Journalists, citizens face uncertainty in Afghanistan

Steven Butler 01 - As Talbian take control of Afghanistan thousands of journalists seeking help from CPJ
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Zahid Hussain 02 - What is happening in Afghanistan is “chaotic” and “unimaginable”
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Updated 26 August 2021
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Journalists, citizens face uncertainty in Afghanistan

  • The rapid withdrawal of US military forces from Afghanistan has left citizens and journalists concerned about their future, experts say
  • The Committee to Protect Journalists is receiving hundreds of appeals from journalists in Afghanistan every day

The rapid withdrawal of US military forces from Afghanistan, two decades after the conflict there began, has left citizens and journalists concerned about their future, journalism experts said Wednesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists is receiving hundreds of appeals from journalists in Afghanistan every day, uncertain about their futures and worried about their safety, CPJ Asian Program Director Steven Butler said.

Veteran Arab News columnist Zahid Hussain said “chaos and uncertainty” had gripped the country, but that the situation could end well if the Taliban kept its promises.

But during an interview on “The Ray Hanania Radio Show,” broadcast on the US Arab Radio Network and sponsored by Arab News, Butler said his organization was being inundated with desperate appeals from journalists in fear for their lives.

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“It has been in the thousands of requests for help … thousands. The media industry was one of the great successes of the last 20 years. You cannot say they created a successful democracy but there was a thriving media industry, and profitable too,” Butler said.

“In the morning I get up and we have this inbox, and it is filled with journalists saying ‘please help me, they are going to kill me if you don’t help me get out.’ It is really hard to read through it to be honest. We just hope and pray that it turns out the Taliban leaders mean what they say when they say they want to have a free press.”

The CPJ has brought in more staff to handle the daily appeals for help.

“This number is out of date but at least 50 news operations have been shut down across the country, in the provinces … some of the journalists see it coming and they flee. The Taliban has a history of brutality and many journalists have been assassinated over these past few years, and there is a high level of distrust,” said Butler, who worked throughout Asia including for the Financial Times and The Christian Science Monitor in the mid-1980s..

Hussain, who writes opinion commentary for Arab News and has published several books on the region, said that many people thought the transition would have taken far longer than the few weeks it did.

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“It is a very chaotic situation. It is largely because of the way the Americans decided to leave Afghanistan, so that is one of the major reasons for the chaos. The other thing is that it was expected, or foretold, that the Taliban would be able to take over but no one expected things to move that fast,” he said.

“What happened is unimaginable … it caught everyone by surprise.”

Butler said that how the Taliban treats journalists during the coming months will define the country’s future. 

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“It is a very uncertain environment right now, and we don’t really understand the degree to which there is coordination between the Taliban leadership, which says they are in favor of a free press — and whether they mean it — and the Taliban on the ground,” Butler said. 

“The Taliban have gone searching for certain journalists. They have gone through houses. We have had others, one incident where the Taliban knocked on the door and pushed their way in and the journalist escaped out the back and they were firing their weapons at him. It is very concerning. We just don’t know how far they are going to stay on this path, but it is very worrisome.

“Certainly, people who worked for foreign news outlets are in jeopardy. The people we are dealing with for the most part are Afghans working for Afghan news outlets who often made critical reports on the Taliban. They have been scrubbing their social media accounts trying to get rid of that, but people remember. People know the history of some of these people. They are well known in Afghanistan.”

Hussain said that “more of a fear of the unknown” was the biggest factor driving the growing concern.

“The Taliban are trying hard to assure them that they are not going back to that aggressive system. It will take time even if they show some sincerity. 

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“It is very difficult for insurgents who have been fighting for 20 years, and suddenly they find themselves in this different role and go into this country which is basically so divided … obviously the fighters who have been there, the fighters on the ground, and that will be challenging for a Taliban government,” Hussain said, noting there seemed to be less concern in the north of Afghanistan, which has always been more liberal. “The situation is normal in many of the country’s other cities.” 

Butler and Hussain made their comments during an appearance on “The Ray Hanania Radio Show” sponsored by Arab News on the US Arab Radio Network, broadcast on live radio Wednesday morning in Detroit and in Washington DC.

For more information on the radio show visit Arab News at ArabNews.com.


Hundreds of media figures accuse BBC of acting as ‘PR’ for Israel, urge removal of board member

Updated 02 July 2025
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Hundreds of media figures accuse BBC of acting as ‘PR’ for Israel, urge removal of board member

  • Open letter by media professionals, BBC staff say Gaza coverage ‘falls short’ of editorial standards
  • Sir Robbie Gibb, former chief of Jewish Chronicle, accused of ‘ideological allegiances’ to Israel

LONDON: Hundreds of media professionals, including over 100 current BBC staff, have signed an open letter accusing the broadcaster of acting as “PR for the Israeli government,” and called for the removal of BBC board member Sir Robbie Gibb over alleged conflicts of interest.

The letter, sent to BBC Director-General Tim Davie and the broadcaster’s board, follows a string of controversies — including the BBC’s live broadcast of anti-Israel chants by the punk-rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, and the decision to pull a commissioned documentary on Gaza.

“All too often it has felt that the BBC has been performing PR for the Israeli government and military. This should be a cause of great shame and concern for everyone at the BBC,” the letter stated.

The signatories — which include actress Miriam Margolyes, filmmaker Mike Leigh, actor Charles Dance, and historian William Dalrymple — claim the BBC’s coverage of Gaza “falls short” of its editorial standards and fails to reflect the reality on the ground.

The letter also raises concerns over the BBC’s decision to withdraw from airing “Gaza: Doctors Under Attack,” a documentary it originally commissioned, which will now be broadcast by Channel 4.

The BBC said it pulled the film because it “risked creating a perception of partiality.”

“This appears to be a political decision and is not reflective of the journalism in the film,” the letter stated. “This illustrates precisely what many of us have experienced first hand: an organisation that is crippled by fear of being perceived as critical of the Israeli government.”

Much of the criticism focuses on Gibb, a former head of the BBC’s Westminster political team and ex-spin doctor for Prime Minister Theresa May.

Gibb helped lead the consortium that purchased The Jewish Chronicle in 2020 and served as a director until August 2024.

The letter describes his position on the BBC board — including on the editorial standards committee —  as “untenable,” citing the Jewish Chronicle’s alleged history of publishing “anti-Palestinian and often racist content.”

The letter accuses Gibb of a conflict of interest and highlights what it sees as a double standard: “For many of us, our efforts have been frustrated by opaque decisions made at senior levels of the BBC without discussion or explanation. Our failures impact audiences.

“As an organisation we have not offered any significant analysis of the UK government’s involvement in the war on Palestinians. We have failed to report on weapons sales or their legal implications. These stories have instead been broken by the BBC’s competitors.”

The statement alleges Gibb has a “conflict of interest” which “highlights a double standard for BBC content makers who have themselves experienced censorship in the name of ‘impartiality.’”

The letter further stated: “In some instances staff have been accused of having an agenda because they have posted news articles critical of the Israeli government on their social media.

“By comparison, Gibb remains in an influential post with little transparency regarding his decisions despite his ideological leanings being well known. We can no longer ask licence fee payers to overlook Gibbs’s ideological allegiances.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “Robust discussions amongst our editorial teams about our journalism are an essential part of the editorial process.

“We have ongoing discussions about coverage and listen to feedback from staff and we think these conversations are best had internally.

“Regarding our coverage of Gaza, the BBC is fully committed to covering the conflict impartially and has produced powerful coverage from the region.”

The spokesperson added that in addition to “breaking news, ongoing analysis, and investigations,” the BBC has produced award-winning documentaries such as “Life and Death in Gaza,” and “Gaza 101.”


Paramount to pay $16 million in settlement with Trump over ‘60 Minutes’ interview

Updated 02 July 2025
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Paramount to pay $16 million in settlement with Trump over ‘60 Minutes’ interview

  • Paramount said the money will go to Trump’s future presidential library, not to the president himself

NEW YORK: In a case seen as a challenge to free speech, Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over the editing of CBS’ ” 60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October.
Paramount told media outlets the money will go to Trump’s future presidential library, not to the president himself. It said the settlement did not involve an apology.
Trump’s lawyer said the president had suffered “mental anguish” over the editing of the interview by CBS News, while Paramount and CBS rejected his contention that it was edited to enhance how Harris sounded. They had sought to get Trump’s lawsuit dismissed.
There was no immediate word from the White House about the settlement of the case, which Trump filed in Amarillo, Texas.
The case has been closely watched by advocates for press freedom and by journalists within CBS, whose lawyers called Trump’s lawsuit “completely without merit” and promised to vigorously fight it after it was filed.
In early February, “60 Minutes” released a full, unedited transcript of the interview.
Under the settlement reached with help of a mediator, Paramount agreed that “60 Minutes” will release transcripts of future interviews of presidential candidates, “subject to redactions as required for legal and national security concerns,” CBS News cited the statement as saying.
Trump, who did not agree to be interviewed by “60 Minutes” during the campaign, protested editing where Harris is seen giving two different answers to a question by the show’s Bill Whitaker in separate clips aired on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation” earlier in the day. CBS said each reply came within Harris’ long-winded answer to Whitaker, but was edited to be more succinct.
The president’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, said that caused confusion and “mental anguish,” misleading voters and causing them to pay less attention to Trump and his Truth Social platform.
Paramount and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone were seeking the settlement with Trump, whose administration must approve the company’s proposed merger with Skydance Media. CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, who both opposed a settlement, have resigned in recent weeks.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation, a media advocacy group that says it is a Paramount shareholder, has said that it would file a lawsuit in protest if a settlement was reached.
In December, ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit by Trump over statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, agreeing to pay $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library rather than engage in a public fight. Meta reportedly paid $25 million to settle Trump’s lawsuit against the company over its decision to suspend his social media accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.


Asharq to bridge US-Arab divide with new Arabic politics podcast

Updated 02 July 2025
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Asharq to bridge US-Arab divide with new Arabic politics podcast

  • America Bi Lahjetna (“America in Our Dialects”) is the first journalist-led Arabic-language political podcast produced in the US capital
  • Hosted by Hiba Nasr, Zena Ibrahim, Kareem Yousry, and Azouz Allilou, the show dives into American political developments with fresh, localized insight

RIYADH: From the heart of Washington DC, Asharq Podcasts launches America Bi Lahjetna, which translates to “America in Our Dialects”, the first journalist-led Arabic-language political podcast produced in the US capital. The show delivers weekly episodes that bring American headlines closer to home, in a voice that speaks directly to the region. 

Hosted by Hiba Nasr (Bureau Chief), Zena Ibrahim (Reporter and Producer), Kareem Yousry (Reporter and Producer), and Azouz Allilou (Reporter and Producer), the show dives into American political developments with fresh, localized insight. Each episode moves beyond the headlines to draw meaningful connections to the realities, concerns, and interests of Arab audiences across the region — precisely when and where it matters most. 

In line with growing demand for content that feels less formal, simpler, and more conversational, America Bi Lahjetna moves away from traditional news delivery. Instead, it offers a smart, approachable format that reflects how today’s audiences, especially younger listeners — consume political content: through relatable voices, contextual storytelling, and accessible language. 

“This podcast isn’t about translating the news, it’s about explaining why it matters to us,” said Hiba Nasr, Asharq’s Washington Bureau Chief. 

“Every week, we unpack the headlines that dominate the American conversation and connect them to the Arab world, politically, emotionally, and strategically. From our base in Washington, we bring clarity to a chaotic media landscape and give our region both a window into and a voice within US political discourse. That’s what makes America Bi Lahjetna different. We’re not observers. We’re participants.” 

In its first episodes, the team breaks down some of the most pressing stories in US politics, offering Arab audiences’ critical context often missing from international coverage, and linking Washington’s decisions to their regional implications. 

America Bi Lahjetna is now streaming on YouTube and Asharq NOW.  


Screening of ‘Rewriting Arab News’ documentary held at EU Embassy in Riyadh

Updated 02 July 2025
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Screening of ‘Rewriting Arab News’ documentary held at EU Embassy in Riyadh

  • Film focuses on relaunch of Saudi Arabia’s first English-language daily and its coverage of the Kingdom’s reforms
  • EU Ambassador: “You are part of Vision 2030 and many of you in this room are an embodiment of this new Saudi Arabia”
  • Faisal J. Abbas: “This documentary tells a small — albeit an exciting — chapter in the history of our newspaper and the country”

RIYADH: A special screening of the documentary “Rewriting Arab News” took place at the EU Embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Saudi Arabia’s first English-language newspaper.

The film, presented by the London-based Global Arab Network, sheds light on the 2018 relaunch of Arab News, at a time when the Kingdom itself was transforming.

A ceremony, held in honor of Arab News, was attended by European ambassadors to Saudi Arabia and other notable guests, including Saudi dignitaries, diplomats, policymakers, media industry professionals, and staff of the Arab News Riyadh bureau.

Speaking at the ceremony, Christophe Farnaud, the EU ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said: “It’s a great pleasure to be here with you on … the 50th anniversary of Arab News.”

He added: “You don’t just cover the news; you also analyze them. You decipher what’s going on in the world, in the Kingdom, in the region. And you also allow dialogue and comments. And you are an open space, which I think every country needs.

“And I think it comes at the very right time, right now in the Kingdom. So, when you are also part of Vision 2030 and I must say this new Saudi Arabia and many of you in this room are an embodiment of this new Saudi Arabia.

A ceremony, held in honor of Arab News, was attended by European ambassadors to Saudi Arabia and other notable guests. (AN Photo)

“It is something that we not just support, but also, admire, in a way, my European colleagues, they came tonight in numbers — I think would share what I’ve just said.

“Once again I want to congratulate you and your team at Arab News for your work.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, Arab News’ Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas said: “On behalf of the Arab News family, we wish to extend our gratitude to the EU ambassador in the Kingdom for hosting this screening occasion as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations this year.

“This documentary tells a small — albeit an exciting — chapter in the history of our newspaper and the country as it accounts for an exciting and transformative period in our country’s progress.

“Of course, Arab News would have not been where it is today without the hard work, passion and dedication of my predecessor editors in chief, and of course, not without our founders — the Hafez Brothers — who started the newspaper in 1975.”

Part of the documentary is narrated by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the former Saudi ambassador to the US, who in the film delves into the paper’s origins.

Arab News’ Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas. (AN photo)

Arab News was established in Jeddah in 1975 by brothers Hisham and Mohammed Ali Hafiz under the slogan to give Arabs a voice in English while documenting the major transformations taking place across the Middle East.

In April 2018, Arab News changed its 43-year-old logo with a new one as well as its motto to “The Voice of a Changing Region.” The newspaper relaunched with a new design and a new approach to stories that it believed was better suited to the internet age.

In June, an event hosted by the Global Arab Network at the Frontline Club in London paid tribute to Arab News and its founders by screening a preview of the documentary for leading editors, reporters, diplomats, and analysts.

Asked following Tuesday’s screening whether he believed the documentary reflected the changes that had been taking place in the region, EU Ambassador Farnaud said: “I would say even more. I mean, it’s one of the embodiments of these changes.

“The Kingdom is undergoing incredible changes. And so is Arab News. And I particularly appreciated, by the way, the historical dimension when it was created in 1975, that was also a project corresponding to the new role of the Kingdom, in a way.

“And yes, now the Kingdom has entered a new phase, a spectacular phase of transformation. And we see that Arab News, in its own ways, is also going through a huge phase of transformation and a successful one at that.

“I was really impressed.”

Also responding to the film, Saudi philanthropist Ameera Al-Taweel said: “A lot of the transformational story for Arab News reminded me of the transformation that was happening in Saudi Arabia back in 2015, 2016 to get to Vision 2030.

Arab News was established in Jeddah in 1975 by brothers Hisham and Mohammed Ali Hafiz. (AN Photo)

“It was right around that time that Arab News was also transforming. It’s very interesting how it aligned with a youthful leader (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) who was injecting a lot of changes, believing in the younger generation, believing in keeping the legacy, but building on it.

“So a lot of what I saw in Vision 2030 and of course, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, you see it happening in the private sector or the public sector, even in the journalism sector, and the transformations that have that are happening in it.”

Although she only moved to the region in the spring, Ville Linnala, deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Finland, said the film raised pertinent issues.

“I have been in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia since May 5, so I’m very fairly fresh in the region, but I can really see these issues that were mentioned and raised in the documentary,” she said.

“For example, of course, when it comes to women’s rights and all these kinds of things, and with the Saudi Vision 2030 happening and moving forward.

“It was really, really, really interesting to see. I enjoyed this documentary a lot, so much.”

“Rewriting Arab News” is a short film about the newspaper’s relaunch and digital transformation between 2016 and 2018, presented by Global Arab Network.

 


Clashes in Istanbul over blasphemous cartoon

Updated 02 July 2025
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Clashes in Istanbul over blasphemous cartoon

  • The incident occurred after Istanbul’s chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of LeMan magazine editors

ISTANBUL: Clashes erupted in Istanbul Monday with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas to break up an angry mob after allegations that a satirical magazine had published a blasphemous cartoon, an AFP correspondent said.
The incident occurred after Istanbul’s chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of the editors at LeMan magazine on grounds it had published a cartoon which “publicly insulted religious values.”
“The chief public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the publication of a cartoon in the June 26, 2025 issue of LeMan magazine that publicly insults religious values, and arrest warrants have been issued for those involved,” the prosecutor’s office said.
As the news broke, several dozen angry protesters attacked a bar often frequented by LeMan staffers in downtown Istanbul, provoking angry scuffles with police, an AFP correspondent said.
The scuffles quickly degenerated into clashes involving between 250 to 300 people, the correspondent said.
In several posts on X, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said police had arrested the cartoonist responsible for “this vile drawing”, the magazine's graphic designer and two other staffers.
Police had also taken over the magazine’s offices on Istiklal Avenue and arrest warrants had been issued for several other of the magazine's executives, presidential press aide Fahrettin Altin wrote on X.
In a string of posts on X, LeMan defended the cartoon and said it had been deliberately misinterpreted to cause a provocation.
“The cartoonist wanted to portray the righteousness of the oppressed Muslim people by depicting a Muslim killed by Israel, he never intended to belittle religious values,” it said.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said an investigation had been opened on grounds of “publicly insulting religious values.”
“Disrespect toward our beliefs is never acceptable,” he wrote on X.
Istanbul governor Davut Gul also lashed out at “this mentality that seeks to provoke society by attacking our sacred values.
“We will not remain silent in the face of any vile act targeting our nation's faith,” he warned.