The Kingdom of Bahrain pledged to continue its adopted open media policy. “The media doors remain open to embrace diverse opinions, political and intellectual orientations”, the Information Affairs Authority said, stressing diversity, impartiality, objectivity, respect of responsible freedom of opinion, in line with the legislative strides and atmosphere of political openness under the reform project led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa.
The IAA slammed the statement issued by the so-called political opposition, unjustly accusing the official of inciting sectarianism.
The IAA statement also condemned the so-called political opposition for spreading baseless allegations regarding the current political and security situation, adopting a crisis-mongering mantra to defame Bahrain’s fledgling democratic and reform experience.
“These allegations are untrue and reflect the duplicity of these associations in dealing selectively with the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) Report”, the IAA said.
“The (BICI) Report denied the existence of any hatred-inciting the official media coverage and held the political associations accountable for the negative repercussions in the aftermath of the February-March unrest 2011, stubbornly refusing dialogues and the political solutions tabled by the leadership”, it added. Radio and TV programmes focused during the unrest on revealing the truth, reassuring citizens and migrants, promoting national unity, the culture of dialogue, tolerance and the rule of the law to counter the biased foreign media campaign against the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The IAA statement cited the case of TV channels which are still adamant on pouring its venomous mantra against and its people, with the complicity of Bahraini figures from the so-called opposition. The IAA reaffirmed the resolve of the official media to promote calm, consolidate national unity, good citizenship and peaceful co-existence between all citizens, engaging all political and forces.
The IAA also stressed Bahrain Radio and TV drive to address all issues and problems in total freedom, objectivity and transparency and in the framework of commitment to national fundamentals and keenness on high national interests as stipulated in the constitution and law provisions. The IAA statement condemned certain political forces for inciting hatred and communal divide and spreading allegations and lies through illegal means and hostile foreign media channels, thus contravening religious precepts, Bahraini genuine traditions and media ethics.
The IAA reiterated the Government’s resolve to implement the (BICI) recommendations, back the efforts of the concerned National Commission and bolster political and constitutional reforms, pledging to achieve the balance between security and stability as well as respect of liberties and human rights, in addition to developing press and media legislations in the framework of the rule of the law and international legal norms.