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UAE fares well in World Press Freedom Index

DUBAI — The UAE has jumped 12 places to a better ranking on the 2007 World Press Freedom Index in recognition of the initiatives taken to ensure Press freedom, including a proposed new Press law.

The index, prepared by Reporters Without Borders (RWB), issued yesterday ranked the UAE at 65 this year, ahead of all other Middle East countries except Kuwait at 63.

RWB noted the progress made by some Gulf countries in a statement released alongside the index yesterday, but tempered this statement with concerns over self-censorship.

“The authorities have displayed a tendency to be more open-minded and, in some cases, initiatives have been taken with a view to liberalising press laws,” the statement said.

“But self-censorship continues to be widespread in the Press in these countries.”

Iceland and Norway ranked number one on the list which includes 169 countries and placed Eritrea at the bottom.

Hajar Smouni, the head of RSF Middle East and North Africa (Mena) Desk, welcomed the directive issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that journalists in the country would not be jailed for reasons related to their work.

Speaking to Khaleej Times after the directive was announced, Smouni said the UAE was among the most liberal in the region regarding Press freedom, but she added it was yet to be clear how the subsequent Press law would be implemented.

Smouni said it was important that fines were not excessive.

However, she hoped that the UAE’s direction would be followed by other countries in the region. Other Middle East countries have fared better in this year’s index, including Saudi Arabia. “For the first time, Saudi Arabia (148^th) has climbed out of the bottom 20,” the statement said.

“Saudi journalists enjoyed something of a respite in the past year. But the control exercised by the information ministry’s media surveillance committee prevents the kingdom from rising higher in the ranking,” the statement said.

However, Iran, Iraq and Palestine ranked poorly on the Press freedom index — 166, 157 and 158 respectively- because of aggressive treatment by authorities and the ongoing violence in the countries which has affected journalists.