Since the US's invasion of Iraq in 2003, 174 journalists and media support staffers have been executed, with one journalist sitting on death row in Iran.
In the Arab nations of Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Yemen among others the freedom to write what you feel or bring up certain issues or policies worth question can get you incarcerated, tortured or killed.
There are periodic, unexpected crackdowns throughout the media outlets in the Middle East that prevent news worthy topics making it to the general population. While there are several independent media outlets in the Middle East, many succumb to self-censorship for fear of being a target by the political leaders of their respective countries.
With Iran ranking fourth in 2007 for arresting journalist, Iraq remains the most dangerous place to be reporting the news for the fifth year straight, and Israel has been known to use tear gas and stun-grenades to subdue editors and reporters.
While we in America may moan and groan that some issues do not make it to the national stage to become issues that we may attempt to change, journalists in Egypt can not question the health of 79 year-old president Hosni Mubarak with out backlash, as one journalist faces charges for even raising concern of the issue.
That was a really interesting topic. I was reading an issue of Vogu from last year ( I have insomnia) and I read a story about a woman who speaks out against the Muslim culture. It was so interesting that they mentioned that she asked the editor of Vogue if she was concerned about receiving death threats simply for publishing an article about the woman. It is crazy how lucky we are in the grand scheme.
ReplyDeleteAll I have to say is thank GOD I live in America! The Bill of Rights is a glorious thing, it allows usto explore classes such as ours.
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