DAMASCUS, July 16, 2008 (MENASSAT)  – Media sources have revealed that the Egyptian Ministry of Information plans to introduce a media law to control all variations of broadcasting. This move follows criticism of the Arab Media Charter that was presented to Arab foreign ministers by Saudi Arabia and Cairo last February. Critics of the Charter have said it is an attempt to control all Arab media through a loose inter-governmental agreement.

Sources have indicated that the Ministry of Information will present the proposed law to the Egyptian parliament at the beginning of the new parliamentary session. The law includes the formation of a "higher regulatory authority" to censor all media broadcasting under the pretext of limiting the production of programs "threatening the peace and order” and “undermining national unity."

The draft law is comprised of 44 articles and is officially called the National Apparatus for Regulating Audio-visual Broadcasting."

Specifically it defines audio-visual broadcasting as any broadcast or transmission, filmed or written media material in any form, including on the Internet or other electronic means that might be used by the citizens for distribution.

It also stipulates the formation of a new regulatory body that would exclusively grant permits for radio stations and satellite T.V. stations, or any other aspects of broadcasting within the country. The entire process would be set up according to regulations set by the board of directors with this as of yet unnamed regulatory body.

This new body would begin by monitoring all broadcasting activities and services in order to enforce the new regulations and standards the new law is attempting to institute. It will simultaneously set the rules and regulations according to which authorizations and permits will be granted.    

The second article of the suggested law specifies the regulations the broadcasting services providers have to obey, which include, "broadcasting nothing that might negatively affect social peace, national unity, equal citizenship, law and order, and public ethics."

In the part reserved for punishment, the suggested law states a punishment of imprisonment and a fine not less than 10,000 EP ($1,900), and not more than 50,000 EP ($9,500) for whoever violates any of the assigned rights of the new agency.

Also punishable by a two months to two years in prison, and/or a fine not less than 50,000 EP ($9,500), is anyone who broadcasts audio or visual material without prior permission from the new agency.

Lastly, anyone who exposes information or makes unauthorized statements regarding the activity of the newly proposed agency can be sentenced to a minimum of one month in prison.

The suggested law comes days after owners and officials of Arab satellite channels declared the formation of a "Union of private Arab channels," saying that "implementing and activating a moral code of honor based on self-censorship" will be among its main objectives. This was seen by observers as an attempt to counter the Arab Satellite TV Charter.

Through a Kuwaiti satellite broadcasters' initiative, satellite broadcasters from three other Arab countries, Egypt, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, formed the union. It was registered at the Council of Arab Economic Unity, under Specialized Unions, calling on all private satellite channels and companies working in media and production, or the related industry, to join the union.

Egyptian and Arab journalists have been highly critical of what they said has been an attempt by several Arab governments to assert control over all media outlets.

Dr. Iman Jumaa, a public relations professor at the Cairo faculty of journalism, described the Arab Media Charter as a political doctrine aimed at restricting freedom of expression, and quarantining political broadcasting vitality, and not for regulating satellite channels as the authors of the Charter proclaim.  

(Abdullah Ali with agencies)