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June 14, 2007 Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 358

Marking World Press Freedom Day: Arab Press Cartoons Protest Lack of Freedom of Expression in Arab Media

June 14, 2007 | By Ofir Winter*
Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 358

To mark World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2007, the Arab press published numerous cartoons dealing with the state of freedom of expression in the Arab media.

The cartoons protested the lack of freedom of the press, the pressures and restrictions on journalists, the press censorship and the arrest and detention of journalists.

The following are some examples of the cartoons that appeared in the Arab press for World press Freedom Day:

On the Lack of Freedom of Expression

Cartoon No. 1: "World Press Freedom Day"

Al-Sharq (Qatar), May 5, 2007; Al-Madina (Saudi Arabia), May 7, 2007

Cartoon No. 2:

Al-Dustour (Jordan), May 3, 2007.

Cartoon No. 3:

Syria News (Syria), May 3, 2007.

On the Pressures and Restrictions on Journalists

Cartoon No. 4:

Syria News (Syria), May 5, 2007.

Cartoon No. 5: "World Press Freedom Day"

Al-Sharouq (Algeria), May 3, 2007.

Cartoon No. 6: On the pen: "Press"

Al-Ayyam (Bahrain), May 3, 2007

Cartoon No. 7:

Al-Waqt (Bahrain), May 8, 2007

On Press Censorship

Cartoon No. 8: "World Press [Freedom] Day - No to Censorship"

Al-Arab Al-Yawm (Jordan), May 3, 2007

Cartoon No. 9: On cloud: "Thought." On strainer: "Censorship."

Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), May 6, 2007

On Arrest and Detention of Journalists

Cartoon No. 10

Oman (Oman), May 2, 2007.

Cartoon No. 11: "May 3 - World Press Freedom Day"

Al-Quds (Jerusalem), May 3, 2007.

Cartoon No. 12: "World Press [Freedom] Day"

Above the three men on left: "Journalists." Clerk: "Regarding the 'temporary detainment of journalists' - we have decided to abolish the 'temporary' and to make do strictly with 'detainment.'"

Al-Ittihad (U.A.E.), May 6, 2007.

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