Bahrain keen on confronting discourse of hatred, terrorism

Manama, May 3 (BNA): Information Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al Romaihi, the Board of Trustees Chairman of Bahrain Institute for Political Development, praised press and media freedom in the prosperous reform era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. In an interview with Al Watan newspaper, which was published today marking the World Press Freedom Day, Al Romaihi stressed the ministry’s continuous development programmes to upgrade media work in tune with the Government Action Plan and the royal directives regarding the new journalism law, media cadre and journalists’ housing. The Information Minister stressed the ministry’s keenness on going on with its development programmes given the influential role of the media sector as an effective partner in maintaining the national texture and pressing ahead with sustainable growth. He pointed out that the ministry has completed the preparation of a draft law for press and electronic media. He pointed out that the draft law is currently undergoing a final revision before its referral to the legislative branch for discussion and endorsement. He revealed that the new draft law is more developed than the current Press Law as it copes with the latest developments in the media and telecommunication sector. Al Romaihi underlined Bahrain’s keenness to boost partnership with brotherly countries to confront provocative discourses inciting hatred, extremism and terrorism. He added that the kingdom has national programmes to promote the culture of peace, tolerance and moderation. He pointed out the ministry’s support to the national plan to boost national belonging and values of citizenship which was inaugurated by the Interior Minister recently in concordance with the royal vision and the Representatives Council’s initiative to foster tolerance and civil peace. The Information Minister pointed out cooperation with Arab and Islamic countries, under the umbrella of the Arab Information Ministers Council, to activate the joint counter-terrorism media strategy, achieve intellectual security and shape an enlightened Arab public opinion against extremism, terrorism and hatred.