Bahrain is to introduce a new media law next month, according to reports.
An article in Gulf Daily News quotes Information Minister Ali Al Rumaihi as saying the law is in the final stages of preparation to be presented to Cabinet.
Speaking at the first edition of the Fourth Power Forum at Bahrain University in Sakhir, Al Rumaihi said: “The government has finished preparing a comprehensive law that tackles and covers everything with it being a matter of formalities to complete before the Cabinet approves it.”
Media in the kingdom is governed by the 2002 Publications Law.
Al Rumaihi added: “It is not like Bahrain has been suffering from a legislative vacuum, we are covered through the Publications Law, but we believe there has to be progress that takes us beyond that.”
It is understood the new law has a dedicated chapter dealing with electronic media, although it will not address personal social media accounts, which will continue to be dealt with separately.
The forum was organised by the university’s Media Club in co-ordination with the Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) and the ministry.
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