24 September 2009
24 September 2009
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its ultimate concerns about prosecuting journalists and bringing them for charges of defamation and slandering when reporting about malpractices and corruption in the Government offices. The Bahrain Higher Criminal Court (HCC) presided by Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Khalifa, a member of the ruling family, scheduled next September 27th, for its verdict in the cast brought against her by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) on charges of publishing an article which “harms unity and introduce discrimination between Shia and Sunni Muslems”.
In one of her columns in Alwasat newspaper, Ms Shoroogi wrote about the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) discrimination practices in recruitment of citizen on basis of their sect and political affiliation, highlighting her own experience when applying for a post at the CSB. The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) accused Ms Shoroogi of insulting the Bureau when accusing it of discriminatory practices among citizens as well as of slandering and false reporting when she spoke of her experience.
More information: http://ifex.org/bahrain/2008/12/09/journalist_prosecuted_for_alleged/
On the other hand, the Public Prosecution (PP) has already referred to the Court the case against Mr Husain Sabt, Alwaqt newspaper journalist, on charges of defamation using publication means, which is scheduled for its first session on next October 6th. The PP bypassed its role of questioning Mr Sabt and, without any obvious reason, deprived him from showing his initial defense and refutes the evidence against him. On March 11th, 2009, in Alwaqt newspaper, Mr Sabt published a report on the corruption in Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in which he referred to the resignation of one of its officials amidst news of corruption and manipulation in the proportions of Bahrainization. This was considered defamatory and, after two days of the report, the LMRA responded in a statement in Alwaqt, negating the reasons behind the resignation of the said official.
More information: http://ifex.org/bahrain/2009/05/08/journalist_summoned_for_allegedly/
The charges in the cases formed against Ms Al-Shoroogi and Mr Sabt, as it is for other journalists in Bahrain, are based on the Press Decree Code no. 47 of 2002 and the Penal Decree Code no. 15 of 1976, which have been condemned and criticized, locally and internationally.
Mr Nabeel Rajab, President of BCHR, commented on the prosecution of journalists by saying that:” The local Authorities are not appreciating the importance of providing impunity to journalists, instead of targeting them while performing their duty in monitoring all forms of corruption and ill-practices”. He added:” Using the power of the PP and laws to undermine the role of journalism in public affairs, will evidently encourage corrupt and abusive individuals in Governmental institutions to feel safe and continue what they have been doing in the dark”. Rajab concluded:”In order to clear their tarnished image, we call upon the Authorities to put off all cases against journalists in Bahrain”
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the Bahraini Authorities to:
– Repeal the case against Ms Maryam Al-Shoroogi and Mr Husain Sabt and ensuring no reprisals are carried out against them as a result of shedding light on malpractices in official establishment.
– Stop harassing and prosecuting journalists when performing their duty of documentation, reporting and analysis about conduct of public institutions
– Amend all legislations, such that they conform with the international charters and covenants, in particular, the notorious Press Code of 2002 and the Penal Code of 1976.
APPEAL and TAKE ACTION TO:
– Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa,
King of Bahrain
– Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa,
Cabinet Prime Minister
Fax: +97 3 1 721 1363
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
MORE INFORMATION:
For further information contact Nabeel Rajab, President, BCHR, Manama, Bahrain, tel: +973 3963 3399 / 3940 0720, fax: +973 1779 5170, e-mail: nabeel.rajab@bahrainrights.org, info@bahrainrights.org, Internet: http://www.bahrainrights.org
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