MPs’ plaints stir hullabaloo on social media platforms

The recent decision of the General Secretariat of the Council of Representatives to refer several social media users to the Public Prosecution on the backgrounds of alleged misuse of their accounts to insult MPs performance have stirred an online controversy among Bahrainis.

This came as many Bahrainis criticised the way MPs dealt with the recent and sudden fuel price increase on social networks, especially on Twitter.

Reportedly, the secretariat complained against more than 10 Bahrainis for allegedly insulting MPs on social media.

Reports claimed that the complaints were made against an ex-MP, an employee at the secretariat, who is managing a public page on social networks and a relative of an MP of the current Parliament.

In addition to the numerous posts on social media, the criticism of the secretariat’s step was escalated when 11 political societies issued a joint statement that rejected the legal move of the parliament.

“It seems that the Council of Representatives wants the citizens of Bahrain to remain quiet and accept all the increasing prices of meat, fuel and electricity that are imposed on them or face legal accountability if they commented on the matter,” the statement claimed.

The statement was jointly issued by Al Asalah Islamic Society, Al Minbar Al Watani Islamic Society, Al Fateh Youth Coalition, Al Wasat Al Arabi Al Islami Society, Al Shura Islamic Society, National Justice Movement, Al Saff National Society, National Constitutional Gathering Society, National Dialogue Society, Bahrain Human Rights Society and Karama Human Rights Society.

Meanwhile, several MPs tweeted against exploiting social media networks to insult and defame MPs, officials and individuals.