Bad News and Good News

The detention of a Gulf News journalist two days ago (because someone at Sharjah Police objected to her reporting on a case under investigation back in February) was the bad news.

The good news is that the UAE Minister of Interior, Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, personally intervened in the case and ordered the immediate release of the journalist concerned. He has directed all police departments in the UAE come up with common procedures for dealing with the Press, and to respect the rights of journalists.

It really feels like a corner has been turned - a new Publications Law is promised in the near future, and we should be seeing some fireworks quite soon!