Allegations the official media coverage of recent unrest promoted hatred and incited violence have not been vindicated. In its historic report published today, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry found no evidence corroborating the claims.
The panel scrutinize TV and radio programmes and press coverage in local papers and found no hatred or violence-mongering media rhetoric.
The commission said that it found no evidence proving that the Government gave directives or recommendations to the media during the unrest.
“Al-Wefaq failed to supply with compelling evidence proving the media was targeting Al-Wefaq or any other opposition group”, the BICI report said. The commission stressed the impact of social networking media, such as Facebook and twitter, in our contemporary world with its cutting edge technological strides.
The BICI Report concluded that the impact of social media was crucial in the unrest which hit the Middle East, in including Bahrain, influencing the course of events.
The commission has compiled many cases of exaggerated and misleading news posed through social networking sites, inciting violence.
The supporters of the opposition took the lead in circular such instigative messages on twitter.