New law seeks to scrap jail terms

Abu Dhabi: A new media draft law that seeks to scrap jail terms for journalists and instead imposes up to Dh1 million fine for breaking the law may be issued soon, a senior official said.

"The Federal National Council (FNC), the National Media Council, the Journalists Associations and representatives of the media outlets work together to help the media play their vital role in a convenient atmosphere for the good of the UAE," said Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, head of the FNC Education, Youth, Culture and Media committee.

The federal draft law on media activities, which regulates licensing of newspapers and printing presses, also scraps prior censorship of any media outlet in the country. The draft law states that the owners of all newspapers and their editors-in-chief must be Emiratis who do not have crime records.

The draft law requires the Cabinet's approval and the President's signature before it is enacted into law.

It holds a journalist and the newspaper liable for any mistake committed by the journalist. The present law issued in 1980, however, holds the journalist and the editor-in-chief responsible for any offence committed by a journalist.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued last year instructions that no journalist is to be jailed for reasons related to his work, adding that there are other measures that may be taken against journalists who break the press and publication law.

Shaikh Mohammad has also issued instructions to the Cabinet to speed up the necessary steps to issue the new publication law in the light of the amendments made by the National Media Council after consulting concerned authorities.

Shaikh Mohammad's initiative was praised widely as an expression of his deep belief in freedom of the press and its role in society, and underlining his support for media professionals and his keenness to provide the best working environment to help them discharge their duties in the best way.

Shaikh Mohammad's instructions followed a Dubai court ruling giving two journalists jail terms for libel.

The draft law, which is a revision of the Press and Publications Federal Law of 1980, incorporates the prior directive of the ruler of Dubai to prohibit imprisonment of journalists, resorting instead to fines when there are violations of public law.

UAE journalists will submit proposed amendments to the UAE press law, demanding freedom of speech as a fundamental right.