Saudi Arabia: Push for ethical standards in photojournalism
Posted by Alisa Zykova on August 25, 2008 at 1:25 PM
Saudi bloggers launched a campaign complaining about the publication of "gruesome" images portraying a decapitated 15-month-old boy in some of the country's newspapers. Although the letters that were sent out to the editors and columnists weren't answered, the event put into question privacy issues and called for the need to have a standard when it comes to publishing photographs.
Dr. Samir Arar, a psychologist from Jeddah's family-counselling Maharat Centre and a psychology professor at King Abdulaziz University, pointed out that whether or not violent images should be printed must be a matter of adding "relevance to the news story" and not to "appeal to voyeurism", reported Arab News.
According to Arar, reporters publish crime stories in order to "elicit strong reactions" that might help boost paper sales.
However, he said that the problem is that the stories may affect children and those who are sensitive to such content, including the people linked to a particular event.
Dr. Samir Arar, a psychologist from Jeddah's family-counselling Maharat Centre and a psychology professor at King Abdulaziz University, pointed out that whether or not violent images should be printed must be a matter of adding "relevance to the news story" and not to "appeal to voyeurism", reported Arab News.
According to Arar, reporters publish crime stories in order to "elicit strong reactions" that might help boost paper sales.
However, he said that the problem is that the stories may affect children and those who are sensitive to such content, including the people linked to a particular event.
Othman Al-Sini, ex-editor in chief of daily paper Al-Watan, pointed out that an ethical code dealing with publishing photos should be formed by the media and not by the ministry.
Al-Sini added that Al-Watan takes care when dealing with shocking pictures by shading some parts and including warnings.
"The two questions that should be asked before publishing these pictures are: What is the message and what is the effect we want to have on people? If the right answers to these questions are there, we will publish the photographs. Otherwise we put them aside," said Al-Sini.
Lawyer Sayed Muhammad said that the above standard reflects the way Western countries deal with privacy violations and that it is a "reasonable" manner of approaching the issue.
"The victim has the right to file a complaint only under one condition, which is if the story and picture published were not true or accurate," said Muhammad. "Otherwise the newspapers have the right to practice their role in publishing news with pictures."
Rules and regulations associated with printing a victim's photograph may not be as "clearly defined" outside the Islamic law that deals with privacy, wrote Arab News. Media regulations may not differ much from Shariah standards or cultural values.
The Saudi printing and publication law is as such:
Any publication that promotes or presents anything that is against the Shariah principles or that is against ethics and public morals or the general law is to be fined an amount that does not exceed (SR20,000) or (the person responsible) imprisoned for no more than six months or to receive the two punishments.
Ibrahim Al-Zamzami, a lawyer dealing with libel cases in Saudi Arabia, said that a significant aspect of Islamic societies is the concept of "tash'Hir," wherein information that families want to keep private is made public. Arab News wrote that some published material might be " tash'Hir" violation even if it may be a "truthful" but "harmful fact".
However, most "tash'Hir" complaints arise from "prominent" individuals or Saudis with "the will and the power to file charges", according to Arab News.
"The basic principle of Islam is to protect human beings' physical and psychological state as well as their public image," said Zamzami. "Anyone who would harm these rights has to be punished."
Source: Arab News
Al-Sini added that Al-Watan takes care when dealing with shocking pictures by shading some parts and including warnings.
"The two questions that should be asked before publishing these pictures are: What is the message and what is the effect we want to have on people? If the right answers to these questions are there, we will publish the photographs. Otherwise we put them aside," said Al-Sini.
Lawyer Sayed Muhammad said that the above standard reflects the way Western countries deal with privacy violations and that it is a "reasonable" manner of approaching the issue.
"The victim has the right to file a complaint only under one condition, which is if the story and picture published were not true or accurate," said Muhammad. "Otherwise the newspapers have the right to practice their role in publishing news with pictures."
Rules and regulations associated with printing a victim's photograph may not be as "clearly defined" outside the Islamic law that deals with privacy, wrote Arab News. Media regulations may not differ much from Shariah standards or cultural values.
The Saudi printing and publication law is as such:
Any publication that promotes or presents anything that is against the Shariah principles or that is against ethics and public morals or the general law is to be fined an amount that does not exceed (SR20,000) or (the person responsible) imprisoned for no more than six months or to receive the two punishments.
Ibrahim Al-Zamzami, a lawyer dealing with libel cases in Saudi Arabia, said that a significant aspect of Islamic societies is the concept of "tash'Hir," wherein information that families want to keep private is made public. Arab News wrote that some published material might be " tash'Hir" violation even if it may be a "truthful" but "harmful fact".
However, most "tash'Hir" complaints arise from "prominent" individuals or Saudis with "the will and the power to file charges", according to Arab News.
"The basic principle of Islam is to protect human beings' physical and psychological state as well as their public image," said Zamzami. "Anyone who would harm these rights has to be punished."
Source: Arab News
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