(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Information Minister Adnan Omrane, RSF protested the new conditions set out for the distribution of the satirical newspaper “Addomari”. Ali Farzat, the newspaper’s owner, has since decided to suspend its publication. “The authorities are currently using all possible means at their disposal to close the country’s only private satirical […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Information Minister Adnan Omrane, RSF protested the new conditions set out for the distribution of the satirical newspaper “Addomari”. Ali Farzat, the newspaper’s owner, has since decided to suspend its publication. “The authorities are currently using all possible means at their disposal to close the country’s only private satirical newspaper,” noted Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “The newspaper should be allowed to continue arranging its own independent distribution, without having to go through the state company. Does Syrian law not stipulate that private newspapers are not required to be distributed through the state company?” he asked.
According to information gathered by RSF, the satirical weekly newspaper “Addomari” suspended its publication on 21 January 2002 following the authorities’ introduction of strict new conditions for its distribution. The authorities are demanding that the satirical newspaper be distributed through the state company. Until now, the newspaper arranged its own distribution to subscribers and libraries. The state company explained that it sought to collect forty percent of the newspaper’s earnings from sales and also wanted to distribute fewer copies of the newspaper. Since the newspaper does not receive any subsidies, Farzat, the weekly’s owner, fears that this new distribution process will lead to heavy losses. As a consequence, on 21 January, he decided not to distribute the newspaper’s most recent issue. The weekly is usually published on Mondays. Farzat appealed to the Ministry of Information, recalling that the publications law does not require private newspapers to be distributed through the state company.
“Addomari” was launched in February 2001. The weekly is known for its criticism of the government. On 19 June, the authorities censored two pages of the newspaper, which included articles critical of the government (see IFEX alert of 25 June 2001). In February, the newspaper had a circulation of 60,000 copies.
