Syrian Minister of Expatriates Dr. Bouthayna Sh’aban has a very definite opinion about the role of the Arab media. In an article published in the Palestinian daily Al-Quds she attacks the Arab media for not taking a united stand against “those who aim to harm the Arabs.”
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Bouthayna Sh’aban
Sh’aban is a former head of the foreign media department in the Syrian Foreign Ministry. This seemingly does not help her understand the nature of the media and its responsibilities. She is upset by the fact that Arab TV networks are pointing blaming fingers towards Iran and Syria, instead of taking a firm stand to support Arab rights and turn Israeli logic upside down.
The minister was interviewed recently on one of the Arab satellite TV networks about the issue of weapons of mass destruction. “When I asked the program manager to take such a stand [in favor of the Arab cause] he told me his intention is not [to show] what is wanted, needed or hoped for, but [to describe] what is real. Only he forgot we are a part of this reality, and that as Arabs the least we should do is shape the reality which concerns us and present it to the world, instead of presenting it as they [the “enemies”] wish it to be.”
The Arab media almost hardly mentioned the letter of refusal to serve written by 13 Israeli commando unit soldiers, says Sh’aban. Those soldiers refused to continue implementing the suppression policy against the Palestinians and their deprivation of human rights. “The Arab media could have at least used this letter in regard to the State Department spokesman’s refusal to condemn what Israel did against Rafah citizens [including] the demolishment of innocent people’s houses. This refusal was made on the pretext that Israel has the right to protect itself. The Arab media could have said that those who kill are tired of killing, and that those who occupy are tired of the occupation,” said Sh’aban.
She concluded by saying: “In response to a question many people ask me – Why doesn’t the world support the Arabs? – I answer it is because the Arab media does not take a clear and brave stand against the plans of the enemies of the Arabs. This is why the Arab media must first of all endorse a clear view and not merely repeat things that harm the Arabs and serve their enemies…”