Campaign staffers for Egyptian presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq confiscated tapes from the BBC on Saturday. The broadcasters had conducted a 40 minute interview with Shafiq, but the presidential candidate objected to some of the questions he was asked. Staff refused to let BBC reporters leave his house until the tapes had been handed over. According BBC journalist Mahmoud Abou Bakr, Shafiq said he was the only one who could decide whether the interview should be aired, whilst his campaigners insisted on editing out footage which affected their candidate “negatively.”
Two Sengalese journalists have been given suspended prison sentences after been convicted of criminal libel. Editor Mamadou Biaye and reporter Mamadou Ticko Diatta of private daily newspaper Le Quotidien were given a three month suspended sentence after the publication of an article alleging that Bakary Diémé, deputy mayor of the district of Goudomp, had links to armed separatists of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC). Le Quotidien told the court their information came from military sources, but Diémé rejected the allegations. Diémé was awarded 2 million CFA francs (US$3,500).
A Tunis court today delayed issuing a verdict on Nabil Karoui, general director of Nessma TV, a privately-owned television station, and two of his employees, until 19 April. The three are accused of “violating sacred values” and “disturbing the public order,” for airing the French-Iranian film, Persepolis.
The broadcast of Persepolis, which contains a scene where god is depicted as a white-bearded man, sparked a wave of protests in October. The home of Karoui, as well as the headquarters of Nessma TV were attacked following the broadcast. Depictions of god and religious figures are prohibited in Sunni Islam. If convicted, Karoui could face up to three years in prison. “This is a trial of freedom of expression”, he said as he entered court today.
A few dozen protesters from the extreme right gathered outside the court chanting “Karoui, you coward, the religion of Allah should not be humiliated,” and “the people want the fall of the TV station.”
Employees of Nessma, activists, politicians, artists, and citizens also gathered outside the hearing room, to show their support to the TV station in particular, and defend freedom of speech, in general.
Mrs Kadour, a university teacher, described the trial as being “shameful… political and exaggerated” and said that it was unacceptable “to judge people for their ideas.”
Mounira Laajimi, one of the 144 lawyers that filed complaints against the station, deemed the “timing” of the film’s broadcast as “inappropriate,” as it was shown a few weeks before the 2011 elections. “It caused public disorder just before the elections” she added.
On 20 January, Amnesty International demanded that Tunisian authorities drop the charges against Karoui. “Putting Nabil Karoui on trial simply for screening a film which shows fantasy scenes of God is a very troubling development,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s interim Director for Middle East and North Africa.
“The Tunisian authorities must uphold Nabil Karoui’s right to freedom of expression and drop these charges immediately,” he added. The trial is closely watched by free speech advocates, as it is going to indicate to which extent religion imposes restrictions on freedom of speech, in post revolution Tunisia.
To the dismay of those born before the 90s, last year a remake of the 1984 classic Footloose was released. Studio executives might be pleased to learn that they might be able to retell the story — with an international twist.
On Thursday Hamas banned Gaza residents from singing in the Palestinian version of American Idol, called New Star. Executives from the show, set to air next month, said that the ban force 12 contestants from the competition.
Hamas, which has been criticised for clamping down on free expression in the region, deemed the programme to be “indecent” according to contest organisers.
New Star is in its third year, and the popular programme doesn’t stray very far from the format we’ve grown to love in the United States and beyond. The programme’s answer to Simon Cowell, Dr. Ghawi Ghawi, is an all-too-familiar character for anyone out there with an Arab father. And just like Idol spin-offs all over the world, it offers the chance to make fun of delusional contestants.
No word as to whether or not the Palestinian answer to Footloose’s Ren McCormack will challenge Hamas, get the girl and save the day.
