Monday 16 / September / 2024
Muscat: Prominent media figures in the Arab world have expressed their concern over the image of Arab countries being tarnished due to growing chaos and sectarianism.
On Tuesday, four influential guests were present at Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Baushar to discuss how rapprochement and harmony can be reached amid escalating conflicts in the region.
Ghassan bin Jiddo, a veteran Tunisian-Lebanese journalist, activist and the director of the Beirut-based pan-Arab satellite television channel, Al-Mayadeen, said, “The ongoing events in the Arab world have forced us to look for security. We wish to live as securely as the Omanis live.”
Peace and security
He further added, “If you are searching for peace and security, then look for Oman.”
Although Oman has been criticised by some in other GCC countries for refusing to join the Saudi-led coalition in bombarding Yemen, the ex-minister of information in Kuwait, Saad bin Tafla Al Ajmi, commented that Oman’s stance should have been “a ground to end the war.”
Abdel Bari Atwan, editor-in-chief of Rai al-Youm, an Arab world digital news and opinion website, and former editor-in-chief of the London-based pan-Arab newspaper, Al Quds Al Arabi, questioned, “How could we possibly deal with the tsunami like flood of sectarian speeches?”
He said the IS alone has around 50,000 accounts on one of the popular social media channels, let alone the many Arabic TV channels that are controlled by sectarian governments.
“Is it by a coincidence that some Arab countries, which had once been an example of living in harmony, have become a failure and have turned into fields for sectarian and racial conflicts?” Atwan stressed.
Commenting on the matter, Bin Jiddo said, “We must admit that some Arab countries are home to channels promoting sectarianism.”
He continued, “Such governments give those channels the green light to commit every wrongdoing as long as it serves their agenda.”
He also warned that “Christians have a realistic fear about their existence in our region.”
Bin Jiddo had once again renewed Al-Mayadeen’s commitment to stand with the resistance. “We are professional and objective. But we are not ashamed to align with the resistance.”
Commenting on Iranian support to his channel, he said “The day I get a financial support from Iran, or any other pro-resistance source, I will be happy to announce it.”
Alexander Nazarov, Deputy Director of Russia Today channel, has denied receiving any money from foreign governments. “Russia Today is an independent channel and we do not receive any money from foreign governments,” he asserted.
