Hassan Al -Sitry
The House of Representatives approved in its extraordinary session yesterday, a draft law amending some provisions of Decree Law No. 47 of 2002 regarding the regulation of journalism, printing and publishing, which includes the abolition of the penalty of imprisonment in all the punitive texts contained in the law, and the contentment of the criminal fine, and the organization of electronic media as one of the components of the media system in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Minister of Information, Dr. Raman Al -Nuaimi: “This law is considered a very important step to regulate the media sector, as it includes journalism, electronic media and publications in all its forms. Hence, its lack of conformity to technological development is considered an obstruction of media work.”
He continued: We have received opinions and proposals from many parties such as political and civil societies, the Journalists Association, the newspapers, and the National Human Rights Corporation. As a result, we worked to make wide amendments to the bill, and the changes came as comprehensive. For example, the current law punishes 14 crimes, while this number has shrunk only two crimes in the new project, and it also aims for the first time to organize electronic media accurately.
Al -Naimi added that: The law currently in effect imposes very strict restrictions on the electronic media. However, we confirm that the new version of the law came to reduce these restrictions and make things more flexible. During our meetings with the owners of electronic accounts, we listened to their views about the proposed materials, and their comment was limited to one article related to political rights. Indeed, this article was modified. Everyone has prepared that the registration will be transparent and easy, especially since most of them are already registered with the ministry with regard to advertisements.
And Abizaid: It is worth noting that the law does not touch the personal accounts, nor does it interfere with it. As for the article that grants the authorization to the Minister of Information, it relates to covering matters that may not be covered in the current laws. The goal is to ensure that Bahrain is not late in any organizational developments in the field of media. The new law is related to the principles of freedom of opinion and expression, and the Services Committee has been keen to provide all guarantees in it, including the right to grievance before the judiciary.
For his part, the decision of the Services Committee, Mamdouh Al -Saleh, pointed out that: The accounts of the social media expressed their fear of deleting the enjoyment of political rights, we completely canceled, and the Minister of Information pledged to us in the committee in more than one meeting, that the fear that you also have is afraid of it.
The head of the Services Committee, Jalila Alawi, said: The project is national, not my project, and I will defend it, so that we can rise more in the project in itself, today we put the legislation, and we guide it to His Majesty the great king.
Representative Jalal Kazem Al -Mahfouz stressed the importance of organizing the publishing process in the modern media environment, stressing that the development of technology, digital media domination and social media platforms on the media scene, imposing an urgent necessity to legalize this sector under the umbrella of the state in a way that preserves community security and the rights of workers in the press sector officially registered.
Al -Mahfouz emphasized that the state is more concerned today than ever in the development of a comprehensive legal framework that regulates the publishing process, especially in light of what it described as “chaos” witnessed by some electronic media platforms, which have become a fertile space to broadcast sedition and rumors and steal the content of the newspaper, and falsely attributed it to individual accounts on the “Social Media”. He added that some accounts working in electronic publishing are not satisfied with overcoming journalistic laws and norms, but rather to fuel public opinion and content with content, stressing that this behavior requires a firm intervention from the concerned authorities to protect the community fabric and ensure a responsible media environment.
Al -Mahfouz expressed his support for the articles of the New Press Law, stressing that it was clear, and does not require stirring up confusion, indicating that it seeks to protect the press and traditional and digital media sector alike, and ensure that it continues to perform its enlightening and supervisory role within the framework of the law. He explained that he had submitted a number of visuals and observations about the draft law, after his resumption of the opinions of a group of journalists as well as a number of activists in the field of publishing on social media, believing in the importance of the law that the law comes expressing the reality of the profession and its challenges.
Representative Hassan Ibrahim Hassan affirmed his full support for the draft law regulating journalism, media and electronic publishing in the abolition of all articles that allow the journalist’s trial according to the Penal Code, considering this an advanced step in promoting freedom of opinion and expression and consolidating the position of the media as a fourth authority in society.
Representative Hassan Ibrahim said, “The draft law represents a qualitative shift towards an enlightened law that is in line with the requirements of the digital age, and enhances the media of media freedom in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and protects journalists from prosecution.” He added: “We also support the project’s cancellation of pre -trial detention pending the investigation permanently, and to replace the word” discipline “with the word” accountability “in all articles of the law, reflecting the spirit of justice and respecting the rights of workers in the media field.
He stressed that the project is the cornerstone of organizing the new media, including the electronic media, which has become a major component in the national media system, pointing to the need to license websites that practice media or propaganda activities inside Bahrain, while imposing clear controls and legal conditions determined by the Ministry of Information by a ministerial decision. He also explained that the websites of the licensed paper newspapers are excluded from the license condition, indicating the importance of supporting the traditional paper press and helping them keep pace with digital transformations.
Ibrahim stressed that our national press has developed remarkably in covering events, by employing the new media, as well as preserving the paper press, which is still a wide audience. He said that the Bahraini newspapers were distinguished in the transmission of news and dialogues in a balanced manner through various means, which requires guaranteeing their privacy and preserving their rights in exclusive news. He pointed out that the draft law dealt with the four Arabic -speaking local newspapers, in addition to two newspapers in the English language, and its websites, adding that it is important to distinguish between the citizen who expresses his personal opinion through communication platforms, and between a professional journalist who works within licensed institutions and is committed to professional controls », stressing the importance of protecting journalists without prejudice to the freedom of citizens in expression.
He noted the importance of Article 77 of the Law in force, which states that the major civil court is the authority concerned with the consideration of media cases, calling for the preservation instead of transferring jurisdiction to the Grand Criminal Court.
For its part, MP Maryam Al -Dhafin stressed the importance of electronic media at the present time, as it has become a basic pillar in the Bahraini media system, and it has an effective role in highlighting the efforts of the state, whether at the governmental or parliamentary level, and the citizen has become increasingly dependent on social media as a source of information and news. The proof of this is that the paper newspapers themselves have become focused on their electronic accounts to keep pace with this development.
She continued: There are electronic media accounts that make a tangible field effort that covers government, societal, parliamentary, and even artistic activities, and play a complementary role for the official media. On the other hand, we do not deny the existence of other accounts that spread rumors, or work to spread discord, and here the need for organization lies.
However, we must be careful in the legislative formulation, so that the law does not turn into a sword that is overwhelmed by everyone, including those who work in good faith, and play a national role. What is required is to set clear controls that ensure the knowledge of those behind these accounts, and organize their license, while subjecting them to a responsible control, without arbitrariness. We also emphasize the importance of the owners of these accounts not to be treated as a commercial treatment that affects their job privileges, such as government allowances, or narrow them in their business. There should be guarantees and encouragement for these young people instead of alienating them.
Al -Dhahn added: We believe that the organization of electronic media is in the interest of everyone, but we are afraid that the new legal text will be understood as narrowing of freedom of expression or the registration of accounts, instead of being an organization for it, and these aspects must be clarified accurately, especially with regard to the method of licensing accounts, and will there be fees? Will the treatment of commercial institutions be treated? What are the criteria that will govern this license? This is until the image becomes clear to everyone, and everyone who works in this field is reassured positively and constructive.
