Information Affairs Authority
هيئة شؤون الإعلام | |
Government of Bahrain | |
Headquarters | Isa Town 26°9′49.39″N 50°33′13.58″E / 26.1637194°N 50.5537722°E |
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Minister responsible |
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Deputy Minister responsible |
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Child agencies | |
Website | www |
Member State of the Arab League |
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Judiciary |
Administrative divisions (governorates) |
Bahrain portal |
The Information Affairs Authority (IAA) is
In 2012, he relinquished the position to take up an appointment as Minister of State for Communication, and Sameera Rajab was appointed in his place.Responsibilities
The responsibilities of IAA include:[3]
- controlling the Bahrain News Agency
- controlling the Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation
- regulating press and publications in the country
- acting as the official spokesperson for the government of Bahrain.
IAA is also the press pass issuing authority.
History
It was formed in July 2010 by a decree of
In April 2012, Sameera Rajab, an outspoken supporter of Saddam Hussein, and cousin of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, was appointed[5] Minister of Information Affairs in the Bahraini government.[6][7] In 2016, Ali bin Mohammed Al Rumaihi was appointed Minister of Information Affairs.[8]
Independence
The first president of IAA, between 2010 and 2012, was
Fawaz's father, Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, served as Bahrain's Interior Minister from 1973 until 2004.[citation needed]
Criticism
In 2011, the Information Affairs Authority came under criticism for its handling of the
Having reviewed a selection of material from national television, radio and print media relating to the events of February/March 2011, the Commission notes that much of this material contained derogatory language and inflammatory coverage of events, and some may have been defamatory. However, the Commission did not find evidence of media coverage that constituted hate speech. The Commission also identified numerous examples of defamation, harassment and, in some cases, incitement through social media websites. Both pro- and anti-government journalists were targeted through social media. The Commission notes that six of the seven daily newspapers are pro-government and the broadcasting service is state- controlled. There is also sufficient evidence to suggest that the [Government of Bahrain] exercised censorship over local media outlets. The lack of adequate access to mainstream media creates frustration within opposition groups and results in these groups resorting to other media outlets such as social media. This can have a destabilising effect because social media outlets are both untraceable and unaccountable, even in extreme cases where they promulgate hate speech and incitement to violence.[9]: 410
The IAA was also criticized by Index on Censorship for its attempts to justify media censorship in Bahrain.[10]
Notable people in the IAA
- Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa
- Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa
- Maysoon Sabkar
- Luma Bashmi
- Fahad AlBinAli
- Mariam Bukamal
References
- ^ a b c d "His Majesty issues decrees". Gulf Daily News. 9 July 2010.
- ^ a b c "Decree No 33 of the Year 2010 on the Appointment of the President of the Information Affairs Authority". Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Bahrain. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ "Bahrain establishes new information authority". AMEinfo.com. 11 July 2010.
- ^ "Decree No 31 of the Year 2010 on the Renaming of the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Establishment of the Information Affairs Authority". Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Bahrain. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ Mekhennet, Souad (19 August 2013). "Lifting the Veil With Souad Mekhennet: Bahrain's Iron Lady". thedailybeast. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- Christian Science Monitor.
- ^ Wehrey, Frederic (31 May 2012). "The March of Bahrain's Hardliners". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
In late April, it appointed Samira Rajab, a polarizing figure who has praised Saddam Hussein and whose anti-Shia statements have aroused the ire of the opposition, as information minister.
- ^ HM King issues royal decree forming the cabinet
- ^ Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (PDF) (Report). Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. 23 November 2011.
- ^ "Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority responds to Index". Index on Censorship. 31 January 2010.