Remember early in the Iraq War when the Bush administration tried to paint al Jazeera and al Arabiyah as "consorting with the enemy?" Like most of its arguments, the Bush administration wasn't very convincing. While I can't vouch for al Jazeera's Arabic service, I have watched its English service since its debut November 15 and found it very balanced in its coverage. It offers refreshing views of the Middle East and Asia, including stories rarely reported by Western news organisations.
Based in Doha, Qatar, the news channel broadcasts from studios in Qatar, Dubai, London, Washington and Asia. Some of the best BBC correspondents have moved to al Jazeera, including Rageh Omaar and Stephen Cole. Long-time CNN correspondent Lucia Newman and others have also joined al Jazeera in their slick professional sets and studios around the world. In addition, Sir David Frost, Riz Khan and Irish journalist John McCarthy have their own shows. McCarthy, who was formerly held hostage in Lebanon, is currently hosting a six-part series on the world's religions called "God's Business."
Al Jazeera's English news also features special segments including Witness, with first-hand reporting of current issues. In one recent segment, an Iraqi Kurd living in the West returns to his home town of Kirkuk, to vote in the first Iraqi election. He must come to grips with the devastation of his hometown, after war and after his fellow Kurds were forcibly moved to a nearby town when the late Saddam Hussein sent 425,000 Arabs to settle in Kirkuk. The documentary shows the hope of some Kurds for a better Iraq and the fury of others at Western intervention in Iraq and deteriorating security.
Another powerful Witness segment focused on Canadians adopting children from a Russian orphanage, featuring extensive interviews with the adoptive parents, the children and people at the orphanage. It followed the children during their adjustment to living with their adoptive parents, learning to speak English and adapting to a new school system.
Despite its popularity - ten years on, more than 40 million Arabs watch its Arabic service - al Jazeera continues to be dogged by controversy. The BBC reported today that a journalist working for al Jazeera's Arabic news has been arrested in Egypt for allegedly fabricating videos of police torturing suspects. Huweida Taha Metwalli was stopped on her way to Qatar, with 50 videotapes in her luggage seized, according to the Egyptian interior ministry. The reporter has been charged with "tarnishing Egypt's reputation and harming Egyptian national interests," the BBC said. Hussein Abdel-Ghani, al Jazeera's representative in Egypt, said reconstructing scenes with actors was "a well-known method in the production of documentaries and al Jazeera is not the only network to talk about torture."
In 2006, Egyptian Imad Kabir was filmed in jail, apparently being sodomised with a stick by police officers. The graphic footage - allegedly taken by one of the abusers - became public in November. Kabir's lawyer says the assault came in January 2006 in Cairo's Bulaq district, after Kabir intervened in a dispute between a policeman and his cousin. Kabir's case was taken up by Egyptian bloggers, as well as the international human rights community. Kabir has been imprisoned for three months - in relation to the same incident - for "resisting authority."
In an interview last November BBC-trained al Jazeera Editor-in-Chief Ahmad al-Sheikh summed up his channel's journalistic ethos in this way: "Be accurate, factual, be there first - that's not necessarily most important - and be with the human being all the time - you don't stay at the top getting the views of politicians and diplomats."
Al Jazeera's Arabic service's main rival is Dubai-based al-Arabiya, financed by Saudi Arabia and to counter al Jazeera's influence. Al Jazeera's impact and popularity have pressured state-run television stations to update output to compete. Several Arab governments were forced to lift, if only partially, media controls.
Analysts believe al Jazeera is responsible for politically-educating ordinary Arabs and for raising awareness and political knowledge of both Arab and world affairs. It is also credited with raising expectations of the masses from their governments. However, its reporting has made it unpopular with some Arab and Western governments.
Al Jazeera was banned from reporting in Iraq in August 2004 and its bureau has not been allowed to reopen. The station's programs have led to several Arab countries recalling diplomats and its bureaus being closed or attacked in Arab countries.
American officials have criticised broadcasts of messages by Osama bin Laden, as well as the channel's Iraq war coverage. Former US Defensee Secretary Donald Rumsfeld accused the channel of attacking the image of the US "day after day after day." Meanwhile, Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi, the late leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, reportedly posted an internet message accusing al-Jazeera of being a "mouthpiece for the Americans."
Al Jazeera bureaus literally have come under US fire - first in 2001 in Afghanistan campaign and then during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, causing the death of a reporter. George W. Bush is reported to have contemplated a strike against the Doha headquarters in 2004. One al Jazeera employee was arrested in Pakistan and has been detained without charge for five years in Guantanamo Bay
The station is still under boycott in some Gulf states. Saudi Arabia's pressure on companies not to advertise on the channel has affected its profit margins. It remains reliant on financing from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa.
I am not into world politics in a big way at all but this is my understanding of it at the moment. About time "the other side" is heard to an "argument". Just like Bush, John Howard (Bush's Puppet) rubbishes anyone or anything that is not pro-american, and then proceeds to call it "criminal". Bush is obviously just a self indulgent politician who cares about nothing but himself (and oil of course), and will make any excuse to get what he wants. All in the mean time, they call people "terrorists" if they dont agree to bow to his will and agree with everything he says, he then conveniently convinces his "people" that he is a "freedom fighter fighting a war against terror" via his western media and banning all outside influences and/or beliefs. What did the Americans do to the indigenous indians back in the day, and what did the english do to the aboriginals? England does it too: Ireland, Hong Kong, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand etc. Also, America says that no-one may possess nuclear weapons, but it is ok for the almighty USA to possess them. HYPOCRITE!!! Where do they get all thier money? Maybe from just taking from those who originally owned the resources and/or land like thugs and thieves, then crucifying anyone who dares the same behaviour that they themselves are guilty of. For these reasons, I have lost almost all faith in the "westminster system of law". A law that is hypocritical of itself is unjust and very very unfair to all humankind. So in a nutshell, if you disagree with the american government, you must be a terrorist in thier view. Yes there are the extremists who do horrible horrible things, but remember ..... this happens in every country and every culture. America is not the only country in the world, and its politicians need to start learning that.
Posted by: John | 03 April 2007 at 11:41
Fascinating piece ... thanks, Tara. JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 16 January 2007 at 20:39
"It offers refreshing views of the Middle East and Asia, including stories rarely reported by Western news organisations."
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Does exactly the same thing for Africa. I don't speak Arabic, so I can't speak for the original version of Al Jazeera. The English version is good, and very professional.
Posted by: Rethabile | 15 January 2007 at 20:20
Very interesting to read this, Tara.
:)
Posted by: Amber | 15 January 2007 at 07:37
Well, I try not to discuss politics, but I have watched some documentaries about Al Jazeera that weren't American made and they didn't leave me with the best taste in my mouth. But I do enjoy reading everyone's perspective.. 'tis what makes the world go round.
Hugs!
Posted by: Holli | 14 January 2007 at 23:00
we have friends that relocated from sydney to qatar to work for al jazeera. thanks for posting about this.
Posted by: leonie | 14 January 2007 at 22:24
This is exactly why I have tailored my viewing of any American News. I would certainly welcome a few more unbiased perspectives. Tara I’m so grateful for your candid take on many political issues! Thanks for keeping us informed!
Peace and hugs Sherrie
Posted by: giggles | 14 January 2007 at 19:51
I'm at the point where if Bush says something is bad then I suspect the opposite is true. I've never seen Al Jazeera but I have been very curious too. It can't be any more irresponsible and bias than much of the media in the U.S,
Posted by: Alexandra | 14 January 2007 at 17:59
I'm delighted by this development ... hopefully the unlawful imprisonment and killing of journalists associated with Al Jazeera will come to an end now that the world is finally able to watch.
Thanks for posting an update on them.
Posted by: Di | 14 January 2007 at 17:09
The American people are only shown one side of the news....we do get BBC...but not the English al jazeera. There is so much we don't know.
Posted by: Gemma | 14 January 2007 at 17:01