MORE than 200 movies were censored by the relevant authorities last year.
Information Affairs Minister Ali Al Rumaihi said, in a written response, that 206 movies saw scenes and segments deleted for violating the country’s rules as stated in the 2002 Publications Law and its executive bylaws.
Age classification of some movies planned for screening at local theatres was also changed after they were found to be ‘unrealistic in line with its content’.
The minister explained that on rare occasions a few movies were also banned as they were found to clash with state, society, religious or morality principles.
Mr Al Rumaihi was responding to a question by Parliament services committee chairman Ahmed Al Ansari on the ministry’s censorship roles.
“There are five specialists in the Publications Directorate who monitor all movies from start to finish,” Mr Al Rumaihi said.
“They also co-ordinate with officials from other GCC member states before deciding to censor inappropriate content.
“An independent national committee headed by the Publications Director also gives a general assessment on all registered cinematic materials and publications.
“Should theatres refuse to abide by orders on banned movies or screen the edited versions, they are fined no less than BD500. The cinemas could also be closed for up to 30 days depending on the offence.”
Mr Al Ansari said 425 movies were censored in 2018, 448 in 2019 and 248 in 2020.
Meanwhile, in another written response to a question by Ammar Qambar on plans to develop BTV Sport Channels, Mr Al Rumaihi said 8,286 hours of live sports and programmes were broadcast from 2018 to 2021.
“We had 6,720 hours of retro sports material during the same period, which is 1,680 hours a year,” he said.
The minister explained that new studios and equipment have been introduced, while 25 dedicated employees were handling all responsibilities.
On the other hand, Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who is also politically responsible for the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO), said in writing that ministers’ pensions were now being calculated at 10 per cent of their wage for each year in office, rather than the previous 80pc.
“The minimum pension a minister can get is 40pc of their salary and the maximum is 80pc, depending on the period of service,” said Shaikh Salman.
He was responding to a question by Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee vice-chairman Mohammed Al Abbasi on ministers’ pensions.
In a written response to Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman Ahmed Al Salloom on digital currency, the minister said the country was working on the first stages of testing the digital dinar.
“We will have a test environment for the new digital dinar. We have to study the operational, legal and technical aspects amongst others for possible future implementation,” said the minister.
“No private establishment is authorised to issue digital currency, which only comes under the Central Bank of Bahrain, and it is different from cyrptocurrency.”
The minister said non-oil sector contributions to the GDP jumped from 58pc in 2002 to 81pc in 2020.
“It was BD12.3 billion in 2020 – up from BD6.1bn in 2002,” said Shaikh Salman in response to a question by Parliament second vice-chairman Ali Al Zayed on plans to increase non-oil revenues.
Both ministers will appear during the weekly session on Tuesday.
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