Paper accused of taking government loans

Manama: The three-week stand-off between the Islamic Menbar Society and the Al Ayam newspaper continued yesterday after another MP asked a second minister to inform the public whether the publication has been receiving special favours from the government.

In his written question to the Minister of Finance, Menbar MP Shaikh Mohammad Khalid wanted to know whether the government had offered loans to the Al Ayam Publishing Group.

"We want the minister to tell us the amount of loans granted to Al Ayam and whether it was legal for the government to draw on the national budget to give grants to a private establishment," he said.

Last week, Menbar MP Dr Saadi Mohammad asked information minister Dr Abdul Gaffar Mohammad whether Al Ayam had been paying the rent for the government premises it has been using since it was set up in 1989. The queries are expected to be answered this week.

Al Ayam editor-in-chief Eisa Al Shaygi has said his paper is being targeted by Islamists for promoting a liberal editorial line. Al Menbar has accused Al Ayam of encouraging columnists to denigrate Islamic precepts.

Al Watan is also entangled in a dispute with the Shiite Scholars Council after it accused its members of insensitivity by asking Shiite imams not to receive salaries from the government for leading prayers lest they lose their independence. The council described the charges as ridiculous.