Concern over the decision by the Moroccan authorities to stop the broadcasting of a daily news program from the Rabat office of al-Jazeera
Al-Jazeera's Rabat bureau received a fax on May 6 from the National Agency for Telecom Regulation (ANRT) saying it would no longer be able to broadcast the Maghreb program for "technical and legal problems."
Al-Jazeera started broadcasting the daily news program on the Maghreb region from its Rabat office in November 2006.
Although the TV-station has been unable to obtain a permanent permission, it has so far worked under provisional permits.
The current permit is valid until 13 of June. The program has frequently covered stories on Morocco, including the country's parliamentary elections last September and the issue of Western Sahara.
Younes M'jahed, Vice President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and also President of the syndicat national de la presse marocaine (SNPM) said that this is inexplicable.
"We need to have a clear explanation about why Al Jazeera is suspended. If there is no convincing reason then this will be seen as a political act of interference in media. That is unacceptable and intolerable for journalism in Morocco and for media throughout the region,” he added.
The decision comes after Ministers of Information of the Arab League States, with the exception of Qatar and Lebanon, adopted in February 2008 the 'Principles for Organizing Satellite TV in the Arab World' Charter.
ARTICLE 19 has condemned the Charter which constitutes a major set back to freedom of the press and freedom of expression in the Arab World. Shortly after the Charter was adopted Egypt stopped the transmissions of Al-Baraka, Al-zawara and Al-hewar stations, in line with their statement of support for the Charter.
