Courts impose reporting blackout
Qatar's journalists have been banned from entering courtrooms. The decision of the Supreme Judicial Council signed by its chairman, H E Mubarak bin Khalifa Al Assiri, has been displayed outside the premises of the criminal and other courts. "If the decision is violated by any journalist, it would tantamount to breach of law," Al Sharq quoted the statement of the Supreme Judicial Council as saying. One newspaper reporter told Qatar Journal the ban would hamper reporting of criminal cases: "I get a few stories from court officials, but the ban will obviously prevent the majority of cases being reported. I don't know why this has happened; a journalist has probably done something wrong, but I don't know who, or what they did." Local newspapers do not publish the names of the accused, victims or those convicted.
Source: http://qatarjournal.com/article.pl?sid=07/10/04/120244
I find this very concerning. It undermines a fundamental pillar of civil society: media scrutiny of the state.
I am sure the decision was well meaning, designed to encourage more people to bring claims to court. But the way most countries do that is prohibiting the media from publishing the names of the victims, not ban the media from courtrooms entirely.
I hope that the decision is reversed. Qatar's leaders proclaim media freedom here frequently, I would like to see them practice it.
That is what happens when u are living in a dictatorship country.
Anything can happen in these countries.
In some GCC countries when there is crime done my a local, the report will only show initials of the person and if the same or any other crime is done by an expat.. his/her complete name and nationality is disclosed.
And haven't u heard of Waastaa connexions in middle east
Alexa, in the West the courts can't ban reporting on a trail but they can ban journalists (and spectators) in the courtroom and not allow anyone from the trail to speak to the press. This is rarley implemented though except in cases involving young offenders or victims.
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
Hope Qatar wins the bid as it would be very good for local business.
oh dear, you better do all you can then to help Qatar. I really do hope you don't lose your job.
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Love is the answer...
I am praying that Qatar wins its bid to host the Olympics as my company is in some serious need of long term projects and if it doesnt get them I might be going home very soon.
I hope then, Knoxcollege, that you have registered your support on the website!!! BTW, did you see any of the events at the Asian Games?_______________________________________________________
Love is the answer...
Everyone loved the Asian Games, the Government employees got one month off. The school pupil got one month off. The teenagers were able to watch the games for free and they also got 10 riyals for every day they went to watch the games. Olympics will run longer so people will get much time off and the school children will get more money. Hope the Government will pay more instead of the 10 riyals per day show fees for the Olmypics. I am also keeping my fingers crossed and moreover my company will get some really lucrative contracts just like the contracts we got during the Asian Games.
e.g. we got a contract before the Asian Games for a road and we quoted six times more than our normal price and still we got the contract and we did the lousiest work ever.
In short everyone will benefit from these Games except the Government and I hope the situation is not as worse at Greece where the stadiums are empty and badly in need of some monetary injection.
oh, I really couldn't say...as soon as possible...my children loved the Asian Games and it really inspired them in their sporting activities.
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Love is the answer...
2016 olymic, it will be in qatar.........coz of money power
I'm all for the bid but realistic to know that it is just posting an interest, for a better and successful bid in the 2020's. I know you hope it comes to Doha and when Doha is unsuccessful in 2016 they won't give up, they will bid for the next one and then the next one.
What year do you think they will be successful?
I don't go to mythical places with strange men.
-- Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.
this post brings up my 100 points, so I couldn't retire on 99, could I?!!
Hope Big D get the games, not sure how they would cope, not sure it would be a blessing, though the kudos would be enormous.
Good luck.
SS
I really don't know...some of the competition for the venue is tough. I'm not that closely versed with the IOC or the actual bid team to make a knowleddgeable comment.
But I hope and dream it will be a reality one day in our country. _______________________________________________________
Love is the answer...
Adey, I think I'm going to be utterly excited and over the moon if the Olympic Games are held in Qatar. I will be there at every event possible. I'm all for the bid (my political correctness is switched off when I'm on this website) and doing my bit to help.
It is a hope and a dream. If you dream big, you win big (sorry for poor English, it's easier to say in Arabic but you get my jist). _______________________________________________________
Love is the answer...
peak performance requires peak conditions for finely tuned bodies (hence my struggling since arriving in't Gulf) - think they will double struggle.
It's the humidity that's the killer not so much the heat.
Well, what are the chances for 2016? :)
Peace
I don't go to mythical places with strange men.
-- Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.
Well, if it is in April or October it will be cooler than Athens, for example. 2008 games will be in Beijing and having been there in the summer it's quite hot. Atlanta was pretty hot in 1996. As was Barcelona in 1992. So I think it will be OK. They're athletes after all.
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Love is the answer...
C'mon, of course qataris and to a lesser extent residents HAVE to fully support and hope the games come here in 2016, BUT we all know they won't in 2016.
So my question to you is:
Leaving aside the political correctness, what do you REALLY think?
I don't go to mythical places with strange men.
-- Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.
The IOC state that any Olympic Games can be held between April and October. It is not a question of paying for the timing to be changed.
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Love is the answer...
Money talks. You're probably right but...
Why I phrased that statement like Yoda I have no idea.
Joe Williams
[email protected]
http://earsopen.blogspot.com/
Please don't get your hopes up.
The chances of getting it as soon as 2016 on a first bid are practically zero, see it as a foot in the door for a successful bid sometime in the 2020's- maybe 24 or 28.
I don't go to mythical places with strange men.
-- Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.
Gotta get those Olympics in 2016...
Freedom of court reporting is a fundamentally important part of an accountable judicary. Journalists behaviour and stories must be responsible and careful laws should be in existence to ensure this but banning reporting entirely is a very worrying development.
From the report I read, it seemed as it it was the journos behaviour that was the problem: as if they were making too much noise or something. If individuals are disrupting proceeeings then fine, ship them out, but a blanket ban? Very, very scary.
Joe Williams
[email protected]
http://earsopen.blogspot.com/
Journalist can influence the decision of jury members and change the direction of case. They may hamper the verdict. Trial is not football match where everything should be reported point to point.
There's a western country that has reversed its decision to allow trial reporting? I'd be interested to know the details.
I would rather have the news about final verdict than reporters speculating the outcome of a case.
Yes, not out of the ordinary for the region. But it does seem like a backward step.