Manama: Tributes and condolences are flowing in as Bahrain pays rich homage to pioneering Bahraini radio and TV figure Karima Zidani, who died early on Sunday.
“The media in Bahrain have lost a pioneer, a co-founder of television work and a pillar of the media in the country,” said Samira Rajab, the state minister for information affairs. “Her dedication, devotion and selflessness made her a role model for patriotism and loyalty until the last moments of her life. She was an outstanding example of professional aptitudes, excellent attitudes, great respect and laudable modesty and played a great role in training many Bahrainis. She was dearly loved and greatly respected by all and we she will always remain in the heart and mind of every Bahraini.”
The Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) and former colleagues at the Information Affairs Authority also paid rich tribute to Karima and lauded her qualities.
“She was a wonderful woman who gave so much to television and radio and to communication in general,” said Duaij Darweesh, head of the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) photography department. “She was a great professional and a highly respected person. She will be greatly missed and we do join her family and numerous friends in their prayers for her.”
Ahamad Zaman, the former head of news at Bahrain Radio and Television, said that Karima was “so remarkable that she received several lucrative offers from Gulf stations, but she turned them down, preferring to help Bahrain move forward. She was an excellent presenter and the interviews she conducted were captivating. May God rest her soul in eternal peace.”
Mahmeed Al Mahmeed, a columnist, said that he had worked closely with her and had kept only positive memories of her as a person and as a professional.
“I will always recall with great fondness her distinctive voice when she read out the names of the high school graduates when it was the practice on Bahrain radio,” he said.
Zidani joined Bahrain radio and television as a broadcaster in 1975 and was one of the very few people who read the news bulletins both in Arabic and in English.
She also conducted interviews and presented serious programmes on various topics that included literature and medicine as well as television contests.
