A freedom of the media in the Maghreb countries?

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Freedom of the Media in the Maghreb Countries?

posted on: Jul 6, 2020

By: Yasmina Hage/Arab America Contributing Writer

For years Arab countries have been on trial for restricting freedom of expression. However, things are changing, and this situation has evolved. Let’s look at the current situation for the Maghreb countries, which includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

At the beginning of the Arab Spring in 2011, the population of some countries expressed their desire for freedom through media and social networks. As a result, spaces for expression have been created, but the situation has not really improved everywhere. Moreover, the Maghreb remains one of the most dangerous areas for journalists.

Morocco

For freedom of expression in Morocco

In contrast to other countries affected by the Arab Spring, Morocco has led to political and institutional reforms that include legislative advances. As a result, the February 20th movement’s mobilizations have created a new socio-political situation and an environment of relative freedom, especially concerning the press and expression on the internet. Moreover, in the July 2011 constitution, there was a publication of an annual report on press freedom.

In Morocco, the optimism of the Moroccan authorities regarding freedom of expression for the press is not completely in line with the realities that we can observe on the ground. In fact, in addition to the lawsuits that have been going on for years against several media actors, they are new lawsuits against journalists and sentences have been handed down. Likewise, there are sometimes abuses of power vis-à-vis journalists, for example.

There is indeed censorship in Morocco, but now, Moroccans don’t consider it extreme. In reality, journalists do not have the right to disclose certain information about the private life of the royal family, for example. However, in the back pages of newspapers, there are very often caricatures on subjects that may be badly seen. Therefore, censorship does not severely affect freedom of expression.

Algeria

Manifestation in 2019 in Algeria © Photo credit : RYAD KRAMDI AFP

For Algeria, there was an opening at the start of the protest movement in February 2019 against a new mandate for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Since the beginning of this protest movement, Algerian journalists have continuously demanded their right to freely cover the country’s political news.

Freedom of information in Algeria remains under threat today because the authorities continue to lock up the media landscape with lawsuits against journalists. In 2018, for example, Algeria saw a wave of arrests of journalists because articles were deemed defamatory. However, journalists do not intend to stand idly by.

In fact, in November 2019, around 50 Algerian journalists met to denounce the obstacles to their profession. They were all gathered to confront the decline in freedom and the right to inform in Algeria.

Tunisia

Tunisia: World Press Freedom Day

Concerning press freedom, Tunisia is the country best ranked among the Arab countries by the RSF. It is the best performing Arab country in terms of press freedom.

Tunisia is in a favorable situation, but reforms are still being implemented because journalists face legislative challenges. These reforms would consist of improving the legal framework for press freedom and setting up a financially independent audiovisual communication body.

Libya

Journalists in Libya are finding it very difficult to carry out their work because of the conflict. As a result, some people think of Libya as a “black hole of information.”

In fact, the political and security instability that has persisted in Libya for eight years and the armed conflict between the two regimes in the east and west of the country makes the situation for journalists difficult. Many of them find themselves forcibly recruited by the parties. Rival camps are using the media as propaganda tools, and the political and military actors in the Libyan conflict censor certain information.

Another point that makes it difficult for journalists is that conflict is also present on social media. In fact, the two rival camps have understood that social media is a powerful weapon, and therefore, they use every move to discredit the enemy. As a result, both sides are using journalists and networks to disseminate the information of their choice. Therefore, there is so much information that the Libyans find it challenging to distinguish the truth from what is false. For the people of Libya, Facebook is the primary means of access to information, but they have no guarantee that they are well informed.

A situation that has been present abroad

The use of social media in times of conflict is not new. In Europe, for example, the same situation was seen during World War II. The state used the media for propaganda, and journalists who tried to denounce the regime were arrested.

The situation of journalists in Libya

Journalists are victims of intimidation and arbitrary detention. Almost none of the journalists arrested or assaulted want to speak out because they fear for their safety. Some journalists in Libya are victims of disappearances, abductions and torture.