have been prosecuted – and even deported – for offenses such as posting photos on social media that were deemed to defame others or even swearing on a Whatsapp chat.

As for Jordan, Freedom House’s most recent report says that media faced “decreased levels of overt harassment and violence in 2014 after withstanding an escalation of violence and threats in the previous year.” However, their are still serious issues to be addressed as “press laws contain vague clauses that restrict media activity in practice.”

Princess Haya’s words are an encouraging message, especially considering her prominence. It remains to be seen whether they will affect real and lasting change.

http://stepfeed.com/business/media-...for-press-freedom-in-arab-world/#.VzUp6mOYX-Y

But Arab despots like sisi and their minions always claim that they already have the most free and unbiased media. So, why is this princess asking for freedom of press? Either those Arab despots are liars or the princess does not know that the Arab regimes are the champions of press freedom.

 

[Madali]

As the wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, maybe she should convince her husband to start with one's own home before talking for the rest of the Arab world?

But given that in the article, she is saying stuff like this, it doesn't sound much more than the usual empty air
"“The idea of tolerance and respect for mankind regardless of race, color, creed or religion came from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, who created two new ministries in the UAE – one for tolerance and one for happiness,” she said, according to The National.

“It is an unprecedented step and provoked others to follow the example of the UAE. Praise for Sheikh Mohammed is endless.”

She apparently is just one of Sheikh Mohammad's five wives.

 

[Bilad al-Haramayn]

As the wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, maybe she should convince her husband to start with one's own home before talking for the rest of the Arab world?

But given that in the article, she is saying stuff like this, it doesn't sound much more than the usual empty air
"“The idea of tolerance and respect for mankind regardless of race, color, creed or religion came from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, who created two new ministries in the UAE – one for tolerance and one for happiness,” she said, according to The National.

“It is an unprecedented step and provoked others to follow the example of the UAE. Praise for Sheikh Mohammed is endless.”

She apparently is just one of Sheikh Mohammad's five wives.

How does this news exactly concern you being a non-Arab and how do you know what she has said or not? The message she is voicing in public is the right one here which is the most important thing. Yes, there are Arab countries that are better off than UAE on this front but there are also those who are worse off.

Speaking about press freedom, according to the Press Freedom Index all Arab countries with the exception of war thorn Syria, rank higher than Iran.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_Freedom_Index

Also what has Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid's private life to do with anything here? He has 2 wives btw.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Al_Maktoum#Marriage_and_family

Get out of here with your usual anti-Arab bias and agenda. People can see right threw it. Go talk about the press freedom in Iran instead.

 

[Madali]

How does this news exactly concern you being a non-Arab and how do you know what she has said or not? The message she is voicing is the right one here which is the most important thing. Yes, there are Arab countries that are better off than UAE on this front but there are also those who are worse off.

Speaking about press freedom, according to the Press Freedom Index all Arab countries with the exception of war thorn Syria, rank higher than Iran.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_Freedom_Index

Also what has Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid's private life to do with anything here? He has 2 wives btw.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Al_Maktoum#Marriage_and_family

Get out of here with your usual anti-Arab bias and agenda. People can see right threw it. Go talk about the press freedom in Iran instead.

The wikipage doesn't state he has two wives. It only mentions TWO of his wives.

For example, look at Mohammad's daughter,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitha_bint_Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Al_Maktoum

In the section of her mother, the wiki mentions "A Moroccan Lady"

Here is another daughter,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manal_bint_Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Al_Maktoum
Mother just shows as "A Lebanese Lady"

Sheikh Marwan apparently has a German mother,
http://www.maaloufashford.com/his-highness-sheikh-marwan-bin-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum.html
But good luck finding a definite source.

Also, look again at the wiki you linked. It mentions his Senior wife, Hind, giving Mohammad 12 children. His Junior Wife, Princess Haya, gave birth to 2. That's 14. But now look at the children section. It mentions 23 children, that leaves 9 children unaccounted for.

Here is a forum post about his children and possible mothers,
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forum...hildren-7-june-2011-january-2013-a-31351.html

Everything is ironic in your world. It's ironic that a thread about Media Openness in the Arab world, has you panicking when someone discusses something you don't like. Like how it is ironic that Shiekha Manal is the "President of the UAE Gender Balance, and President of Dubai Women Establishment" and her father is well known but her mother is "A Lebanese lady"

 

[Bilad al-Haramayn]

The wikipage doesn't state he has two wives. It only mentions TWO of his wives.

For example, look at Mohammad's daughter,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitha_bint_Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Al_Maktoum

In the section of her mother, the wiki mentions "A Moroccan Lady"

Sheikh Marwan apparently has a German mother,
http://www.maaloufashford.com/his-highness-sheikh-marwan-bin-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum.html
But good luck finding a definite source.

Also, look again at the wiki you linked. It mentions his Senior wife, Hind, giving Mohammad 12 children. His Junior Wife, Princess Haya, gave birth to 2. That's 14. But now look at the children section. It mentions 23 children, that leaves 9 children unaccounted for.

Here is a forum post about his children and possible mothers,
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forum...hildren-7-june-2011-january-2013-a-31351.html

What is wrong with you? This thread is not about Muhammad bin Rashid's private life nor does having children with other women equal being legally married to them. It's his business what he is doing, I could personally not care less and I am sure that his family is fine with this as well. He does not exactly lack the money to support them.

This thread is not about this topic. Go make a topic about his wives, maybe someone will be interested. I don't know.

 

[Madali]

What is wrong with you? This thread is not about Muhammad bin Rashid's private life nor does having children with other women equal being married to them. It's his business what he is doing, I could personally not care less and I am sure that his family is fine with this as well. He does not exactly lack the money to support them.

This thread is not about this topic. Go make a topic about his wives, maybe someone will be interested. I don't know.

You are the one who grew extremely defensive when I said five wives, and said two, and I tried to show that there was actually more, in celebration of media openness that this thread is about.

 

[Bilad al-Haramayn]

You are the one who grew extremely defensive when I said five wives, and said two, and I tried to show that there was actually more, in celebration of media openness that this thread is about.

Are you seriously this dumb? "Extremely defensive"? I don't know about his private life, nor do I care, so I took a look at Wikipedia after googling him. There it said that he has only two legal wives. Besides it was a small comment in a much longer reply.

Anyway you obviously don't get the point. Have fun wasting the time of another user. I am out here.

 

[Kuwaiti Girl]

Press freedom around the World:

It has actually gotten worse in Kuwait over the last couple of years because many news agencies (i.e. news channels and newspapers) have been shut down by the government.

In Egypt and Bahrain, things have also gotten worse over the years.

Of course, it doesn't help that there's not a single role model in the region for press freedom.

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

how bout stop being a princess first?

 

[T-Rex]

how bout stop being a princess first?

Now you've crossed the red line, no more freedom of expression to you! You're either an Iranian stooge or a heretic. You must be disciplined.