Manama- May 9(BNA: Bahrain has set a model in respecting press and media liberties in compliance with the constitution and international media and human rights conventions, an Information Affairs Authority (IAA) official source said.
The source affirmed Bahrain’s full commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees freedom of expression and opinion, but stipulates however that
“the exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities.”
“It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary (a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; (b) For the protection of national security or of public order (order public), or of public health or morals. (ICCPR- Article 19)
Article 20 states that “any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law. 2. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law”.
Article 21 stipulates “the right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.”
The source affirmed that press and media institutions in Bahrain exercise their duties within a transparent and pluralistic legal, political and economic environment, without any constraints whatsoever, other that the deontological regulations stipulated in the constitution, national legislations and international conventions and under the reform and democratic projects which aim to enforce the rule of law, consolidate state institutions and bolster the democratic society.
“The law on press provides protection for journalists, criminalizes any affront or abuse or arbitrary sacking of journalists. No journalist has been sacked arbitrarily, murdered, jailed or detained for exercising his constitutional right of freedom of expression,” the source said. “No press or media institution was shut down for the aforementioned reasons. On the contrary, the number of newspapers increased from 4 in 1999 to 12 dailies and weeklies nowadays. The law in Bahrain bans any confiscation or closure of newspapers or revocation of their licences unless by court rulings”, the source added.
The State Minister for Information Affairs said the new enlightened and comprehensive law of the press and communication which was referred to the legislative authority does not stipulate the imprisonment or deprivation of the freedom of journalists. A High Authority for Information and Communication (HAIC) was established in 2013 to monitor media contents and advertisements, with the aim of consolidating the freedom and independence of all mass media and communication in compliance with human rights and professional criteria.
The source stressed the achievements of Bahrain, which ranked first in the Arab World and the region and 13th in the world in economic freedom as per the report issued by the US-based Heritage Foundation in 2014.
Economic and investment achievements have had a positive impact on media in Bahrain, whose national laws allow the establishment and issuance of newspapers. All newspapers in Bahrain are independent and they are owned by private companies.
“The Government does not interfere in the editorial line of any newspaper. There is no legal constraint whatsoever on issuing newspapers regardless of the political or intellectual affiliations or affinities. There is no limit on issuing newspapers other that the capacity of the market to accommodate new publications,” the source said
The source added that the audio-visual media sector remains open to all social categories to express their opinions in total freedom and objectivity, but with no room for incitement for divisions and hatred. The draft law on press and communication opens the door to establish privately-owned radio stations and TV channels.Internet websites in Bahrain remain free and open, and there are no curbs on the social media.
The source denied that any journalist had been arrested in Bahrain. “None of the names cited is considered as a journalist under Bahrain laws, as they do not work for any of the media institutions and their names are not registered with the Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA), nor do they have the licence to exercise the profession.”
“It is illogical to consider internet and mobile phone users as journalists, especially that the number of internet subscribers exceeds by 128% the whole population of Bahrain. The proportion of mobile phones – most of which are smartphones – users exceeds by 173% the population of Bahrain while the proportion of internet users does not exceed 40% in the world according the 2013 statistics released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
“The convicts were not indicted by the judiciary in Bahrain for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression. They were rather convicted in penal crimes, including the incitement for violence,terror and hatred, or for violating the law in a way that threatened social security and peace as well as public order. They were also involved in crimes thatinclude insults and defamation, which are all criminalized by the international law”.
The source stressed the independence of the judiciary in Bahrain, adding that human rights organisations have all the freedom to receive complaints and grievances, citing particularly the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), the Ombudsman, the Commission on the Rights of Prisoners and Detainee and Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA).
The Ministry of State for Information Affairs stressed His Majesty the King’s firm stance in support of press and media freedom in Bahrain, underscoring recent royal directives in the royal keynote address on the International Press Freedom Day to fast-track the housing project for journalists, declare a national day for Bahraini press, as the fourth estate represents a key pillar of the reform project.
The ministry cautioned all international organisations against sources which seek only to distort facts and sully the democratic and human rights achievements in order to serve their political and ideological designs in total violations in international professional and deontological norms and standards.
The statement also urged international organisations and watchdogs to ensure accuracy and seek information from credible sources so that they abide by realistic and neutral standards in reporting facts in total transparency and credibility and in compliance with professional and ethical media norms. .

AHN