The publishing of photos of presidential underwear had writers howling, writes Rasha Saad "Saddam washes his clothes" was Saturday's banner in the Saudi-funded, London-based Asharq Al- Awsat with a full page photo underneath of Saddam Hussein washing his clothes. The picture was published a day after the source of the photos, the British tabloid The Sun, had it on its front page. Asharq Al-Awsat, in conjunction with The Sun, published other photos of the former Iraqi leader inside his prison, sleeping in his cell, strolling in the prison garden and in his underwear in an inside page. On Sunday Asharq Al-Awsat ran a front page story on the controversy generated by the photos, quoting a reporter for an Iraqi satellite channel who described their publication "a clear violation of human rights". The paper added that while there were differences of opinion regarding the publishing of the photos, almost all Iraqis were convinced that the whole affair was pre-conceived, given the high level of security inside the prison which would make it almost impossible to be infiltrated unless it was an inside job. In justifying his paper's decision to publish Saddam's photos, Tareq Al-Homayed, editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, lashed out at those who regarded the matter as unethical, arguing that it was not the first time Saddam was photographed half- naked. Such pictures were published twice before -- one when he was president, while he was swimming in the Tigris River to quash rumours that he was ill; the other while he was swimming in the Euphrates. Al-Homayed said all the pictures were splashed on front page newspapers and on the top of the list of TV news shows to tell all that the "great leader" was in great health and in the best of shape. "Are Saddam's pictures in the Tigris newsmaking items worth publishing while his photos in prison are not and are considered unethical?" asked Al-Homayed. Saddam's pictures while swimming, Al- Homayed contends, were published for his own personal interests and the pictures while in prison were also published for the personal interests of others. "It is all publicity and Saddam is the brainchild of such stunts so this is a just end for him. We do not gloat but he is sipping from the same bitter cup of the media." In the same issue, Ahmed Al-Rubie did not feel much sympathy for the former president. In "Saddam washing his socks" Al-Rubie criticised those who saw in the photos a violation of the Geneva Conventions and international law. "Saddam, who was stripped of humanity and mercy long ago, should not be offended to be stripped of his clothes." Al-Rubie said the ethical stripping which Saddam exercised on his people for decades is the image seared most in people's minds, so publishing his photos, even if it's in his underwear, should not matter that much to them. The writer reminded readers about "the innocent victims" in Kurdish Halabja; huge mass graves; Iranian and Kuwaiti POWs killed inside Saddam's prisons; along with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. "Saddam used to wear the most elegant French suits, smoke the most expensive Cuban cigars while Iraq was naked, its dignity violated and millions of his people displaced from Sidney to Chicago," Al-Rubie said. In the Kuwaiti Al-Rai Al-Aam, Ali Al-Roz wrote in "The president's underwear and the dignity of the nation" that the photos showing the president washing his laundry, in bed and in his cell, walking in the prison garden or praying serves Saddam's image more than harms it. "The photos give a man like [Saddam] whose qualities are devoid of any humane features, a humane face." According to Al-Roz the photos were directed to Saddam-like leaders and not to ordinary Arabs and Muslims, "to those who do not know about power and rule but only fear and suppression". "The publishing of the photos also shows the mentality of some Arab politicians who see the image of the president in his underpants a humiliation of the Arabs who considered all his past crimes heroism and acts of sovereignty," added Al-Roz. Also in Al-Rai Al-Aam, Fahd Al-Bassem believes that "Saddam has always treated his people as laundry to be washed and ironed. "Nothing is new then that causes fear of an escalation of violence as a result of the photos and its effect on the dignity and sentiments of the Arab people. What happened is just a change of laundry but the washer is the same." Mohamed Al-Ashab wrote on the pictures and its uses in the media in the London-based Al-Hayat which published one photo on the front page of The Sun in one of its inside pages. He argued that the Arab individual is a rich source for images and caricatures in the Western press, notably in the oil war. "Humiliation and disgrace have always been the Western view of everything that is Arab." According to Al-Ashab, publishing an embarrassing picture of the deposed Iraqi president was not in itself a source of irritation since it was not doctored. However, he added, the criticism stems from the fact that he is a prisoner and as such is guaranteed basic human rights as found in relevant treaties and conventions. Al-Ashab argues that Saddam is not what he used to be since his statues were knocked down, making him just another number awaiting a fatal end. Thus, according to the writer, publishing his pictures does not affect reality, which came following the toppling of his dictatorship. But Al-Ashab added that even if the pictures were of someone else, there was nothing to justify publishing them. "Using the pictures, as were the imaginary reports regarding Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction is meant to justify policies." Al-Ashab said the Arab media seems always subordinate, except in rare cases, to the West. Its ability to influence its external environment remains limited. "Before condemning media practices violating professional ethics, the Arab media should rise to confront the challenges it faces."
