Newsroom

New steps to protect rights of journalists

By Nawara Fattahova
Staff Reporter, Kuwait Times

KUWAIT: The first seminar of the 'Legal Protection for Media' workshop held from Dec 9 to 12,  was opened yesterday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. This workshop is organised by the Kuwait Syndicate for Journalists and Correspondents (KSJC) in cooperation with the American Institute for Research Exchange Irex and the Centre for Defending Freedom of Journalist (CDFJ). It was attended by local journalists and reporters from newspapers, radio, and the TV.

The new Press Law sets strict responsibility for the journalist, which limits their freedom. "The KSJC carries the responsibility of protecting the journalists and reporters. Organising such workshops for the journalists will help them avoid doing mistakes that could be sanctioned by the Press Law. This law limits their freedom by setting high financial fines and other penalties. This course is the first step in demanding a revision of these sanctions," said Zayid Zeid, the head of the KSJC.

This workshop is a part of a group of activities that aim to correct the legal framework of the media. It will also include different courses for journalists in Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen, Morocco, and Algeria. "Correcting the legal frame of media will make the legislation free of restrictions, by pressing for other alternative laws. Many lawyers face problems through the traps in laws that they didn't pay attention to, although they are important," said lawyer Mohammed Qateishat, the representative of the CDFJ.

One of the journalists greatest mistakes is, when the journalist attends a court session without attorney. This may complicate his position. "This workshop should teach the reporters to avoid such mistakes leading to the court. This workshop should also assure that the words are out of the criminal borders, so the reporter or journalist is on the safe side," he added.

The workshop also included information about the organisation of the human rights and freedoms in the international legislation. Lawyer Ehab Salam classified the sources of legislation organising the human rights to Main sources (International), and Secondary sources (Local). He also explained the position of the international treaties in the Kuwaiti Constitution. "The article 177 of the  Constitution considers the ratified international treaties as part of the local legislation," said Ehab.

The freedom of opinion was secured in Articles 36 and 37 of the Kuwaiti Constitution. The freedom of opinion isn't unlimited. "There are certain restrictions on the freedom of opinion. These restrictions are the privacy, and the state security," Ehab further said.

Lawyer Yahya Shaqeer then spoke about the freedom of press in Europe and the United States. He also provided examples of some cases of imprisonment. He then mentioned the most important international and European legislations in this field such as the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

Dr Fayioz Al-Kanderi spoke about the press freedom in Kuwait. He also explained the history of issuing the press law. "The project started in 2001. The main purpose was to change the old law, and the main three angles we succeeded to change were: providing licence to open  newspaper, to have juridical control only, and to have juridical security," he said.

Further subjects and information will be provided on the next days.

This article was originally published by www.kuwaittimes.net, Kuwait.