View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Gulf media crackdown: Bahrain closes down nation’s ‘only independent newspaper’ Al-Wasat

By Gursimran Hans

Amidst increasing restrictions on the press in the Gulf nation, authorities in Bahrain have shut down Al-Wasat, the country’s only independent newspaper, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports.

HRW quoted a Government statement claiming Al-Wasat had “created discord and damaged Bahrain’s relations with other countries”.

HRW then cited the fact the paper, based in the city of Manama, had reported a rural uprising in al-Hoceima, Morocco and expressed sympathy for protestors.

Bahrain is ranked 164 out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, behind countries such as Russia, Libya and Turkey.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported in May that several Bahraini journalists who worked for foreign media organisations such as Associated Press and France 24 had been denied accreditation.

According to the CPJ, several Bahraini journalists have been detained in Jaw Prison. These include Ahmed Humaidan, who whilst covering an attack on a police station in December 2012, was arrested for participating in the attack. He is said to be serving a ten-year prison term.

The founder of Al-Wasat, Karim Fakhwari was detained in April 2011 for “deliberate news fabrication and falsification,” a week later he died in custody – the CPJ reports.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

HRW’s deputy Middle East director Joe Stork said in a statement: “Shutting down Al Wasat is a prime example of Bahraini authorities’ complete intolerance of any kind of independent expression.”

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network