BEIRUT, October 13, 2011 – The Gulf Centre for Human Rights is concerned regarding the fine sentence handed down today to Al-Wasat journalists in
Bahrain. Bahrain High Criminal Court sentenced the four editors of the independent daily to a fine of 1000 Bahrain Dinars each ($US 2650). Mansoor
Al-Jamri, Editor-in-Chief, Walid Noueihed, managing editor, Aqeel Mirza,
head of local news, and Ali Al-Sherify, senior editor were fined for
publishing false in March 2011.

“The fine sends a clear signal to the Bahraini society and international community that harassment of independent media, like Al-Wasat, continues in Bahrain. While many in Bahrain expected harsher sentence, penalizing journalists and fining them and putting them on trial in a criminal court should not be taking place today in any country in the world,” said Nabeel Rajab, the director of the Gulf Centre Human Rights.

In March 2011, Al-Wasat newspaper received several e-mails containing incorrect information regarding victims of government crackdown on protesters in Lulu Square in Manama. During that period, the newspaper’s press was destroyed and also several of its journalists attacked, forcing the paper to work under enormous pressure with smaller staff and resources.
The information based on e-mails was published without double sourcing them due to staff shortage, according to GCHR’s research and interviews with Al-Wasat staff.