Journalists Traveling With Obama Warned By Saudis: Report Only On Obama Or Else [UPDATED]

UPDATE: A Saudi government spokesman tells Ben Smith that the White House warning about journalist restrictions in Saudi Arabia is "inaccurate."

"Journalists are free to go wherever and report on whatever they want," emails Karen Hanretty of Qorvis Communications, the American PR firm that the Saudi government uses.

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TIME's Michael Scherer, who will be accompanying President Obama on his trip to Saudi Arabia Tuesday, reports that he has been warned by the U.S. State Department that, while in Saudi Arabia, he is not to report on anything except the President's visit lest he "risk arrest and detention by Saudi authorities."

Scherer writes that "by agreement between the Obama Administration and the Saudi government, the White House press corps will be severely restricted while in the country," and he shared with readers the instructions sent to him by the State Department:

The Saudi government is permitting journalists accompanying President Obama entry into the country without a visa or the usual customs procedures. While in Saudi Arabia, therefore, journalists are expressly prohibited from leaving the hotel or engaging in any journalistic activities outside of coverage of the POTUS visit. Those who do so risk arrest and detention by Saudi authorities.

In February, the State Department's 2008 Human Rights Report on Saudi Arabia discussed at length limitations on freedom of the press in that country:

The Basic Law does not provide for freedom of speech or the press, and the government generally did not respect these rights in practice. Several major media outlets were owned by members of the royal family, and individuals were not permitted to criticize the royal family publicly. The government actively impeded criticism and monitored citizens' political activity. In rare cases, individuals criticized specific government bodies or actions publicly without repercussions.

According to the Basic Law, the media's role is to educate the masses and promote national unity. Media outlets can legally be banned or publication temporarily halted if they are deemed to promote "mischief and discord, compromise the security of the state and its public image," or if it "offends a man's dignity and rights." The government continued to restrict freedom of speech and press by interrupting publication and dissemination of news sources critical of the royal family or of Islam. Authorities prevented or delayed distribution of foreign print media, effectively censoring these media and publications. During the year media discussions took place that tested the boundaries of permissible topics for media coverage, including political and social reforms, actions of government ministries, domestic and child abuse, rights of women and human rights, corruption, drug and alcohol abuse, crime rates and violence, trafficking in persons, HIV/AIDS, and the religious police.

Comments

[tippydog11]

hmmm sounds like media laws has dignity for all there...rush would not be on the radio there..or republicans calling sotomayor a racist on their news station...that is a good law..

Media outlet in Arab country can legally be banned or publication temporarily halted if the are
1. Deemed to promote mischief and discord---­-----Iask-­do we not do that all the time?
2. compromise the security of the State and its public image---Do we not do that all the time?-
3. Or if it offends a man's dignity and rights.......... Do we not do that all the time?..remember their faith man is the head of the house hold and so true in our faith also,they believe in the same God we do... but we do not follow that law, do we?

[PC Contrarian]

Scherer of Time writes that "by agreement between the Obama Administration and the Saudi government, the White House press corps will be severely restricted while in the country,"

I wonder if Obama also instructed everybody to bow to the Saudi King when they meet him.
If you don't know how it's done, just use Obama's latest meeting with the Saudi King as a training video.
Perhaps, Obama's staff and entourage can also use the occasion to apologize profusely to every Muslim they meet for all the sins the American government has committed against Muslims; especially under Republican Administrations.

[Loki11467]

We must get off oil immediately. The Saudi Rulers are heinous MF's who deserve to have their government overthrown by the people...even if that means using armed force. And we are doing nothing but showing the Saudi people why they should hate us. Why they should attack us.

[NevaforLeadership]

This is a high-level PR trip to improve relations, so I believe it is important to toe their line.

It's all so hypocritical though.

Why, when western female journalists travel in these countries on other occasions, do they always appear in hide-the-woman garb? Do they do this voluntarily? Or is the right to complete their assignment contingent on this form of dress?

Almost every day, now, I see Muslim women covered from head to toe -- eyes only showing -- walking down the street, with their male companions in front, dressed in the latest trends, often casting their eyes over pretty women.

It makes my blood boil. We tolerate this form of abuse under the guise of freedom of religion.

[harriettubman]

This is probably some lie someone planted in the MSM. Do they think we're fools to believe that Obama would restrict a journalist?

[antifluff]

Since when did the press need to be at the location to write a story about it?
Are they going to report on the pres bowing to the king again?
Has the press gotten used to taking orders from administrations?
Are the press water toters for the present admin, that they would listen to another country's leader?
Is the king, the king of the press?
Does the press have any spine, left (pun)?
Doesn't the press adore dictators?
Doesn't the press only report about how great dictatorships are?

[AbstractImp]

Why do we give these people money and weapons?

[Pippen]

Oil. Rather the Oil market. Not stictly for the money changing hands in the market or the world influence of the oil market but more so for the national security of the United States.

When you find and vote and approve of a substitute for a resource thats "viable" in a retail consumer capitalist market for oil please everyone know. Because until that day evolves we're married to the mob. We'd love to get a divorce but the husband's best beer drinking friends don't want him to separate from his wife. Unusual twist huh ?

If the oil market tanks the U.S. stock market will crash the same instance. And WWIII will commence.

Ask yourself now, what would provoke the oil market to tank ? And you'll be able to map our foreign policy like coloring a hooked on phonics puzzle for 5th graders.

[PC Contrarian]

Interesting take.
Please answer your own question, "what would provoke the oil market to tank ?"
There are more than one option.

[totalliberal]

It sure will be nice when we finally get out from under the thumb of these little middle-age tyrants.

[Ohsherri]

Are these the same US Press people that pi-ggy-backed George Bush into
a w@r -of-choice in IrAQ?
The same US Press who never saw the link of 4 generations of Bushies
who have had their hand in profiteering and promoting w@rs?
Our US Press can't be trusted HERE!
How can they be trusted anywhere else for gawdsakes!

[MarkieBee]

following the Bush doctrine and trying to look like we are the coolest kids on the block with the biggest hearts, why haven't we invaded Saudi Arabia yet. If you think about it, a barrel of oil is a weapon of mass destruction.

[barrycourage]

Of what is the Saudi government afraid?

That some enterprising American reporter will find the true link between the goverment and the thugs who pulled off 9-11?

[gypsysailor]

Why should the reporters going to Saudi have to put up with this when they can stay in the U. S. and have the folks from Fox News tell them basicly the same thing?

[SaulBloodworth]

This is a complete non-story. All it says is that since these U.S. journalist are entering Saudi-Arabia without a press visa they can‘t cover the country in general, they can only cover the politicians they are accompanying. The United States has the exact same rules for foreign journalists. In fact, compared to U.S. practice it‘s rather a courtesy that they don‘t have to apply for a visa.

If they want to cover the country they simply should apply for a press visa.

[formerprosecutor]

What are you trying tot sell ??
The US does not in anyway threaten arrest of ANY journalist that :

"banned or publication temporarily halted if they are deemed to promote "mischief and discord, compromise the security of the state and its public image," or if it "offends a man's dignity and rights." The government continued to restrict freedom of speech and press by interrupting publication and dissemination of news sources critical of the royal family or of Islam. Authorities prevented or delayed distribution of foreign print media, effectively censoring these media and publications. "

[JessWonderin]

If we were serious we would be working and spending furiously to reach the energy self sufficient point where the Saudis would be BEGGING to trade their useless oil for a glass of water . . . . then they can STAY sealed in the 14th Century . . . .

[Paula Ann]

China,Russia,and India won't find Saudi oil usless. BTW they have been desalinating water for some time.

[thewestmorg]

re: energy self sufficiency. Lets invent a computer with the keys attached to little electrical generators. There's enough posted on this forum alone to power 3 houses for a full day

[nana4g]

Well, that is the way it is over there. Period. I spent 2 1/2 years there working as an RN for ARAMCO, in my mid life, empty nest crisis, and it was in 1994, or right after Gulf War I. They loved us then. They were very nice and hospitable to me and to nurses. But, we read up about the Kingdom, the history, the Muslim faith, the theocracy, the Mutawa or the religious police, the dress norms, behaviors, etc. Nurses had to be single, not married. Living in the ARAMCO compound was not bad and we had good accomodations. Going off compound to Dhahran for shopping, a meal out, we observed the dress code, no shorts, sleeveless, etc, behavior of modest and respectful, and encountered no problems. No one is allowed, however, to roam freely and photograph anything, including the people. And no one can travel within the Kingdom without special visa like authorities. You may not agree with how they do things, but, if you go there, for business, as there is no tourism, you need to be respectful of their requirements and their customs.