Bahrain
Journalists conviced of smear and defamation.Posted Nov 1 2007
Journalist Hesham Al-Zayani and the editor in chief of the Akhbar Al-Khaleej newspaper were convicted by the Bahrain Supreme Court of Appeal for smear and defamation against the President of Arabian University, Dr. Rafia Ghabbash. They were fined US$2,650, according to the International Freedom of Expression of Exchange.
On the same day, another journalist's case, that against Jaffar Al-jamry of Al-wasat newspaper, was postponed until December, on the accusation of smeal and contempt by a female official of the Ministry of Health.
According to the IFEX, president of the Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) said that the number of cases brought against journalists this year is 25. Their statistics show that in 2006, the total number of cases brought against journalists was 27, of which only 7 (26%) were adopted by the Public Prosecution (PP). In 207 the number of cases against journalists is 32 of which 12 (38%) have been moved by the PP. BJA tend to play a role of mediator in persuading government officials to drop their cases. The role played by the BJA, however, has not reduced the number of cases brought against journalists.