Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have severely restricted internet and censored journalists covering the impact of Iranian strikes after Tehran launched a devastating attack on US military bases in the countries, according to RT.
A BBC journalist said, “We should not forget that there is currently severe media censorship regarding reporting on these attacks. Even filming these attacks has been criminalized in the Gulf and Persian Gulf countries, especially in the UAE and Jordan”.
“Last time, we ourselves travelled there when we were coming overland from Iraq to here. And despite having permission to film in Jordan, they confiscated all our filming equipment,”.
They even warned journalists not to use our phones even though they had official letters granting them permission to film and report from Jordan. No one is allowed to capture any of this, the reporter added.
UAE has also previously imposed restrictions on publishing images and information related to Iranian strikes. State media agencies reported that the emirates banned the posting of images or information about the strikes, while the Committee to Protect Journalists has documented an even bigger crackdown on press freedom across the Gulf since the war began.
The restrictions have drawn criticism because journalists and members of the public may face legal consequences for recording or sharing footage of missile strikes, impact locations and resulting damage.
UAE has defended such measures on national-security grounds, while rights groups have warned that restrictions can prevent independent verification of what happens on the ground.
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