By NNN-Bernama
Dubai : The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) directive to the relevant authorities not to jail journalists for doing their work reflects the political leadership’s support for the press and press freedom, the UAE Journalists Association said.
“It also underlines the leadership’s keenness to allow journalists to perform their duties within an atmosphere of transparency, credibility and boldness, while preserving the principles of the profession governed by rules and values,” association chairman Mohammad Yousuf said.
The association described the directive issued by UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as a new achievement along with UAE’s other achievements in all fields.
In his directive Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed stressed that there were other measures which could be taken against a journalist in case of certain violations but not a jail sentence.
The decision was in line with the UAE’s general policy, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Yousuf as saying.
Meanwhile, English daily Khaleej Times described the decision as highly commendable and should be welcomed by the local and international media in the UAE.
Sheikh Mohammed’s directive came after a court ruling Monday sentencing two journalists to two months’ jail each after they were found guilty in a libel case filed against them.
The Dubai Court had found the senior Egyptian journalist and senior Indian editor guilty of defaming an Iranian woman.
According to reports, the prosecution had charged the two defendants with publishing a defamatory article in the English newspaper where they work.
Khaleej Times deputy editor Neville Parker said the directive reflected Sheikh Mohammed’s deep commitment to promote a highly progressive society in the country and that the initiative showed maturity and good governance.
However, he said the press must also be equally aware of its responsibility of free, fair, accurate and impartial reporting.
Another English daily, Gulf News, said the decision came as a great relief for journalists and a boost to press freedom.
It said the UAE, a rapidly growing modern state, the core of which was good governance, needed a free press to reflect the constant changes in society and to provide an essential monitoring tool to sustain transparency and accountability in the development process.
“The government should be commended for siding with freedom of the press,” the newspaper said.
Meanwhile, reports said the two journalists were freed on bail after appealing against the sentence.