The pen was ever seen as a restricted and monitoring tool, its words were strangled and its meanings were made at every line thought or opposed.
Today, and in light of a era in which the state leans on a civilized vision and comprehensive reforms, its position has changed, and it has become moral and material value, written freely within a framework of awareness and national responsibility.
The era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has devoted since his assumption of the reins of government in 1999, an unprecedented comprehensive reform project. The National Action Charter in 2001 was one of his most prominent stations, as it constituted a point of transformation in the march of freedoms, and through which he laid the pillars of freedom of the press, opinion and expression, within the rule of law and institutions.
In this context, the House of Representatives passed the Press and Electronic Media Law to be a legislative umbrella guaranteeing this freedom, not as a privilege, but rather as one of the pillars of protecting public opinion, and preserving the right of society to knowledge and accountability.
This law came consistent with the directions of the esteemed government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which gives freedom of opinion and expression a central position in the national development process, and is working to enable the professional press to fulfill its role in supporting stability and enhancing public awareness.
It is registered with all appreciation for the pivotal role played by the dear brother, Dr. Raman bin Abdullah Al -Nuaimi, Minister of Information, in strengthening the climate of media openness, supporting the system of journalistic work, and developing legislation and institutional structures to keep pace with the requirements of the times.
His presence at the head of the ministry formed a qualitative lever to enable the national media to perform its mission efficiently, and motivate press cadres to excellence, in an environment in which freedom is balanced with professionalism and responsibility.
The pen today is not merely a means of expression, but a national trust, which is carried by every writer, intellectual and media, spreading awareness, and preserving values, and contributing to protecting the fabric of the homeland. Freedom of the word is no longer a luxury, but a participatory responsibility in building, development, and defending the truth.
Whisper
And if the homelands are built with the arms of their children, then they are enlightened by their minds, and the pen is the light that guides public opinion, and it formulates the awareness of generations.
