House passes draft giving more freedom to journalists

Manama: Bahrain's Shura Council (upper house) has overcome resistance from two ministers and four members to pass a new draft law that gives journalists greater freedom of expression and better protection in legal cases.

The draft now has to be approved by the government and the lower house.

Following a heated debate in which the information minister and the parliament state minister asked for a delay in the submission of the law proposals, 26 parliamentarians endorsed the draft that journalists hope will supersede the controversial 2002 Press Law after it had fallen far below expectations with its 17 categories of offences and left journalists open to judicial harassment.

"The Shura Council has been singularly keen on drafting a modern and progressive set of laws that consecrates constructive criticism and freedoms," Ebrahim Bashmi, the driving force behind the draft, told his peers at the upper house session on Monday.

"This draft is fully in line with the requirements of modern journalism and the democratic reforms in Bahrain. All political and democratic developments start with a free press," he said.

However, his passionate appeal was rejected by fellow deputy Abdulrahman Abdulsalam who said the draft gives journalists a preferential treatment and turning them into a separate class.

"Islam and all legislations have made all people equal. Why should journalists answer to a different set of laws?" he asked.