Dubai Press Club, Journalists Union celebrate first anniversary of decree not to imprison journalists

The Majlis was addressed by Mohammed Yousef, Chairman of the Journalists Union, Abdul Hamid Ahmed, Chief Editor, Gulf News and Abdul Hamid Kamiyati, Attorney and Legal Expert. The participants praised the decree and said it was a major step forward. They demanded to go slow in approving the draft law and to discuss it with concerned sections before issuing it.

While presiding over the Majlis in the presence of Abdul Hamid Ahmed, Gulf News Chief Editor and Abdul Hamid Kamiyati, the Attorney and Legal Scholar, Muhammed Yousef, Chairman of the Journalists Union, described September 25 as the national day for freedom of the press, emphasizing that the decree of H.H.Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum came as a part of a luminescent series of bright decrees from His Highness.

He added that the decree by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum came after years of anticipation as a glittering crown on his glory. The Journalists Union chairman said that the decree was hailed locally and internationally, particularly by the Arab Journalists Union and the International Federation of Journalists. Arab Journalists Union said it was the only positive point in the Report on Freedoms 2007.

Mohammed Yousef pointed out that more than 80 complaints were lodged against journalists during 2004 -2007 at the courts or with the public prosecution. He added that not a single case was registered against journalists since the issuance of the decree, though a few complaints were lodged with the Prosecution.

In the same context, the journalist Abdul Hameed Ahmed praised the decree by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum not to imprison journalists publication-related cases, drawing attention to the clause for the arrest of journalists in the currently existing law, which he said hung on the necks of journalists although it was not implemented.

He said the historic decree came in the wake of a verdict for the imprisonment of a journalist. It was of regional and international significance because it happened at a time when the gates of the prisons were opened in many countries for the journalists with or without trial.

Abdul Hameed added that the decree removed fear from the mind of the journalists and put an end to a nightmare. He said the international acclaim that the decree received has raised the esteem of journalists. He said the draft law on media came to take away the gains that media persons made as a result of the decree from H.H. the Prime Minister banning the imprisonment of journalists.

Abdul Hameed Ahmed praised the role of the political leadership in their support for freedoms. He said in light of the wise leadership of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai the freedoms of the press was enhanced immensely. The support of the Ministry of Interior under the leadership of H.H. Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister of Interior.

The attorney Abdul Hamid Kamiyati drew attention to the decree by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and said it caused a leap forward for the country in freedom of the press and expression. He added that the decree embodies the theories lawyers put in place on these issues.

He demanded the participation of all concerned parties in discussing the draft law. He also demanded the repeal of the criminalization clause and said journalists should be tried as per one single law.