Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini King issued a decree last week terminating Information Affairs Authority, and assigning its staff and management at the Ministry of Information Affairs.

The Authority was established in 2010 and was presided over by Fawaz bin Mohammad Al Khalifa, with a ministerial rank, after the media portfolio was separated from the Ministry of Culture back when Mai Al Khalif was Minister.

The Minister of Information Affairs' position was cancelled for two years, but was restored in 2012 when Samira Rajab was assigned State Minister for Information Affairs, as an aftermath of the political crisis caused by the February 14, 2011 uprising. Samira Rajab however, did not take responsibility of supervising the authority until 2013, after a royal decree had the authority be under direct supervision of the Minister.

The Bahraini government failed to confront the vast international media pressure in the aftermath of the 2011 uprising, and thus much debate went around about the efficiency of the Ministry of Information Affairs, which came under heavy criticism and accusations of negligence when presided over by Fawaz bin Mohammad, Samira Rajab, and others that came after.

The decision to terminate the authority comes in a series of many changes witnessed by the official media institution since 2010, since within only 6 years four ministers were assigned.

The Ministry of Information Affairs controls the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the official television channel and radio station. It also oversees the country's press and publications. The ministry also supervises the official Bahraini government spokesperson.

In another decree, the Ministry was reorganized to integrate the departments that used to belong to the Information Affairs Authority. It was noted that the new regulation ended the external contact and public relations and marketing departments, and joined them under one "Communications and Marketing Department."

Moreover, the Ministry of Information in Bahrain is the official body responsible for giving licenses to correspondents of news agencies and foreign media. In recent months, most Bahraini and foreign reporters complained that their licenses were withdrawn, and that they were prevented from working.

Since 2011, the Bahraini government has not been allowing foreign reporters and journalists to enter the country for political news coverage, accusing them of being "bias for the opposition".

An independent commission of inquiry formed by the King in 2011, has accused the Bahraini Information Affairs Authority of broadcasting information with derogatory language, and covering the political events in an inciting way. The committee also said that there is enough evidence that the Bahraini government exercises control over the local media outlets.

Arabic Version