Bahraini blogger summoned to court

Manama: A Bahraini blogger has been summoned by the High Criminal Court to face defamation charges by an incumbent minister.

The case, to be reviewed on Tuesday, is seen as a test for internet freedom of expression in Bahrain where blogs have proliferated, challenging a controversial attempt to have them registered officially.

Mansoor Bin Rajab, Minister of Agriculture and Municipalities, who was given the agriculture portfolio in a partial cabinet reshuffle in December, is suing Mahmoud Al Yousuf for a blog attacking his performance as a minister and as a former member of the upper house, and vilifying his character.

Reacting to a statement by Bin Rajab that clears the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture of any shortcomings in dealing with the heavy rain that flooded several villages, Al Yousuf said it was "premier stupidity" and did not augur well for a minister who "was an insignificant member of the previous Shura Council without a single proposition to his name" and who was "allegedly implicated in various corrupt schemes".

Confident

The minister took the blogger to court despite efforts by the Bahrain Journalists Association and an initial pledge to drop the case.

But Al Yousuf, who had a standoff with the Information Ministry earlier, remains confident that he will "go through the situation".

"I am convinced that I did no wrong. I believe in our constitution, and believe in the human right of free speech and expression. I have portrayed my criticism squarely at a public figure and a government organ both of whom I think did not execute their job to the full extent of their capability," he said.

"The case is nothing more than a scare tactic to silence any form of criticism, especially that of a public official. Why else is a case like this to be heard at the highest criminal court in the land? Why else is a defamation case looked at in the same court that adjudicates murder and treason cases?" he asked.