Plea to approve new Press laws
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 1 June 2007
AN international organisation that campaigns for Press freedom has called on Bahrain’s government and MPs to approve amendments to the country’s publications law.
Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres) has thrown its support behind the amendments, which would scrap prison sentences for journalists.
It describes them as landmark legislation that could encourage other countries in the region to follow suit.
The amendments were approved by the country’s Shura Council at its meeting on Monday.
However, the amended legislation must first make it past the Cabinet and through parliament before going back to the Shura Council to be passed.
Plea to approve new Press laws
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 1 June 2007
AN international organisation that campaigns for Press freedom has called on Bahrain’s government and MPs to approve amendments to the country’s publications law.
Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres) has thrown its support behind the amendments, which would scrap prison sentences for journalists.
It describes them as landmark legislation that could encourage other countries in the region to follow suit.
The amendments were approved by the country’s Shura Council at its meeting on Monday.
However, the amended legislation must first make it past the Cabinet and through parliament before going back to the Shura Council to be passed.
“Three years ago, the lower house (parliament) rejected an earlier reform bill that included the decriminalisation of press offences,” Reporters Without Borders said in a statement on its website.
“If this second attempt succeeds, it will be a major legislative step forward and an inspiration to all countries in the region.
“We hope the deputies will approve this new bill in the spirit of His Majesty King Hamad’s comments in favour of Press freedom in May 2006.”
As well as scrapping prison sentences, the bill passed by Shura Council on May 28 stipulates that editors cannot be sued for articles they did not write.
The current Press law, which has been in force since 2002, provides for sentences ranging from six months to five years in prison for journalists convicted of Press offences.
Reporters Without Borders, a non-profit international organisation registered in France, ranks Bahrain at 111th in its latest World Press Freedom Index.
The organisation has been fighting for Press freedom on a daily basis since it was founded in 1985.
It quotes local media sources as saying that more than 65 lawsuits have been brought against journalists in Bahrain since 2001.
Although it says no journalist has been imprisoned since His Majesty came to power in 1999, reporters continue to censor themselves because the threat of jail is still there.
becky@gdn.com.bh
© Gulf Daily News
