Al Jazeera was a mouthpiece for Al-Qaeda (1) . “Inhuman and degrading was the treatment we received over six years”, Al-Haj recalls, when he thinks about the time he spent in Guantanamo without any charges. “They stripped us of our clothes, and made fun of our bodies. They were taking pleasure in torturing the detainees in whatever means they practice”, he added (2) . Al-Haj’s ordeal, and that of other journalists working for Al Ja- zeera who’ve been subjected to attacks, show the modus operandi of those who wish to target a media outlet because it stands witness to and as a vehicle for telling the world what is going on. A targeting that clearly violates human rights, by a country promoting itself as a de- fender of freedoms and human rights in the world. The failed attempts to link Al Jazeera with the stigma of “terrorism”, were simply because its coverage did not please the U.S. administration. These attempts also included efforts to curb Al Jazeera’s influence and create a rift with its viewers. It is remarkable however; the targeting of Al Jazeera was not con- fined to governments and countries considered authoritarian that give themselves the right of guardianship and restrict the freedom of speech and press. Rather, the most dangerous forms of attacks against the net- work came from those who are supposedly fully aware of the require- ments of independent journalism, free press and free expression. These aggressions and illegal acts made Al Jazeera’s journey even more costly, especially given the Network broadcasts from one of the most hostile and war-torn regions in the world. This volatile and risky work environ- ment has led to a heavy price. Eleven Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in the line of duty during the past twenty-five years. 2. The Occupation of Iraq: Restrictions on Communicating Truth and Targeting Journalists In 2003, the U.S. army occupied Iraq, claiming it was liberating it. Under the occupation, Iraq experienced its highest record of the most
(1) Ibid.
(2) Al-Haj, personal interview, Ibid.
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