Published: 26th October 2007
HUMAN rights activists and journalists have condemned the authorities for allegedly snubbing a book which explores whether constraints have prevented the creation of cultural pluralism in Bahrain.
They say the Information Ministry has not authorised the printing of Memory Exploitations: In a Pluralistic Society, several months after the legal period for submitting a publication request has expired.
Published: 26th October 2007
HUMAN rights activists and journalists have condemned the authorities for allegedly snubbing a book which explores whether constraints have prevented the creation of cultural pluralism in Bahrain.
They say the Information Ministry has not authorised the printing of Memory Exploitations: In a Pluralistic Society, several months after the legal period for submitting a publication request has expired.
Officials from the Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) and the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), say the book, written by academic Dr Nader Kathem, is not the first to have suffered the same fate.
In a joint statement, they called for the freedom of expression of artists, researchers, academics, journalists and novelists to be respected and urged people to appeal to His Majesty King Hamad and Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
BJA vice-president Adel Marzouk said the Information Ministry’s delay in issuing authorisation for Dr Kathem’s book appeared to be an indication of a “retreat from political reform, respect of freedom of speech and creativity.”
? Gulf Daily News
