7 April 2011
BAHRAIN
Two Iraqi journalists employed by the opposition newspaper Al-Wasat, Ali Al-Sherify and Raheem Al-Kabi, were arrested by the Bahraini authorities and deported on 4 April. Both had been working for Al-Wasat since 2005.
7 April 2011
BAHRAIN
Two Iraqi journalists employed by the opposition newspaper Al-Wasat, Ali Al-Sherify and Raheem Al-Kabi, were arrested by the Bahraini authorities and deported on 4 April. Both had been working for Al-Wasat since 2005.
Their deportation came one day after the information ministry announced that it was closing Al-Wasat, which was founded in 2002. The national television programme “Media Watch” had accused the newspaper the day before of trying to harm Bahrain’s stability and security and of disseminating false information that undermined the country’s international image and reputation.
The Information Affairs Authority, a government agency that regulates the media, later reversed this decision and gave Al-Wasat permission to resume publishing on 4 April. But three of its most senior journalists – editor Mansour Al-Jamari, managing editor Walid Nouihid and local news editor Aqil Mirza – were forced to resign. The board of directors announced the appointment of Abidily Al-Abidily to replace Jamari as editor.
rsf.org
