‘Be fair to Bahrain’

Manama : Anna Therese Day, who was one of the four American journalists who was temporarily detained in Bahrain for illegally entering the country, has drawn criticism from a Bahraini human rights activist for her actions.

Naeema Hassan, campaign organiser at Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS), has urged the journalist to be neutral, fair and impartial towards Bahrain.

“Bahrain has the people capable of defending their country against any danger that threatens its stability. Although Bahrain is facing terror exported from Iran, our government will never behave the same way as the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad by committing assassinations, genocide or repressions. There is a big difference between Bahrain and countries like Syria,” she said yesterday. 

“BHRWS welcomed the release of the four of you and your safe travel to your home country. But ask yourself, if the four of you were arrested in Iran, what would be the case? Iran would charge you for espionage and imprison you for years. I was very disappointed to see how you behave as you came to Sitra and tried to hold talks with those who created chaos and violence,” she added.

“If you were journalists, who want to be objective, why didn’t you go to other places in Bahrain such as Muharraq, Riffa or Manama? Why exactly in Sitra, with the masked thugs… with those who hide behind their masks and refuse to disclose their identities? She asked, “Real journalists must listen, record and share with all categories of the society even with foreigners who are more neutral in order to have a clear idea. Why listen to only one voice? Professionalism in journalism is to be neutral, fair and impartial, but unfortunately it is absent in some.”