Gulf | Bahrain
Minister promises to amend press law
Bahrain's information minister has reiterated his pledge to expand press freedom by amending the current press law, strongly rejected by journalists but supported by conservative MPs.
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:29 March 14, 2008
Manama: Bahrain's information minister has reiterated his pledge to expand press freedom by amending the current press law, strongly rejected by journalists but supported by conservative MPs.
"The law is based on the directives of the king to have an enlightened and modern set of rules for the press and on the premise that the sky is the limit for journalists," Jihad Bu Kamal said yesterday in a statement.
"I can assure you that the law would reflect Bahrain's new information drive and would be in accordance with the era of reforms, openness and freedom," said Bu Kamal who has been in charge of the information portfolio since a limited cabinet reshuffle last September.
Opening the parliament last October, King Hamad called for the promulgation of a law that boosted freedom of expression and allowed the media to act as a guarantee for democracy. But delays in announcing the law have sparked concerns that it would be postponed until the end of the parliament term.
"The amended press law is now with the legal consultants in the ministerial committee, and I believe that more than 90 per cent of its articles have been reviewed. This means that it will soon be submitted by the government," Bu Kamal said.
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