Latest news with #PressLaw
Daily Tribune
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
MPs pass Press Law reform, drop jail sentences, and introduce licensing requirements for online media
MPs yesterday voted to scrap prison terms for publishing offences and bring Bahrain's online media under formal regulation, passing sweeping changes to the Press Law that also introduce licensing requirements for digital platforms. 'Get a job, sir, instead of sitting in a cafe stirring unrest,' said MP Jalal Kadhem during the debate. He criticised those who rely on social media for income while spreading rumours or recycling the work of newspapers. His remark echoed a wider frustration in the chamber with unlicensed online outlets. The revised law, now titled the Press, Printing and Electronic Media Law, updates Decree-Law No. 47 of 2002. The final vote followed a tense session. Seventeen MPs, including the Speaker, backed the bill and nine voted against. Licensing regime The law brings digital publishers, online news sites and content platforms under a formal licensing regime. Those already operating will have six months to register. Anyone continuing without a licence may face a fine of up to BD10,000. Foreign correspondents will also be required to obtain permission to operate in the country. The mechanism for that will be set by royal decree. Suspension Courts will now be able to suspend newspapers or block websites at the investigation stage if the content is seen to threaten national security or public order. Media outlets, online or in print, must also publish official announcements related to sovereignty, defence, security or health, provided they are received in time for release. Another article allows the ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to direct outlets not to publish certain material issued by foreign governments. Breaches may lead to fines. A clause that would have allowed the Minister of Information to license media and advertising activity not covered by current laws was struck out during the session. Concerns Several MPs raised concerns over its scope and lack of oversight. Information Minister, His Excellency Dr Ramzan Al Nuaimi, said the law was aimed only at professional media, not at individual users of social platforms. 'The law is for proper media, not for people posting on their personal pages,' he told the chamber. He said the sole concern raised by digital media workers had been addressed in the final version and confirmed that any page engaged in media or advertising work would be formally licensed. Dr Al Nuaimi added that many are already covered by advertising laws. Clause The Minister also said that a clause requiring media owners to hold full political rights had been dropped. Licence revocations, he said, would generally require a court ruling, except in a handful of specific cases detailed in the law. Kadhem, who submitted over a dozen suggested revisions, said the measure was intended to bring the law in line with how media now operates. 'This is not a new law, it is a revision of what is already there,' he said. 'We went through the proposals in full, and changes were made after discussions with account holders and others.' Comparisons He rejected comparisons between social media and institutional journalism. 'If someone claims social media is a source of income, they should find work like everyone else,' he said. 'We are not in a jungle. We live in a country of laws. The state regulates print and broadcast media, so why not digital?' 'There is a difference between using a platform to inform and using it to inflame or pull foreign quarrels into the country,' he added. MP Hassan Ibrahim also welcomed the law. He said it marked a move away from criminal punishment for publishing disputes. 'We have removed the word 'discipline' and replaced it with 'accountability'. It is not just language, it is the principle behind it,' he said.
Shafaq News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan Press Day: Calls for legal reforms, journalist protection
Shafaq News/ On the Kurdish Journalism Day, the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate renewed its calls for media law reforms and stronger protections for journalists, amid ongoing concerns about press freedom in the region. In a statement marking the 127th anniversary of the first Kurdish newspaper, Kurdistan, and the 27th anniversary of the Syndicate's founding, the union paid tribute to media professionals, particularly those killed or injured in the line of duty, and reaffirmed its commitment to defending journalists' rights. Calls for Reforms The Syndicate called for modernizing the 2007 Press Law and other media legislation to ensure a healthy media environment, safeguard freedom of expression amid political conflicts, emphasizing the law's full implementation as 'a major democratic achievement.' The union advocated for the establishment of a specialized court for media-related cases in coordination with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). It also announced the formation of a Women in Journalism Council to promote gender equality and support female journalists, aligning with broader efforts to modernize journalism and enhance social responsibility. The Syndicate further underscored the need to protect the Kurdish language as a cultural identity, highlighting ongoing efforts to activate a journalist pension fund and amend labor laws to ensure better protections for media workers. Criticisms Despite these efforts, the Syndicate highlighted continued challenges in Kurdistan's media landscape, including restricted access to information, discriminatory treatment of outlets, threats, arrests, equipment seizures, and denial of coverage. It also criticized the Iraqi government for "clear discrimination" against journalists registered with the Kurdistan Syndicate, particularly in Kurdish areas outside the Region's administration, like Kirkuk, Mosul, Khanaqin, Diyala, and Baghdad.
Shafaq News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Press freedom secured: Kurdistan courts mandate press Law application
Shafaq News/ Press freedom in the Kurdistan Region received a boost as Al-Sulaymaniyah Court of Appeals issued two rulings to strengthen legal protections for journalists, the Metro Center for Journalists' Rights said on Thursday. The first ruling designated Al-Sulaymaniyah Investigation Court/1 as the sole authority for handling journalist-related cases within the city. This court is now mandated to use Kurdistan Press Law No. 35 of 2007 as the central legal framework when addressing cases involving journalists. In a second crucial ruling, all media-related cases will be transferred to Al-Sulaymaniyah Misdemeanor Court/6 after the investigation phase. This decision aims to streamline judicial procedures and ensure consistent enforcement of the Press Law in trials concerning journalists. The court called for the expansion of these procedures to all courts in Kurdistan to ensure a fair legal environment for journalists and reinforce the rule of law. The rulings followed a pivotal meeting earlier this month, convened by Kurdistan's Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani. The meeting brought together key stakeholders including media institutions, unions, journalists, and representatives from the Metro Center. A central topic of discussion was the establishment of a specialized judge to exclusively oversee publishing and press-related cases under the Press Law—a proposal that received Talabani's full support. The meeting also raised concerns about some courts applying Iraq's penal code or other unrelated laws, which pose unnecessary legal risks to journalists.
Shafaq News
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Journalist Bazyani held in Al-Sulaymaniyah, rights center urges release
Shafaq News/ Authorities in Al-Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, arrested Kurdish journalist Bashdar Bazyani, the Metro Center for the defense of journalists' rights announced on Wednesday. "This afternoon, journalist Bazyani was informed to visit the Sarchnar Police Station in Al-Sulaymaniyah, where he was interrogated and then transferred to the Criminal Court. A court order was issued for his detention until February 9,' the center stated. Journalists Sardasht Hama Salih and Dana Salih went to the detention center to visit their detained colleague but were reportedly denied access. The rights center called for the immediate release of Bazyani on bail, stressing the need to 'handle journalistic cases under the Press Law and avoid applying alternative laws to journalists concerning their media work and freedom of expression.' In 2022, Al-Sulaymaniyah Investigation Court sentenced Bazyani to ten days in detention after two lawsuits were filed against him by the mayor of the province and an investor over his coverage of a corruption case involving the sale of public land. A year later, Al-Sulaymaniyah Police raided Bazyani's home, detaining him for about 10 hours. The journalist confirmed undergoing prolonged interrogation over a lawsuit filed by Ali Babir, leader of the Kurdistan Islamic Justice Group, after he reported on corruption allegations involving the movement's political office leadership. The journalist further revealed in 2024 that he had three outstanding arrest warrants and was being pursued by the police and courts 'without proper adherence to the Region's journalism laws.'
