And there are no surprises, as far as this region of the world is concerned, and there most certainly is not a surprise as to how our own little island faired:
Press Freedom Index 2010
| Country | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | 144 | 119 | 96 | 118 | 111 | 123 | 143 | 117 | 67 |
| Kuwait | 87 | 60 | 61 | 63 | 73 | 85 | 103 | 102 | 78 |
| Saudi Arabia | 157 | 163 | 161 | 148 | 161 | 154 | 159 | 156 | 125 |
| Qatar | 121 | 94 | 74 | 79 | 80 | 90 | 104 | 115 | - |
| Emirates | 87 | 86 | 69 | 65 | 77 | 100 | 137 | 122 | - |
| Oman | 124 | 106 | 123 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 152 | n/a |
With the current subjugation of various forms of freedoms of expression in this country, and the concerted effort to shut off any form of opposition – leading in some cases to incarceration, I would not at all be surprised if our index in 2011 slips even further than our giant neighbours Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Well done.
Comments
The GDN’s twist on this:
DIPPED? DIPPED? For fuck’s sake it has CRASHED! This is journalistic ethics in operation I guess 🙂
“We don’t restrict the freedom of press or expression, but when a newsletter turns into a newspaper and a website publishes audio and video without our authorisation then we have to take action”
-Sheikh Fawaz, Information Affairs Authority
I think the middle (or really meddling) managers in that organ take full advantage of new chiefs and somehow get them to do the very worst immediately they are enthroned. They did the very same with Shaikha Mai, and now it’s Shaikh Fawaz’s turn.
Nothing like starting on the wrong foot!
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