Mansoor al-Jamri
Mansoor al-Jamri | |
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CPJ International Press Freedom Award (2011)[3] | |
Website |
Mansoor al-Jamri (also Mansour;
A few months after he was born in the village of Bani Jamra, al-Jamri moved with his family to Iraq where his father continued his religious studies. To his delight, al-Jamri returned to Bahrain in 1973 and five years later graduated from high school. In 1979 he moved to the United Kingdom (UK) to continue his higher education. Between 1987 and 2001, al-Jamri lived in self-imposed exile in UK where he became the spokesman of a UK-based opposition group. Following a series of reforms of which he was initially skeptical of, al-Jamri returned to Bahrain in December 2001. He co-founded Al-Wasat in September 2002 and became its editor-in-chief since then. The newspaper, said to be the only one offering independent and non-sectarian coverage in Bahrain was a success, becoming the country's most popular and profitable. Al-Jamri writes daily columns described to be moderate and non-sectarian.
When the
Early life and education
Mansoor al-Jamri was born in
Few months after his birth, al-Jamri family traveled to
In his book Non-scattered memories of Najaf, al-Jamri describes the dire situation in Iraq following the rise of
Al-Jamri's first memories in Bahrain were during a visit with father during the month of Ramadan.[17] Although he was mocked by other kids due to his partly Iraqi accent, al-Jamri said he was very happy with the visit as he found his village Bani Jamra much more "open" than Najaf.[18] In 1973, al-Jamri returned to Bahrain with his family, spending 11 years of his life in Iraq.[19] He said his father's decision to return to Bahrain was the "best news I have ever received" and that to him Bahrain represented "freedom and eternal joy".[20]
In 1978, al-Jamri graduated from high school, technical sector.[13] In 1979, he traveled to the United Kingdom to continue his higher education after receiving a scholarship from Ministry of Education.[13][21] He studied mechanical engineering at the University of the West of Scotland (Paisley University) of which he holds the doctorate degree.[3][22] Trouble followed al-Jamri during his visits to Bahrain as he was questioned by security forces in 1980, his passport withdrawn for a year in 1982 and in 1987 he was not able to find a job.[13] In 1987, al-Jamri immigrated to Britain which he held its citizenship.[21] He lived in self-imposed exile for 14 years during which he continued his studies and became the spokesman of the London-based opposition group. He was also a "frequent guest on international news outlets such as the BBC."[23]
Al-Jamri is married to
Founding of Al-Wasat
In 1999, then-Emir (now King)
Al-Wasat (literally, "The Center"
Bahraini uprising
Background
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Protesters_fests_toward_Pearl_roundabout.jpg/220px-Protesters_fests_toward_Pearl_roundabout.jpg)
Beginning in February 2011, Bahrain saw sustained pro-democracy protests, centered at
Role of al-Jamri and Al-Wasat
During the uprising, Al Wasat was a voice for "moderation and prudence" that urged compromise from both sides[3][27] and its popularity reportedly increased by 30 percent.[35] In his columns, al-Jamri criticized the government for its repression and protesters for blocking a main highway.[27] Al-Jamri said he was involved in meditation efforts between the two sides of the conflict until 15 March after Saudi troops had entered Bahrain.[27] He added that he refused to be hosted on Al-Manar and Al-Alam News Network, because "their rhetoric is not in accordance with Al-Wasat's".[31] This however, did not spare Al-Wasat from the effects of the unrest as its printing facility was surrounded by youths who harassed employees since 12 March.[33]
Three days later, the facility was attacked at 1am by a club-wielding-gang that "attack[ed] the touch screens and computers of the printing machine," said the head of Al-Wasat printing press.[33][41] That day Al-Wasat was printed by another newspaper.[33] Employees had to work from home as "hundreds of vigilantes encircled the area", they (employees) were harassed in checkpoints and authorities reportedly failed to protect them even after getting contacted.[24][27][30] Al-Jamri reported receiving death threats via phone and getting intimidated by government informers.[3] "One of our photographers had camera smashed into his head and needed hospitalization, several distributors were beaten, and one columnist disappeared for a month. But under all of these circumstances, we continued," al-Jamri said.[30]
Suspension of Al-Wasat and resignation of al-Jamri
On 2 April, following a three-hour[23] episode on Bahrain TV alleging it had published false and fabricated news and images in its 26 and 29 March editions, Al-Wasat was forced to close down and had its website blocked by the Information Affairs Authority (IAA).[36][42] The state-run Bahrain News Agency accused it of "unethical" media coverage of the events of the uprising[34] and the IAA released a 30-page report "detailing Al Wasat's alleged transgressions".[36] The news and images turned out to be either from other countries or from previous events.[27] The newspaper did not publish an edition on 3 April.[41] Al-Jamri acknowledged that the reports identified in Bahrain TV show were false, but said he and his staff did not "knowingly [publish] false information".[36]
The ban was lifted a day later after al-Jamri and two other top editors had resigned.[41] Al-Jamri said his resignation was "needed to safeguard the newspaper and the livelihood of its staff."[43] On 4 April, Al-Wasat resumed publishing under the supervision of two Iraqi editors.[27] The two temporary editors were questioned in the National Security Agency and were deported along with their families after they had refused to confess against al-Jamri.[27][36] Al-Jamri and the two editors who resigned were subsequently questioned[36] and charged with "publishing fabricated news and made up stories... that may harm public safety and national interests."[44]
Unlike other cases which were brought before a
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the charges were politically motivated and asked authorities to drop them, allow al-Jamri back to his position and "cease their campaign to silence independent journalism".[36] The advocacy group added that following al-Jamri's resignation, Al-Wasat's coverage of human rights violations decreased significantly.[36] "Bahrain's rulers are showing they have no shame by muzzling the one media outlet that was widely regarded as the country's only independent news source," Joe Stork of HRW said.[36] The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the actions of Bahraini government and described them as "strong-arm tactics".[27][43] The non-government organization added that its research supported claims by al-Jamri that the government was behind planting the false news.[23] Mohammed al-Maskati of Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights accused the Ministry of Interior of planting the fake stories.[27] "They wanted him to quit, and the paper has totally changed," he added.[27]
On 4 August, al-Jamri was reinstated back to his position by the board of directors.
Publications
Al-Jamri has written several books, mostly in Arabic. These include Memories of Childhood (2007), Interventions on Thought and Politics (2008),Concepts in Management and Leadership (2016), and Principled Leadership in Management and Development (2018) .[22] The Memories of Childhood is a narrative of al-Jamri's childhood in Iraq, the experiences he had and the events he witnessed.[49] He was motivated to write it by people's reactions following the death of his father and dedicated the book to his memory.[50] The Interventions on Thought and Politics deals with political and ideological concepts in Europe and the Muslim world, and how Muslim countries can benefit from them in order to consolidate the political pluralism within the Islamic theme.[51] Al-Jamri also writes a daily column in Al-Wasat and regular articles on politics and human rights for other publications such as Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.[1][3]
References
- ^ a b c "Mansoor al-Jamri". Right to Non-violence. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri (8 August 2005). تحرك الثمانينات أسس لتحرك التسعينات. Al-Wasat (in Arabic). Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Mansoor al-Jamri, Bahrain". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ a b c "2012 Awards". International Media Awards. 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
- ^ "Bahrain authorities must rescind decision to close only independent newspaper al-Wasat and cease all-out campaign to end independent reporting" (PDF). Amnesty International. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ^ a b c Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, p. 7.
- ^ "Bahrain pro-democracy cleric dies". BBC. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ Phil Davison (20 December 2006). "Sheikh Abdul Amir al-Jamri". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ a b c Abdul Amir al-Jamri (10 February 2001). قصة حياتي [The story of my life] (in Arabic). aljamri.org. p. 5. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- ^ الشيخ عبدالامير الجمري. Al-Wasat (in Arabic). 3 July 2003. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, p. 11.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, pp. 28–31, 35–6.
- ^ a b c d مقابلة منتديات البحرين مع الدكتور منصور الجمري. Al-Wasat (in Arabic). 20 August 2001. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, pp. 7–16.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, pp. 20–3.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, pp. 12–4.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, p. 41.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, pp. 41–3.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, p. 59.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, p. 58.
- ^ a b c d "Bahrain approves first independent dailies". Associated Press. 8 January 2002. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2013 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ a b William Granger (9 January 2012). "Mansoor al-Jamri". World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d Kristin Jones (2012). "The Calculus of Risk: Awardees Work Despite Perils". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ PBS NewsHour. PBS. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "Mansoor al-Jamri Award Acceptance Speech". Committee to Protect Journalists. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ Brian Dooley (3 July 2012). "Bahrain Escalates Attacks on Civil Society". Human Rights First. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Clifford Krauss (8 April 2011). "Editor Silenced, With the Help of Unreliable Sources". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ Jane Kinninmont (10 May 2012). Mansoor Al Jamri receives Peace Through Media Award 2012. Next Century Foundation. Event occurs at 5:50. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri (2010). "Shia and the State in Bahrain" (PDF). Alternative Politics (1): 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ a b c Jill Greenfield (1 December 2011). "Fighting for human rights and press freedom in Bahrain: Possibilities and Limitations". Harvard Law School. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ Aleqtsadia (in Arabic). Archived from the originalon 1 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ مشروع الميثاق في البحرين (in Arabic). Al Jazeera. 13 February 2001. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Gangs with clubs attack Bahrain newspaper". ABC News. Reuters. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Editors quit to save Bahraini newspaper from ban". The Guardian. Associated Press. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ a b c Alessandra Bajec (24 November 2011). "I am proud to contribute to the right side of history". European Journalism Centre (via EMAJ Magazine). Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Bahrain: Drop Charges Against Editor of Independent Daily". Human Rights Watch. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- Huffington Post. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ^ "Bahrain editors to face trial over protests". USA Today. Associated Press. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "Bahrain protests: Police break up Pearl Square crowd". BBC News. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ^ "Bahrain profile (Timeline)". BBC. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ a b c M. Cherif Bassiouni et al. 2011, p. 390.
- ^ M. Cherif Bassiouni et al. 2011, pp. 389–90.
- ^ a b "Bahrain manipulates daily; attacks in Libya, Iraq, Yemen". Committee to Protect Journalists. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ a b Human Rights Watch 2011, p. 11.
- ^ "Trial of Journalists Continues in Bahrain". Voice of America. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "Bahrain Fines Newspaper Staff For False Reports". Voice of America. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ Next Century Foundation 2012, p. 30.
- ^ Next Century Foundation 2012, p. 12.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, pp. 4–59.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri 2007, p. 3.
- ^ Mansoor al-Jamri (2008). مداخلات في الفكر والسياسة: نحو تأصيل إسلامي للنهج التعددي [Interventions on Thought and Politics] (in Arabic). Al Wasat.
Bibliography
- Mansoor al-Jamri (2007). ذكريات غير متناثرة من النجف الأشرف [Non-scattered memories of Najaf] (PDF) (in Arabic). Al-Wasat. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- Nigel S. Rodley; Philippe Kirsch; Badria Al-Awadhi; Mahnoush H. Arsanjani (2011). Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (PDF) (Report). Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.
- Human Rights Watch (5 July 2011). Bahrain's Human Rights Crisis (PDF) (Report). p. 11. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- Next Century Foundation (2012). Media Credibility Index 2012 (PDF) (Report). Vol. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2013.