(RSF/IFEX) – In letters to Bangladeshi Information Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan and Indonesian Information Minister H. Syamsul Mu’arif, respectively, RSF protested over the censorship of the most recent issue of the weekly magazine “Newsweek”. “Aware that the representation of Muslim prophets is forbidden, our organisation nevertheless considers that the censorship of this international magazine is […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In letters to Bangladeshi Information Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan and Indonesian Information Minister H. Syamsul Mu’arif, respectively, RSF protested over the censorship of the most recent issue of the weekly magazine “Newsweek”. “Aware that the representation of Muslim prophets is forbidden, our organisation nevertheless considers that the censorship of this international magazine is an attack on the free flow of information. Furthermore, this measure deprives non-Muslims and foreigners residing in your country of an internationally-known publication,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. The organisation urged the two ministers to do everything in their power to ensure that the censored issue of “Newsweek” is distributed to subscribers and made available in kiosks.
According to information gathered by RSF, on 7 February 2002, the Bangladeshi government prohibited the distribution of the 11 February issue of the American magazine “Newsweek”. Police confiscated copies of the magazine that had arrived in the country. According to a statement issued by the Press Information Department, the decision followed the publication of a photograph of a Turkish manuscript depicting the prophet Mohammed with the angel Gabriel. The photograph was included as part of a comparative feature on Islam and Christianity. The authorities felt that this representation of Mohammed was likely to “shock devout persons.” Previously, in September 2000, an issue of “Newsweek” that included an article on Islam was banned in Bangladesh.
In Indonesia, the distribution company PT Indoprom decided to stop circulation of the same issue of “Newsweek” in the country. According to a PT Indoprom manager questioned by the daily newspaper “Jakarta Post”, the decision was taken after consulting the Indonesian Council of Ulemas. 10,000 “Newsweek” subscribers in the country are to receive a note informing them that the magazine will not be distributed as long as the contents of the article have not been examined by the Ulemas and the National Press Council. An Indonesian Council of Ulemas official told the “Jakarta Post” that he “has the power to prohibit the publication if he considers that the article insults Muslims.”
