Press freedom in Bahrain praised

Cairo, April 10 (BNA): Bahrain has been praised for its press freedom. The General Federation of Arab Journalists' Press Freedom Committee commended freedom of journalism in Bahrain. This came in the committee's annual report launched in Cairo today on press freedom in the Arab world 2015-2016. Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) Deputy Chairman and Acting Director General of Bahrain News Agency (BNA) Mohannad Suleiman Al-Nuaimi said the report underlined freedom of expression enjoyed by all newspapers in Bahrain in tackling various issues without any prior control. He lauded the climate of openness characterising the press sector in Bahrain, stressing that no restraints are imposed on journalists except for constitutional and legal regulations. He pointed out that the committee did not rely on the international organisations' reports in many Arab countries due to their lack of impartiality and objectivity. He praised dismissing those reports based on fallacies disseminated by some suspicious organisations and institutions to serve particular agendas aimed at tarnishing Bahrain's image. Al-Nuaimi commended the move which, he said, reflects credibility of the General Federation of Arab Journalists' Press Freedom Committee, affirming that Bahrain has a globally-acknowledged rich record of freedoms thanks to the reform project of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He also praised the efforts of the committee Head Abdulwahab Al-Zeghilat and the team of experts and academics who compiled the report on press freedom in the Arab world. The report cited steps taken by Bahrain to promote press freedom including a new law to regulate the press and publication field which will replace the law being enforced since 2002. The report also pointed out that since the launch of the reform project in 1999, no media person or journalist has been imprisoned because of his political opinions. Besides, no journalists have been arrested or held accountable for their opinions nor has any newspaper or media institution been shut down for any cause other than financial reasons.