Journalists are Not Above the Law, are they? for some reason, countries have drawn borders, passed laws, and regulated entry into or exit from this or that country.
Many may reject the logic of borders, especially those who say, “Planet Earth is common to all its inhabitants.” it is their opinion, and no one blames them for their rosy dreams. However, truth and reality require a commitment to the principle of “territoriality of laws,” respect for the sovereignty of states, and submission to their laws whenever we set foot on their soil.
Throughout the year, all countries in the world deport foreign citizens, either for violating immigration laws or even simply because the authorities of these countries decide to refuse to grant them an entry visa, and no one has the authority to revoke these countries’ absolute sovereign rights.
However, one group of deportees in the world often (Some and not all of them) deliberately link their deportation decisions to their jobs. These are journalists and correspondents and those working in the media field, as if they have exceptional rights and preferential facilities over other citizens, knowing that deportation decisions in all international norms may include even accredited diplomats, who represent their countries legally and officially, the countries that host them on have the right to ask them to leave their national territory according to what is called “Persona Non-Grata.”
While most countries are committed in their international relations to respecting the sovereignty of foreign countries, some colonial countries still cling to a sense of superiority and supremacy.
A feeling automatically transferred to their citizens and their journalists, particularly those who often consider entering the territories of former colonies an acquired right and do not find Embarrassment in violating its laws.
Furthermore, when they face persecution or expulsion, they resort to their professional entities and make a collusive connection between the freedom of the press in this country and the procedure for deporting them, forgetting that press laws internationally may be similar in general terms. However, from a procedural standpoint, they remain subject to the public order of state authorities regulating it.
The superiority complex of some colonial countries made them forget simple principles and self-evident tools in democratic dealings. In their countries, they raise the slogan of equality before the law and “No One is Above the Law,” while we see them retaining exaggerated pride if one of their citizens faces an accusation of a crime on another country’s soil.
The claim that expelling journalists for violating the laws infringes on freedom of expression is inconsistent with the concept of sovereignty. It is not the duty of any country to prove its good behavior to a foreign journalist on its soil or give him a blank check to harm its interests, insult its symbols, and sometimes falsify facts and distort the image of the host country, in Serving a purely political, ideological, or material agenda.
Respect for freedom of expression is supposed to begin with respectful expression, which, even if it differs or contradicts, must not violate the laws in force on the soil of the country in which it exists. Yes, criticism is permissible in media work, but respect for the law is more important, as traffic laws worldwide do not differentiate between car drivers because of their jobs, characteristics, or nationalities.
The colonial period is part of a past that we have buried.
Please stop daydreaming.
