Offensive TV programme against Bahrain inconsistent with Al-Ula Summit principles: Information Minister
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
The ‘offensive’ TV programme aired by Qatar’s Al Jazeera Channel is in disharmony with all the principles stipulated by the Al-Ula Summit.
This was according to Information Affairs Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al Romaihi who said that the Doha-based network has become a heavy burden on the Qatari citizens.
These principles, mentioned by the Qatari Foreign Minister after the Al-Ula Summit, include non-interference in countries’ domestic affairs, security cooperation, respect for the sovereignty of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and combating terrorism and extremist organisations, Al Romaihi added.
Last week, Bahrain lodged a formal complaint with the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs over Al Jazeera Channel’s latest hostile media campaign against the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note of protest to its Qatar counterpart, expressing the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of a TV programme entitled “Out of Context”, which was aired on Al Jazeera on March 7.
The film contained false information and allegations put forward by hired instigators, which Qatar, Gulf and Arab countries all know that they receive their orders from foreign parties showing ill intentions towards Bahrain and the GCC states.
In a statement to the Information Affairs Ministry’s Media Centre, Al Romaihi stressed that all peoples of the region, including the Qatari citizens, have questioned the purpose and timing of the programme, which is a question that cannot be answered by an employee who carried out his paid work according to direct instructions, but by those who finance this channel.
The Minister pointed out that the programme hosted a guest who does not have a political or social presence in Bahrain or the region, but he is only known as a person who is wanted by the security authorities, has external links and incites hatred of the ruling system, violence and terrorism.
The programme also discussed a book that does not have any presence in any local, Arab or international library, included direct and explicit incitement to hatred of the ruling system and questioned the security and judicial authorities, which makes the details and timing of the programme unclear.
The Minister affirmed that such an offensive programme has been widely rejected by the representatives of the Bahraini people in the Shura and Representatives councils, NGOs, the Bahrain Journalists Society, journalists, columnists and social media users, adding that the brotherly GCC countries have expressed their honourable stances in denunciation of the programme.
The Minister emphasised that Al Jazeera Channel has become a heavy burden on the Qatari citizens, and not an investment tool for their benefit.
He noted that it has caused the withdrawal of ambassadors and the reduction of diplomatic representation in more than 18 countries around the world from Qatar due to the media policies it has pursued during the past years
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