Journalism as Jihad

Journalism can be a scary profession in some parts of the world, especially the Middle East.  Gaddafi just ordered that 19 journalists, who were arrested several days ago, to be released.  According to Reporters Without Borders, there are a great many problems for journalists in the Middle East.  Hundreds left Iraq during the war because of death threats.  But even in peace time, journalists are threatened by governments and high-ranking people in power.  Egypt is issuing new licenses for satellite TV uplinks, in an effort to control the media. 

It takes a lot of courage to print the truth when you know you could be arrested and tortured for it.  I feel very lucky to be blogging from America, because many bloggers in the Middle East have also been jailed for speaking their minds.  I include them as journalists quite simply because some of them are, and even those who aren't "technically" journalists, have proven themselves over the long term by staying true to their principles.  Let us not forget those who are currently imprisoned, often illegally.  Reporters Without Borders has information available in several languages, including Arabic and Farsi.

Fadlallah Fallout

In true US fashion, a 20-year CNN veteran was fired for saying something nice about Fadlallah. Check out the Slate article on the subject.

Also h/t to Slate for this article by Foreign Policy: The Sheikh Who Got Away.

I told myself I wouldn't comment on this anymore, because it really ticks me off. The corollary to "if you criticize Israel you're an anti-Semite" is "if you compliment the wrong person you're a traitor." The Middle East is not a black and white subject. About the only thing that's black and white is Al-Qa'eda. They are bad. But as I've explained before, if the Shi'ites in Lebanon are being screwed over, and Hizbollah helps them (hospitals, security, etc.), then how can you expect the Shi'ites to join the US in condemning Hizbollah? If the Palestinians in Gaza are so ticked off at corruption in the Fatah Party that they elect Hamas because they're not corrupt, then how can the US condemn those democratic elections?

The Foreign Policy article I linked to above says:

The United States always preferred blunt instruments and simple epithets -- crude tools indeed for a complex man.

That's our problem with the entire Middle East.

Women Journalists in Yemen

I just added the Yemen Times to my links list and found an interesting article about female journalists meeting with the US Ambassador. The meeting was set up by the Women Journalists Forum and was specifically for the female journalists in Yemen.

Analysis: I think this is great. Yes, there are female journalists in Yemen. Just because they cover their faces doesn't mean they're backwards and ignorant. I was offended by a quote from the ambassador: "I realize how informed female journalists are and the clear understanding and concern for their country’s welfare they have." So, you thought because they were women they wouldn't be informed? I'm not sure if that's sexist or orientalist, or both. He'd be lynched if he said that to female journalists in the US. But since it's an Arab or Muslim country that makes it okay? This is part of the problem!