Unjustified closure

by Walid M. Sadi

The decision of the interim government in Iraq to close the office of Al Jazeera television channel in Baghdad because it allegedly incites violence in the war-stricken country calls for a closer scrutiny.

Journalists, and all mass media people, are first and foremost human beings with their owns sets of emotions, perspectives and loyalties. Absolute objectivity in reporting and covering newsworthy events, especially in armed conflicts, is impossible.

Some in the mass media profession succeed in achieving a higher level of objectivity than others. Objectivity is thus relative at best. And this is where some newspapers or radio and television stations are considered more trustworthy than others: where their professionals are able to attain a higher level of objectivity than others.

Al Jazeera is an Arab channel staffed by Arabs reporting in an emotionally charged environment. They cannot be completely neutral. To expect Al Jazeera reporters to be absolutely neutral in covering news is utopian.

There is no doubt that Arabs everywhere are influenced by events and developments in their countries and the region where they live. They cannot divorce themselves completely from the emotional fallout of the circumstances in which they live, no matter how much they try.

When it comes to news coverage in Iraq, the Arab psyche is overwhelmingly against the occupation of Iraq, just as it was overwhelmingly against the war on Iraq before it started. This standpoint is bound to impact Arab reporting of events in the area.

The Jazeera reporters are part of the Arab people, which are generally affected by events taking place in the Middle East. There can be no doubt about that. The same applies to the Palestinian conflict. It is virtually impossible for any Arab reporter to view developments and events on the Palestinian front except with eyes that are understanding of the plight and suffering of the Palestinian people.

Against this backdrop, it is absolutely comprehensible that Al Jazeera should be "biased", in favour of the Iraqis who are fighting to liberate their country from all forms of oppression and occupation. This leaning, in line with the overwhelming Arab public opinion, must be taken for granted.

To be sure, all news reporting is biased to some degree or another, no matter how much one tries. The bias could be subtle or more pronounced. In the case of Al Jazeera, the pro-Arab perspective is more pronounced. But that does not justify the closure of its offices by Baghdad, especially not as long as its journalists apply reasonable standards and norms, which they do.

This article was published in the Sunday, August 15, 2004 edition of the Jordan Times. It is used here with permission.