The international organization Reporters Without Borders in Paris issued its twentieth Press Freedom Index in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day that falls on May 5th of each year.
The index shows that some countries have the same ranking as last year while others have ranked lower than last year. Reasons for ranking low include restrictions and legislation that constraint journalism in addition to forced disappearance and murder.
Evaluation criteria
The Reporters Without Borders organization relied on five factors in their evaluation including political context, legal framework, cultural and social context, in addition to safety and security.
According to the Press Freedom Index, Iraq ranks 172 as the lowest among Arab countries but it ranked 163 last year.
North Africa deterioration
The Press Freedom Index indicated a decline in press freedom in North African countries. The report said “The situation regarding press in North Africa (except Egypt) has never been this disconcerting but three countries are witnessing an alarming decline in press freedom.”
The report elaborates further that: “The issue relates to 1. Algeria (ranks 134) where press freedom is declining at a troubling rate and journalists are being arrested on a regular basis. 2. Morocco (ranks 135) where three of the most prominent journalists are still in jail despite all efforts. 3. Libya (ranks 143) and Sudan (ranks 151) where observers and reporters consider press freedom to be nonexistent.”
The situation is less dire in Mauritania (ranks 97) where the exceptional democratic period between 2005- 2008 enabled the decriminalization of press offenses and mitigation of legal repression.
Middle East is at risk
The report says “The Middle East is nowhere near being the perfect environment for the practice of journalism. Many media-persons were killed in 2021 while on the field covering events. Others were targeted and killed because of their profession such as journalist and political analyst Luqman Salim who was found dead by his car in Lebanon (ranks 130).”
The adds further that: “Palestinian journalists continue to suffer, they paid a heavy price during the Jerusalem tensions in May 2021. Two journalists were killed in air raids during Israel’s military attack on Gaza. Saudi Arabia (ranks 166) is still considered one of the worst prisons for journalists on an international scale along with Egypt (ranks 168).”
Syria ranks 171 following Palestine that ranked 170. Yemen ranked 169 same as last year. Kuwait ranked 158 which is a major decline from last year’s ranking of 105. Tunisia ranked low this year with 94 as opposed to ranking 73 last year. Israel ranked 83.
According to the Press freedom Index that evaluates press freedom in 180 countries and regions, 2022 experienced catastrophic consequences due to the information chaos that centered on spreading false news and misleading information. Democratic societies were not spared, especially with the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. The Reporters Without Borders organization considers Russia’s (155) invasion of Ukraine (106) the perfect example of information chaos considering that, “The invasion plan involved Russia launching a propaganda war”.
How would you evaluate press freedom in Arab countries?
Why do Arab countries rank low in this report?
How can journalists be protected?
Do threats to these countries justify the restriction of press freedom as some would claim?