Cairo: 27 February 2019

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) released today its annual report on the state of freedom of expression in the Arab World in 2018. The report details the situation of freedom of expression in 13 Arab countries. Although the report should have included the positive measures and practices that promote freedom of expression along with the violations and practices that curb freedom of expression, ANHRI expresses its sorrow announcing that the year of 2018 was indeed the year of the of siege of freedom of expression, as there were barely any measures reinforcing freedom of expression and press freedom during the year.

The report, which is entitled “Under Siege…The Annual Report on Freedom of Expression in the Arab World in 2018” and includes examples of violations of freedom of expression in 13 Arab countries, concludes that most Arab governments have benefited- albeit indirectly- from the widespread terrorism in the Arab world; by using it to justify its curbing of freedom of expression and the silencing of critical or professional voices, whether in print or visual media, to the extent that the siege has become entrenched and well-established in all traditional media outlets. As a result, social networking websites, especially Facebook and Twitter, have returned to be placed at the forefront of media outlets that are available to those holding different or critical views, making it to be the current target of prosecution by authorities.

The report also pointed out that Arab governments are fighting democracy and the remnants of the Arab Spring through the fight against human rights and freedom of expression, in addition to the murdering, imprisoning, and defamation of opinion holders, leading them to flee abroad in search for safe spheres to enjoy the freedoms they have deprived of, after their dreams have been ruined in their homelands.

It has also become a regular feature in Egypt to attack independent human rights organizations and to attempt to discredit human rights, or to portray the Arab peoples as if they belong to a “different strain” that doesn’t deserve to have human rights. In addition to that, the number of imprisoned journalists from the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf is on the rise, not to mention the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the widespread impunity, and the barring of dozens of journalists and media workers from carrying    out their job and making them lose their livelihoods, as well as the blatant censorship imposed on newspapers and satellite channels turning most of media outlets to be mouthpieces to defend governments and attacking other governments.

You can check the report through the following link:

Under Siege.. Freedom of Expression in the Arab World in 2018