How Investment Agreements Can Protect Free Media
More than money is at stake in Al Jazeera's $150 million suit against the Egyptian government for disregarding provisions of a bilateral agreement with Qatar. The suit claims that the broadcaster's right to freedom of expression was violated, creating the possibility of using trade and investment pacts to protect media freedom.
NEW YORK – At the beginning of this year, Al Jazeera sued the Egyptian government for $150 million. The Qatar-based news channel presented its case before the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington, DC. But much more is at stake than a simple commercial disagreement in which Al Jazeera is attempting to enforce Egypt’s obligations under a bilateral investment treaty with Qatar.