Censoring the Muslim World Is Not the Answer

America and the Media: Control over the World

The American administration has prepared a draft law for the U.S. Congress to discuss and to approve that puts some satellite and Arab television channels on the terrorist list for allegedly inciting violence. During a conference held at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., which was attended by some human rights and freedom activists and elite politicians, former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark noted in his speech that “the U.S. government has started actions to prohibit U.S. citizens from learning information about the Arab people, the Islamic religion, beliefs, opinions, governments and cultures, and, worse, the U.S. administration wants to replace the facts with lies through the so-called war on terror.” *

As Pittsburgh University professor Dr. Michael Grina said, “The resolution is not only directed against satellite channels and television stations. It also targets any nation hosting those stations or their offices. The resolution or bill presented to the U.S. Congress for approval is aimed mainly at achieving certain political objectives.” *

Not a single Arab voice was heard, nor did a single word appear in the Arab press about the disastrous draft law that would give the American administration the right to punish Arab satellite channels, a move that could open the path to killing freedom of opinion and thought, and restrict the media’s work and creativity in general. Therefore, the subsequent penalties cited by the U.S. administration for violating U.S. law will give it more excuses to interfere in the internal affairs of other states, overpowering the United Nations and international organizations on the one hand, and, on the other, violating Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

This article, applied and stipulated in the constitutions and domestic legislation of UN member states, states that, “everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” Article 19 of the same covenant binds all signatory states to ensure that, “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.”

Some restrictions to freedom of opinion, human rights, or on the media are reflected in international treaties, but only for the purpose of preserving and respecting the rights or reputation of others, safeguarding national security, public order, health, or morals … Otherwise, freedom of opinion and thought, the exchange and dissemination of information are protected rights.

The United States would not only be violating the rights of others, but would also be in violation of international agreements and treaties that it has signed and to which it has committed itself. This includes the ICCPR, which was approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 to provide unlimited protection to the rights of human expression and opinion, except when public order or morals are threatened.

The potential tracking of press institutions and journalists by the U.S. — establishing blatant U.S. control and interference in the internal affairs of other states — is an issue that should be confronted by a variety of ways and means on all levels, officially as well as by the public. Whatever the Arab and Islamic position is on this matter, it must be made clear. This silence is unjustified.

*Editor’s Note: These quotations, accurately translated, could not be verified.