MEDIA workers who violate laws could be spared time in jail but could face heavy fines, if MPs have their way.
They are set to debate and vote on government-drafted amendments to the 2002 Publications Law during their weekly session on Tuesday, which would also see the introduction of new organisational rules for electronic media.
Parliament’s services committee has recommended that the amendments be given the green light after making changes in line with concerns brought up by the National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR).
The Information Affairs Ministry informed MPs that the amendments were reviewed by the Cabinet’s Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs in partnership with the Legalisation and Legal Opinion Commission and the Bahrain Journalist Association (BJA) with no objections being raised.
However, the ministry added that it didn’t mind making changes in line with the NIHR recommendations.
“We have reservations on the fact that Bahrainis who don’t have voting rights would be prevented from launching or partnering in an electronic website or any digital space,” said the NIHR.
“Clear rules have to be stated on the meaning of full responsibility for website or page directors.”
The BJA has also asked for more clarification on the minimum and maximum fines, suspension or termination of a publication or electronic website, and having the publication as an establishment take responsibility rather than editor-in-chief or writer.
The current law would be renamed as the Publications and Digital Media Law.
Under the amendments, those launching publications without a licence or operating unlicensed bookshops or selling unauthorised publications would be fined up to BD5,000.
The editor-in-chief, or the responsible editors of a publication or website must publish corrections within three days in the same page and space.
Failure to publish a correction in the given time will result in fines ranging from BD1,000 to BD10,000. Should a correction get published, criminal case filed in court would immediately get dropped.
Criticising The King or degrading the official religion will be met with a fine of between BD5,000 and BD50,000, which will be doubled if the offence is repeated.
If the editor-in-chief or the managing editor flouts rules and is convicted, the publication will be suspended for up to six months. If the same crime is repeated within a year of the verdict, the publication will be closed for three months or up to a year. The licence could also be terminated.
Any communique by a foreign consulate that is published without the Foreign Ministry’s approval will be met with fines ranging from BD1,000 to BD5,000.
Collaborating or transpiring with another state or foreign parties would see the publication suspended up to a year or the licence terminated.
Those who operate suspended publications or with cancelled licences will be fined between BD3,000 and BD10,000.
All cases related to media and publications would come under the Higher Criminal Court instead of the Higher Civil Court.
No editor-in-chief or media worker can be remanded in custody. A representative from the BJA and the publication must be present during investigation.
Foreign correspondents would be granted a year’s licence which will be renewable, and failure to work with a valid licence could result in fines of up to BD2,000.
Failure to abide by governing publication rules regulating operations will be met with fines of between BD3,000 and BD10,000.
This law and punishments are not applicable for publications or websites run by state-owned agencies, ministry or government bodies.
Any person can operate online news websites only after seeking permission from the Information Affairs Minister. However, licensed newspapers are exempted from seeking such approvals.
MPs will also debate and vote on government-drafted amendments to the 2009 Chemical Weapons Law that would see punishments imposed on Bahrainis committing crimes using chemical weapons abroad and foreigners indulging in similar violations in Bahrain.
The amendments also rename the concerned national committee as the National Combat Committee for Weapons of Mass Destruction, while updating the lists of weapons accordingly by the Cabinet to match the new scope.
Another new government-drafted law on biological and toxic weapons will be also debated and voted on by MPs.
The punishment would be no less than 10 years in jail, a fine between BD10,000 and BD20,000, or both for those committing crimes using biological and toxic weapons -- whether Bahrainis abroad or foreigners in Bahrain as well as inciters. They could face life sentence or death penalty if serious harm occurs to public health or the environment.
Incitement that involves a failed attempt or doesn’t cause substantial harm would be met with up to seven years in jail, a fine between BD5,000 and BD10,000, or both.
Those who commit crimes under their name or that of their establishment or businesses will be fined between BD50,000 and BD200,000.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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