Attacks on the Press 2002: Bahrain

In March, the government, which is the country's sole Internet provider, blocked access to a number of political Internet sites--including those of opposition groups--claiming that they incite "sectarianism" and contain "offensive content."

Officials barred the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite channel from covering Bahrain's May 9 local elections, stating that the station "harms Bahrain and Bahrain's citizens," "encourages violence," spreads "false news to its viewers," and is a medium for "Zionist infiltration in the Gulf region." Press reports suggested that this hard line came because the network had aired footage from anti-U.S. protests after Israel's April military offensive into the West Bank.

Bahrain's press continued to report on the country's political reforms but remained pro-government. Meanwhile, critics accused local newspapers of ignoring opposition views and practicing self-censorship.

In 2002, the government granted licenses to at least three new papers. One, the daily Al-Wasat, headed by a former opposition figure, began publishing in September. In its first few months, the paper cautiously staked out new terrain in local-affairs coverage.

A new, restrictive press law was introduced in October but was temporarily "frozen" after an outcry from newspapers. The law would have established a host of restrictions and would have given the information minister the power to seek court-ordered closures of newspapers and to refer journalists to courts for criminal prosecution. Officials met with editors to hear their concerns and appeared prepared for a compromise.

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Al-Jazeera


Correspondents from the Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera were barred from Bahrain by Minster of Information Nabil al-Hamr, who claimed that the station "harms Bahrain and Bahrain's citizens," "encourages violence," spreads "false news to its viewers," and is a medium for "Zionist infiltration in the Gulf region." Prior to al-Hamr's announcement, Bahraini authorities had ignored visa and accreditation requests from an Al-Jazeera correspondent who had tried to visit the country from Doha, Qatar• in early May, according to Al-Jazeera staff. Al-Jazeera reporters were supposed to be in Bahrain to cover the country's May 9 municipal elections.