There are two kinds of media – one that is free and independent, and the other, restrained and biased. The first kind publishes news and reports in a way that is balanced, neutral and free from ambiguities, mostly prevalent in developed democracies. The second is biased in favor of the government, and is common to the Third World, including some Arab countries. When we look at the Al-Jazeera channel, from the time it moved from London to Doha in 1996, we will find that it belongs to the second group – that too, with distinction. It was never free, fair, independent or neutral. It has opened up to the ideologies that are harmful to the Arab and Islamic world, particularly to the Qatari people. I do not claim that the media in other Arab countries are fully impartial, but at least their bias is in the interest of the people. We could have understood the prejudices of Al-Jazeera if they were beneficial to the Qataris. After all, it is a channel that belongs to the Qatari government and broadcasts from Doha. But unfortunately, it has always worked against the interests of the common people. When the Qatari government adopts an imported channel, not related in any way to the interests of the Qatari people, and instead leaves it free to run amuck and destroy relations with other Arabs, one should really sit up and see it as a great betrayal. The people who abetted this media crime must be held accountable. The mere affiliation of the Al-Jazeera channel to the Qatari people has harmed them directly and indirectly. Its standing as a voice of terrorist organizations has damaged the reputation of every Qatari who is now seen as a sponsor of terror. Al-Jazeera's devious policies are often exposed when western countries periodically warn it for its misreporting. It is even prevented from broadcasting in the US through internet and cable companies. European countries, despite being committed to the free media, have laws that restrict the incitement and promotion of terrorist ideologies. For this reason, the European satellite networks, such as INTEL SAT, Hot Bird and Eutelsat, are forbidden from broadcasting official Iranian channels and its affiliated networks, such as Al-Alam in Arabic, Press TV in English and Hispan TV in Spanish. European laws also ban extremist channels, such as Al-Manar, Karbala, Al-Mayadeen, and SAT-7, even though some of them continue to broadcast through parallel frequencies. This is why I wonder how the Al-Jazeera channel is allowed to continue broadcasting on the Arab Sat and Nile sat satellites. What is the benefit of allowing it to broadcast from Doha despite the negative effect is has on the relations between the Qatari people and their Arab brothers? The Al-Jazeera channel is just not an independent voice. It does not serve the interests of the Qatari people. It is even detrimental to the future of their children's relations with the Arab world and the international community.
