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Bahraini MP in war of words with local media

An Islamist Bahraini MP, who charged that the media provoked sectarianism in the lower house, has come under intense fire from journalists.

  • By Habib Toumi, Bahrain Bureau Chief
  • Published: 23:15 September 2, 2008
  • Gulf News

Manama: An Islamist Bahraini MP, who charged that the media provoked sectarianism in the lower house, has come under intense fire from journalists.

Ebrahim Abu Sandal, representing Al Asala, a Salafi bloc with eight lawmakers, on Sunday said that problems in the critically divided Council of Representatives were compounded by press reports keen on sensationalism.

"The media focussed on the deliberations and statements of the MPs in a negative way, which eventually intensified problems and did not help advance the work of the lower house," Abu Sandal told a gathering of citizens at a majlis.

Bitter disputes and vociferous rivalries in the 40-member house has led to the postponement of sessions for two months. The infighting and standstill over the possibility to question two ministers were elaborately reported in the media.

However, Abu Sandal's remarks against the press drew criticism from several journalists, who said the MP was using the media as a scapegoat for the failure of the lower house to address vital issues.

Two images

"What kind of logic is Abu Sandal using to blame the press for reporting what the MPs said? Why doesn't he blame the MPs for saying what they said? Obviously, he believes that MPs have the right to have two images - one among themselves away from the media, and one more adept to public relations," Sawsan Al Shair, the lead columnist of Al Watan newspaper, said. "It seems that the MPs recognise the merits of the media only when they want the press to publish glowing articles about them," she said.

Abdul Monam Ebrahim, a columnist with Akhbar Al Khaleej, blasted Abu Sandal for suggesting the media stoked sectarianism. "The media simply informed the public about what was happening inside the parliament. It cannot take the blame for whatever the MPs said or did," he said.

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