Today, on August 14, 2019, Raseef22 begins its seventh year online. We have had highs and lows like everyone in our volatile region, but the only constant that has not changed since our very first day is our belief in freedom and our rejection of all forms of repression.

Why is freedom so important?

It is no exaggeration to say that most of the problems in the Arab world find their roots in one way or another in our lack of freedom. This does not diminish the role of other causes of our crises, from colonialism to foreign interference in our affairs, our position in the world economic system, a new geo-political order and many other factors.

But on most matters, we have control. We, citizens, parties and organizations share responsibility for our lack of freedoms, a lack which drains our energies, which if harnessed could completely alter our lives.

The shape of our daily lives will change and the minutiae of how we live will differ if we do not compromise our freedom. A culture of bargaining is what helps our “rulers” deprive us of many freedoms and rights. Only when we realize that our tolerance of the oppression of our adversaries, will be the cause of our own suffering tomorrow, when the balance of power shifts or the tactics of the rulers differ. Nothing stays the same.

When we have basic freedoms, we can say what we want to say, wear what we like to wear and live our lives as we please. Our lives will be better. Why should we be held to lower standards in the name of custom or religion or national interests?

When we unabashedly express our views, engage in rallies defending our convictions, support candidates or run for office, our horizons will expand and we will continue to believe that a bright future in our world is possible even if we do not succeed at first try.

Can we give up hope of a better tomorrow in exchange for a worse today for our adversaries?

When we have basic freedoms, we can say what we want to say, wear what we like to wear and live our lives as we please. Our lives will be better. Why should we be held to lower standards in the name of custom or religion or national interests?

In our seventh year, we promise to continue to defend media freedom and challenge all oppression and to remain an open door to your ideas, and a space for all our readers to debate and share ideas.

In a restrictive environment, we are what our oppressors mould us to be and we have no hope because we are not involved in creating a future that rulers tailor to their personal interests. We cannot invest ourselves in a better future, for the parasitical system is designed to kill initiative and corrupt the best intentions.

In short, as long as the democratic process is stalled, a lack of transparency will only contribute to further injustices to over 400 million humans unable to build for a better future.

This is where independent media comes in to provide citizens with the information they need to make good decisions, to be part of the movement to reject tyranny and open public debate, the worst fear of despots.

The repressive Arab authorities know the impact of independent media and classify it as an enemy, imposing economic and other restrictions, arresting and intimidating journalists, as happened with numerous colleagues in Raseef22 in our sixth year and in all previous years, and at other times completely block access to a media as happened to Raseef22 in three pivotal countries.

All this creates challenging working conditions. Every day we experience the ramifications of intimidation by the authorities on our fellow journalists, many, out of fear, prefer to stay away from fieldwork, investigative stories and "sensitive" issues, others practice self-censorship as much as censorship is practiced on them for fear of saying “too much”. Every day we resist, realizing that we and they have to pay a price for this resistance. Repressive authorities seek to frighten citizens, all citizens, not just journalists to make governing easier. Every day, we at Raseef22 seek to punch little holes in the walls of fear, in the face of adversity, and in pursuit of a better life.

These are our convictions at Raseef22 and this is what drives us our daily production, when we succeed and when we fail. In our seventh year, we promise to continue to defend media freedom and challenge all oppression and to remain an open door to your ideas, and a space for all our readers to debate and share ideas.