Middle East expert group calls for reform of criminal restrictions on content
Despite gains since 2011, the media environments in the Middle East and North Africa remain some of the world’s most troubled. A group of experts from across the region are calling for reform of criminal restrictions on media content.
A statement adopted by experts from Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen calls for comprehensive reviews of criminal law rules affecting freedom of expression in Middle Eastern and North African countries.
The statement also provides specific recommendations on a number of thematic areas, including that laws protecting national security should be clearly defined, that imprisonment is never an appropriate penalty for defamation and that hate speech laws should only prohibit incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.
The expert group which issued the statement was convened in Beirut, Lebanon on 24-25 April by the Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD), International Media Support (IMS) and Maharat Foundation.
“This statement reflects a strong consensus among experts from the region regarding the main criminal law problems,” said CLD Executive Director, Toby Mendel. “It also charts a clear path forward in terms of the basic reform efforts that need to take place.”
“By facilitating dialogue on the major freedom of expression challenges, we are advancing a common regional advocacy strategy,” said Virginie Jouan, IMS Programme Manager for Tunisia and Morocco.
“The principles espoused in the Statement reflect a shared view of the major problems in our common media landscape,” said Roula Mikhael of Maharat. “We look forward to working with our colleagues from around the region to provide mutual support in solving these pressing challenges.”
The expert workshop in Beirut built on an earlier workshop hosted by IMS in Casablanca in November 2013, and is one of a series that will take place across the Middle East this year.
