by Natasha Tynes | Mar 16, 2005 | Jordan, my nation, Political mayhem
It seems a comment on a post from reader Metal-or-die about Ahmed Chalabi’s involvement in fueling the protests against Jordan might have a kernel of truth to it.
This from the Jordan Times [full article here]:
A top Iraqi Shiite leader Imam Mohammad Mahdi Khalisi joined the lawmakers in rejecting the allegations. Petra quoted a statement by Khalisi’s office in Baghdad as accusing Iraqi politician “Ahmed Chalabi and an intelligence agency in an Iraq neighboring country of attempting to harm Jordan-Iraq ties.”
A Jordanian court sentenced Chalabi to 22 years in prison for fraud and embezzling $288 million from Petra Bank, which he founded and ran until its collapse in 1989, and moving the funds into Swiss accounts.”
Interesting revelation, no?
by Natasha Tynes | Mar 15, 2005 | Jordan, my nation, Media watch
Al-Ghad replied to the angry e-mail I sent after this story was published. In that letter I complained about the story and threatened to boycott their publication. They sent me a copy of the formal apology that was released today and published in the paper.
In addition, they sent some news items published today as well, including a copy of the condemnation by Jordanian officials of terrorist attacks on Iraqi civilians and a copy of the letter that the father of the alleged bomber sent to the paper. The e-mail, which was signed by the editor-in-chief of the paper, Imad al-Hmoud, also included a news item about the arrest of the Jordanian journalist that wrote the inflammatory article. Some of the files he attached were slightly different from what was published today but basically the same as the articles I linked to earlier today.
I have to admit I was pleased that they got back with me and acknowledged my complaint. It makes me less angry. It is a good sign. It shows that they have learned a lesson and learned it the hard way. Correct me if I’m wrong, but is this not one of the biggest media scandals in the history of the kingdom?
by Natasha Tynes | Mar 15, 2005 | Jordan, my nation, Media watch
In today’s issue (Arabic), al-Ghad published an apology on the front page. Here is the gist of it.
Al-Ghad said Raed al-Banna was not the car bomber of al Hilla and apologized for publishing information without checking it. Al-Ghad apologized as well to the Iraqi people for publishing this information. The paper also condemned the attacks on Sunni and Shia Iraq and stated their support and solidarity with the Iraqi people. Okay at least they apologized, this makes me feel much better. Perhaps I will change my mind about boycotting them.
Also in al Ghad, a Jordanian official denied (Arabic) that the Hilla bomber was Jordanian.
In addition, the father of the alleged bomber sent a letter (Arabic) to al-Ghad that in essence denied his son’s role in al-Hilla, saying that his son left Jordan to work and that he received a phone call informing him that his son was killed in Mosul. He denied organizing what the paper called "a martyr’s wedding" and condemned the attacks on Iraqis. The father said he only received people in his tribe conference hall that had heard the news that his son was killed in one of the districts of Mosul. He also said he plans on suing the satellite stations that ruined his image and that of his family.
The lesson of this fiasco: Irresponsible journalism can result in national scandals. Advice to al-Ghad: Train your journalists!
Before I go, I just discovered a NY Times story following up on these events. Their version follows out much of what I’ve written here, adding some pictures and curious quotes. The full text is also available on the newswire.
by Natasha Tynes | Mar 14, 2005 | Media watch, Political mayhem
In case you have not heard the news, the ramifications of al-Ghad’s irresponsible journalism continue to reverberate.
Thousands of Iraqi Shi’ ites protested Monday after hearing reports that relatives of a Jordanian suicide bomber suspected of killing 125 people in the town of Hilla celebrated him as a martyr.
After breaking into the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad and tearing down the flag, protesters called on all foreign Arabs to leave the country and then denounced Jordan’s King Abdullah.
The journalist that wrote the story has also found himself in trouble with the law. According to Petra news agency (the state news agency), the interior minister announced that the reporter, Hadi al Nsour, was arrested for "publishing false information that harmed the country." Personally, I think it shouldn’t be the journalist alone that takes all the blame. There had to have been a page editor and there should have been a managing editor that allowed this monstrosity to be published.
This all developed because of one tiny inflammatory article published in a new daily that is trying desperately to be “controversial." Amazing no? This likely would not have happened several years ago when the Arabic media published inciting articles regularly but got away with it. Things are no longer the same due to modern technology. If this didn’t teach al-Ghad a lesson, I don’t know what will.
It really is a scandal and a major embarrassment to each and every Jordanian. We say in Arabic "Fada7oona alla yefda7hom," or "they scandalized us,
May God scandalize them." And this is exactly what the suicide bomber,
his family and al-Ghad did to us! They tarnished our reputation. On a personal note, today an Iraqi Shia acquaintance
approached me saying: "What, you guys are celebrating? Natasha, I’m
going to kill you!" He was joking, fortunately.
With regard to the demonstrations, what’s with the the Star of David painted [see picture] on this particular Jordanian flag? On Aljazeera I even saw a report showing an Iraqi holding a banner decrying the "Jordanian (Israeli) Government." Does everything in this region have to be a ‘Zionist conspiracy?’ Grow up people!
by Natasha Tynes | Mar 14, 2005 | Political mayhem
This is from Iraqi blogger Hammorabi:
The rumours about the capture of the terrorist Abo Mosab Zarqawi last month near Mosel in the North West of Iraq looks true. The prove is not the outbreaks of its news in its city in Jordan last week neither his new released pictures and the arrest of his driver and his postman but the smell of the same news when one read the sites supporting them. The extremists who support the terrorists called for the last few days to be patient and pray and don’t make false assumptions. It is like some one calling its fellow to restrain themselves about a nearly certain news which just need some approval!
Again, let’s hope and pray that this thug finally gets captured and brought to justice for the atrocities he is responsible for or has committed.
This all developed because of one tiny inflammatory article published in a new daily that is trying desperately to be “controversial." Amazing no? This likely would not have happened several years ago when the Arabic media published inciting articles regularly but got away with it. Things are no longer the same due to modern technology. If this didn’t teach al-Ghad a lesson, I don’t know what will.