The Bahraini Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs’ subsidiary Technical Committee is studying a new media draft law for the country that guarantees freedom, pluralism and independence of mass media.
The law comes within the framework of the Information Affairs Authority’s plan to carry out the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the National Consensus Dialogue regarding reforming the media sector and upgrading legislations, supervisory systems and professional criteria. Other draft laws on the creation of the Supreme Media Council, the organization of audio-visual and electronic media and news bulletins are also under discussion.
In terms of the media draft law, it will cancel criminal responsibility pertaining to publication crimes, including mainly imprisoning journalists. Meanwhile, the Supreme Media Council will have within its jurisdictions the imposition of disciplinary penalties and fines on those who break the law and infringe the profession’s ethics as well as the media honour charter.
