Experts slam Lebanese media’s misogynistic portrayal of Ukrainian women

A Ukrainian woman fleeing Russian invasion hugs a child at a temporary camp in Przemysl, Poland. (Reuters)
Short Url
Updated 24 March 2022
Follow

Experts slam Lebanese media’s misogynistic portrayal of Ukrainian women

  • A Lebanese media outlet was slammed last week for its misogynistic coverage of the Ukrainian-Russian war
  • Often referred to as a progressive country, Lebanon in reality suffers from a deep case of racism and misogyny

LONDON: In Lebanon, people have often resorted to humor and social jokes to get through the various hardships they have endured in recent years. However, in many instances, this humor crossed moral and ethical lines. 

A Lebanese media outlet, Al-Sharq newspaper, was slammed last week for its misogynistic coverage of the Ukrainian-Russian war, which objectified Ukrainian women in false attempts to evoke sympathy. 




Lebanon's Al-Sharq newspaper featured a half-clothes Russian model who the newspaper claimed is a Ukrainian woman. (Twitter)

Misogynistic images were also circulated on Lebanese WhatsApp groups objectifying Russian and Ukrainian women under the guise of humor. 




Images objectifying Ukrainain women were circulated on Lebanese WhatsApp groups with the caption: "Ukrainian refugees." (Twitter)

“These are not innocent jokes; they are misogyny and sexism concealed in humor. They are instruments of propaganda and control that propagate and maintain the misogynist discourse in society,” Lina Zhaim, a media, communications and development expert, told Arab News.

On its eighth page in the variety segment, Al-Sharq published a photo of a half-clothed blonde curvy woman, who the newspaper claimed is a Ukrainian woman.  

The image was accompanied with a photoshopped superimposed logo of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and a caption in Spanish that read “Adopta una Ucraniana,” (adopt a Ukrainian). 

Underneath the logo, the newspaper included a deeply insulting Arabic caption, likely intended to be humorous, which read: “Humanitarian deed, adopt a Ukrainian woman to protect her from the Russian occupation.”




Images objectifying Russian and Ukrainain women were circulated on Lebanese WhatsApp groups with the caption: "God knows who we should side with, Russia or Ukraine." (Twitter)

“These types of jokes stereotype women and normalize the sexual objectification of women under the disguise of humor. The image as well as the language of the joke are offensive to women everywhere; they devalue women and reduce them to sexual objects for the gaze of men and reinforce the sexual stereotyping of women,” Zhaim added.

The fact that the editor-in-chief of Al-Sharq, Awni Kaaki, is also the head of the Lebanese Press Syndicate makes matters even worse. 

“The media is not becoming sexist; it was always like this. It is reflective of the institutionalized misogyny, toxic masculinity and condescending attitudes towards women,” Zhaim explained.

“The Lebanese media are still dominated by misogynist and sexist cultures and ideologies, and are still managed by misogynist men like Kaaki who control the narrative of the women’s agency in our culture: they have created and continue to cement the image of women as nothing more than sexual objects to be shown off, exploited and oppressed.” 




Images objectifying Russian and Ukrainain women were circulated on Lebanese WhatsApp groups with the caption: "For the love of God Putin, don't you dare harm them." (Twitter)

Journalists and media experts in Lebanon slammed Al-Sharq and Kaaki for the level of misogyny seemingly disguised as humor. 

Veteran journalist Magda Abu Fadil detailed in a blog post Kaaki’s response to the accusations. After receiving heavy backlash, Kaaki claimed that newspaper editors don’t always micromanage a publication. 

“First of all, she’s a beautiful girl; this is on social media and the guys at my paper published it,” Kaaki said in response to the publication.  

“This is Al-Sharq newspaper, the paper of the Press Syndicate’s president Awni Kaaki, president of the misogynistic press, accused in Kuwait of human trafficking prostitutes,” tweeted Zhaim. 

“This is Awni Kaaki who accuses independent women journalists of faking being journalists because they refused to recognize him and the male chauvinist union over which he presides like a rooster.”

 

 

“Al-Sharq newspaper is hardly representative of the Lebanese press and population,” Mohanad Hage Ali, director of communications and fellow at Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, told Arab News. 

Ali added that “the newspaper is notorious for their light reporting, often publishing WhatsApp jokes without the slightest fact check.”

However, regardless of whether the feature was designed to be taken seriously, this kind of content is familiar territory in Lebanon. Indeed, racism is one form of discrimination that is rampant and mainstream in the country’s politics and media and targets numerous nationalities, including those from Syria, the Phillippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and many others. 

Migrant workers, particularly those from southeast Asian and African countries, have been suffering for decades in Lebanon under the Kafala system where they are treated with abuse, exploitation and a denial of basic human rights.  

Following Lebanon’s devastating economic crisis, many were kicked out of homes where they had worked for years and left on the streets to fend for themselves. 

 

 

In 2015, thousands of people in Lebanon were subjected to an advert which read: “For Mother’s Day indulge Ur Mom and offer her a housekeeper. Special offers on Kenyan and Ethiopian nationalities for a period of 10 days.” 




Text message was sent to thousands of Lebanese numbers. (Twitter)

More recently, Sporting Beach club in Beirut sparked controversy online after its racist policy form made headlines. 

It all started when a regular at the beach club uploaded a Facebook post showcasing a new policy form — targeting migrant domestic workers — that management handed out to their customers. 

The form, which clients were asked to sign, is titled “Helper Dress Policy,” and features an image depicting what a domestic worker should be wearing to be allowed into the beach club.

The form added that those who breach the dress code will be asked to leave the premises without a refund. 




Visitors were provided this form to fill upon entering the beach club. (Step Feed) 

The incident coincided with heavy criticism against the club when the management refused entry to an Indian woman and her daughter. The woman in question was a lecturer attending the club with fellow academics. 

This is not the first time the club has been slammed for racist policies. Indeed, an undercover video taken at its lavish premises exposed a cashier repeatedly refusing to grant entry to an African woman from Madagascar went viral online in 2010.

 

 

 

More recently, a Sudanese TV anchor received heaps of misogynist and racist tweets following a report on her show that criticized the Lebanese government. 

The hate-filled comments targeting Dalia Ahmad, an anchor on Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed news channel, ranged from calling her a “female dog” to tweets suggesting she should be “offered for sale in the slave market, along with her ilk, by ISIS,” another term for terror group Daesh.  

Another tweet said: “By God, by God, whoever wants to attack the Al-Sayyed (Nasrallah), I want to wipe the ground with them and curse those who gave birth to them,” alongside an image of Ahmad with the face of a dog photoshopped over hers. 

Often referred to as a progressive country, Lebanon in reality suffers from a deep case of racism and misogyny. Targeting domestic migrant workers and those with darker skin colors does not seem to be the only form of discrimination. 

Following the Syrian conflict, a similar scourge of racist treatment was felt by Syrian refugees who had fled the atrocities of the civil war into neighboring Lebanon.

Lebanese politicians have been actively scapegoating Syrian refugees and blaming them for economic, social and security failures in the country. In some villages in Lebanon, local authorities have even imposed curfews on Syrian refugees. 

Syrian refugees were often accused of “stealing jobs,” and many were referred to as construction workers or janitors. 

 

 

Mainstream Lebanese media has not been an innocent bystander in this xenophobic targeting. A video went viral on social media in 2016 after Lebanese university students were asked whether they would date a Syrian. Almost all responders said no. 

Explaining their position, the Lebanese interviewed said: “No, because he’s from a different culture,” or “no because he doesn’t speak the language.”

 

 

 


Fearless Saudi 13-year-old launches Vision 2030 podcast

Updated 24 January 2025
Follow

Fearless Saudi 13-year-old launches Vision 2030 podcast

  • Teenager aims to educate the public about Kingdom’s vision
  • Overcame public speaking fears to become podcaster

RIYADH: Saudi Linda Al-Faisal, who is only 13, aims to make an impact through her podcast, Linda Vision 2030, with each episode featuring a guest trailblazer.

Through her podcast, she connects with thousands of local and international subscribers, engaging in conversations about the Kingdom’s vision.

In her first episode, titled “How Saudi Arabia Became a Global Hub,” she discusses the projects being driven by the Kingdom, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, claiming “Saudi Arabia is no longer the land you once knew.”

In her third episode, Al-Faisal interviewed Tamim Turki, a teenage Saudi sports presenter.

Then, in her fourth episode, Al-Faisal sat down Hassan Yusuf, program director for Saudi Arabia’s Real Madrid foundation, where the pair discussed the role of youth in achieving the goals of Vision 2030.

When she was five years old, Al-Faisal was interested in becoming a ballerina, and after being enrolled in classes she later fulfilled her childhood dream. Today, she is a ballerina as well as a podcast host.

Influenced by her friends, who have their own podcast, Al-Faisal decided to create her own platform.

“Why I chose (the topic of) Vision 2030 is because many people don’t know what it talks about or what is going to happen. So, I decided to search and learn more about Vision 2030 so I can teach the people.

“The biggest goal that I want to achieve from my podcast is that I want to make every listener feel proud with all the developments and changes happening in Saudi Arabia.”

After years of presenting at school, facing her fears, Al-Faisal became a natural public speaker, learning communication techniques through observation and practice to become an effective presenter.

“I used to be nervous while presenting during my first time in school. We all learn from our mistakes, and I learned from mine and became stronger. The speeches I used to present in school made me more powerful.”

Al-Faisal’s ballet talent earned her third place in the “Creative Journey Around the Kingdom,” a program launched by the General Entertainment Authority in collaboration with MBC Academy, which sets out to identify local talent.

Al-Faisal’s message to teenagers is to keep dreaming and always stay positive.

“Do not let negative thinking destroy you. Always focus on yourself because you are the main character of your life.”


Sky News Arabia opens new headquarters, announces fresh programming

Updated 23 January 2025
Follow

Sky News Arabia opens new headquarters, announces fresh programming

DUBAI: Sky News Arabia, part of media group IMI, has opened its new headquarters in the same building as the IMI HQ on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

The new HQ features advanced broadcasting studios fitted with the latest AI technologies, the company said.

Sky News Arabia has also launched a new programming grid covering politics, lifestyle, sports, business and entertainment.

The announcements come 12 years after the channel’s launch.

They mark a new chapter that “embodies our forward-thinking strategy to anticipate and exceed audience expectations by embracing cutting-edge technologies and delivering diverse, engaging programming that transcends borders, setting new benchmarks for excellence,” said Rani Raad, CEO of IMI and president and operating partner of Redbird IMI.

The company has been working over the past year to elevate “the way each of the media companies within our network engage with audiences, to ensure we continue to deliver content that truly resonates,” he added.

The new programming will include shows such as “Studio One” hosted by Fadila Souissi, which will highlight political and societal issues, and the “Emad Eldin Adib” show, which will focus on politics in the Arab world.

Sky News Arabia is also expanding its lineup of non-political shows. The “Al Sabah Show” will return, featuring segments on health, fashion, law, and celebrities. It will be hosted by Maha Abdullah, Ahmed Qassem, Hani Ziadeh, Christine Dagher and Lubna Mansour.

The show will extend to digital channels and social media platforms through 12 specifically tailored mini-segments.

“In an era of rapid change and information overload, we are committed to empowering our audience with the tools to navigate and discern credible news,” said Nadim Koteich, general manager of Sky News Arabia.

He added: “By providing transparent, engaging and diverse content across politics, economics, lifestyle and technology, we ensure that Sky News Arabia remains a credible source of information that meets the dynamic needs of our viewers.”


Benefits of AI economy must be equitably distributed, says UN tech envoy in Davos

Updated 23 January 2025
Follow

Benefits of AI economy must be equitably distributed, says UN tech envoy in Davos

  • Amandeep Singh Gill seeks ‘global’ efforts to tackle digital divide
  • ‘We need to have a more collaborative and respectful approach’

DAVOS:The power of artificial intelligence and quantum computing must be harnessed to benefit nations across the world, not only developed economies, said Amandeep Singh Gill, the UN’s envoy on technology, on Thursday.

Speaking during a panel titled “From High-Performance Computing to High- Performance Problem Solving,” Gill said that countries in Africa, for example, hold less than 0.5 percent of graphic processing units worldwide.

Also participating in the discussion were Georges-Olivier Reymond, co-founder and CEO of PASQAL; Ana Paula Assis, senior vice president and chair IBM EMEA and Growth Markets; and Paul Alivisatos, president of the University of Chicago.

“My challenge is to convince policymakers who have limited resources to invest in the digital divide, data and AI and quantum development as well,” explained the envoy.

“There is a backlash against the neo-colonial situation, where the tech is developed in just a few geographies, and the rest of the world is takers of this tech. You can call it the sovereignty backlash … we need to have a more collaborative and respectful approach,” he added.

When asked by panel moderator Azeem Azhar, CEO of Exponential View, about the risk of uncertainty in the field of quantum computing, Gill said he sees an opportunity more than a risk.

“We are at an early stage in terms of the science and technology of developing things so different technologies might be used. A degree of uncertainty and diversity is important,” he added.

But the envoy emphasized the need to have a unified global force that would ensure everyone can participate in this area of technology.

“When we look at the global majority, not everyone will be able to use quantum computing, the cryptographic effort has to be global, it can’t be isolated,” he said.

Gill said the world is shifting toward quantum infrastructure in order to reduce energy consumption. According to the envoy, today’s AI systems consume a great deal of energy.

The UN deemed 2025 as the “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.” This initiative aims to celebrate quantum mechanics and educate people on its impacts on technology, culture, and understanding of the world.


Al Jazeera says the Palestinian Authority arrested one of its reporters

Updated 23 January 2025
Follow

Al Jazeera says the Palestinian Authority arrested one of its reporters

  • The Qatar-based news network reported that its reporter Mohammed Al-Atrash was arrested from his home

The Al Jazeera news network says the Palestinian Authority arrested one of its reporters after preventing him from covering an Israeli operation in the occupied West Bank.
The Qatar-based news network reported Thursday that its reporter, Mohammed Al-Atrash, was arrested from his home.
It said Palestinian security forces had earlier prevented him from reporting on a large Israeli military operation in Jenin, an epicenter of Israeli-Palestinian violence in recent years. The Palestinian Authority launched its own crackdown on militants in the city late last year.
There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian Authority.
Both Israel and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority banned Al Jazeera last year. Israel accuses it of being a mouthpiece of Hamas over its coverage of the war in the Gaza Strip and says some of its reporters are also militants.
The pan-Arab broadcaster has rejected the allegations and accused both Israel and the Palestinian Authority of trying to silence critical coverage.
The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and cooperates with Israel on security matters. It is unpopular among Palestinians, with critics portraying it as a corrupt and authoritarian ally of Israel.


South Sudan orders temporary ban on social media over violence in neighboring Sudan

Updated 23 January 2025
Follow

South Sudan orders temporary ban on social media over violence in neighboring Sudan

  • Many South Sudanese have been angered by footage from Sudan that purports to show killings by militia groups of South Sudanese in Gezira state

JUBA, South Sudan: South Sudanese authorities on Wednesday ordered telecoms to block access to social media for at least 30 days, citing concerns over the dissemination of graphic content relating to the ongoing violence against South Sudanese in neighboring Sudan.
The temporary ban, which could be extended to up to 90 days, will come into force at midnight Thursday, according to a directive from the National Communication Authority, NCA, to telecom companies stressing that the measure was necessary to protect the public.
“This directive may be lifted as soon as the situation is contained,” the NCA said. “The contents depicted violate our local laws and pose a significant threat to public safety and mental health.”
Many South Sudanese have been angered by footage from Sudan that purports to show killings by militia groups of South Sudanese in Gezira state. South Sudanese authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Jan. 17 after a night of retaliatory violence during which shops owned by Sudanese traders were looted.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, condemned “the brutal killings of South Sudanese nationals” in Sudan and urged restraint.
Civil war in Sudan has created a widening famine and the world’s largest displacement crisis. Fighting between forces loyal to rival military leaders exploded in the capital, Khartoum, in April 2023 and has since spread to other areas.
The conflict has been marked by atrocities, including ethnically motivated killing and rape, according to the UN and rights groups.