RIYADH, 16 May 2007 — While local media continue to circulate news about the return to work of two Saudi women radio journalists who were suspended recently, the reality of whether they have been reinstated or not remains unclear.
Wafa Baker and Fatimah Al-Unaizi, who used to work as announcers for Radio Riyadh, were dismissed from work indefinitely for making “touchy statements” at the Saudi Media Women’s Forum earlier this month.
Issues pertaining to the rights of women journalists dominated discussions at the forum, which was sponsored by Princess Adela bint Abdullah.
The women were reported to have spoken about how they had not been paid for four months and how there are no work regulations guaranteeing their rights, especially when they are harassed by male colleagues. The women had subsequently called for a reconsideration of their situation.
At the forum, Princess Adela requested the women to draft a letter detailing their situation and demands to be handed to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
Journalists and media representatives from inside and outside the Kingdom attended the forum, which was held for the second consecutive year.
Princess Adela also commended Saudi women journalists for highlighting the role of Saudi women in economic development.
However, Abdul Rahman Al-Hazza, assistant deputy minister for broadcasting affairs, considered the complaints of the two radio journalists as “criticism” of the Ministry of Culture and Information saying the statements had been made publicly without previously being taken up with radio officials.
In a letter to the general manager of Radio Riyadh, Al-Hazza said that the women’s statements brought the Kingdom’s media into disrepute.
Wafa Baker, who is well known for her popular kids’ programs, refused to comment whether she would be returning to work or not. “I don’t want to worsen the case anymore,” she said.
However, Fatima Al-Unaizi, who has been working in the Saudi media for 17 years, said she has not returned to work. “I am still home and I insist nothing that I said was meant to offend any official. I wanted to draw attention to a difficult situation that I face and speak on behalf of many others who are in the same situation,” she said.
The action taken against the two radio announcers raised concerns among Saudi women reporters, who thought the forum was a platform to publicly voice their opinions without fear of punishment.
One young reporter, who refused to disclose her name or that of her newspaper, said that organizers of such forums must guarantee freedom of speech to participants, or in the least outline limits that they are not allowed to cross.
However, Nahid Bashatah, a columnist and head of the Women’s Media Center, told Arab News that she had decided not to sponsor the forum anymore. “The organizing committee of the forum doesn’t set lines, which may restrict speakers from expressing their opinions. Attendees may speak freely, yet consider the consequences of their statements,” she said.
She added, “I believe women who work within the media are most likely to be fully aware of the degree to which freedom of speech is upheld in public forums.”
