As a career, journalism is full of hardships and everybody acknowledges the efforts made by journalists while they are discharging their duty. Nevertheless, before it becomes a career, journalism is about values and morals and a noble mission to the society that induces the journalist to preserve moral values and traditions.
No wonder then that all Qatari newspapers are keen to perform this task while newspapers and magazines from other parts of the world do not care about that since there are no religious or ethical norms binding them.
However, what sticks like a sore thumb here is that some newspapers and magazines in our country have started publishing photos with content that amounts to seduction and enticement to vice. This may corrupt our youth and turn some of the mannequins and actresses displayed in the photos into role models and idols for our daughters.
What is the point of showing photos of beauty queens wearing revealing clothes to our Qatari society and chaste girls? These photos are in stark contrast to our Islamic religion and our Qatari traditions. Those who publish these photos are committing sins.
Nevertheless, who is responsible? No one is responsible other than those who are in charge of these newspapers.
Some newspapers may be obliged to publish news about art, but they are not obliged to publish nude photos. This means those who are in charge of editing these newspapers are responsible for that.
Do these people not feel afraid that God will punish them? Do they not think that they will face the Creator one day and answer for all the mistakes they have committed? Do they remember what Allah said in the Holy Quran: “Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared (to record).” (Qaf 50:18)
The Qatari constitution preserves the morals, values, customs and traditions of the Qatari society. On every occasion, our caretakers confirm the importance of preserving the originality of the Qatari society and keeping away everything that contradicts it.
The problem is that despite being advised publicly and in private, these people are insisting on publishing such immoral photos in their supplementary pages in clear abuse of Qatari and Muslim feelings and indifference to our religion, customs and traditions.
This article is more like a disclaimer and an indication of the truth that some people insist on covering up. Legal measures must be taken against these people with the aim of preserving the purity of Qatari families and girls.
Religious and moral responsibilities make it necessary for us to say to these people, “Stop, and know that our morals are higher than your enticing photos. You must remember that the day when you all stand before Allah will come and He will ask each of you about everything you did.”
Those who are assigned to monitor content in newspapers must know as well that when the Day of Judgment comes, only good deeds will speak and everything else will be of no value.
Chief Editors who refuse to publish these photos must be lauded.
