Qatari subversive media part of the problem: Bahrain

Manama - Bahraini official slams subversive role of Qatari information policy

Bahraini Information Affairs Minister, Ali Mohammed Al Roumaihi has slammed the subversive role of the Qatari information policy, saying that Bahrain has long been suffering from the Al Jazeera satellite channel ever since it was established 20 years ago.

The Bahrain News Agency (BNA) quoted Roumaihi as saying that the Qatari channel aired more than 900 reports and news items painting a negative image of Bahrain.

The minister rejected any attempt on the part of Bahrain to politicise Haj pilgrimage. He condemned the Qatari attempts to internationalise the Haj issue before moving the matter to the UN and promoting the same on Al Jazeera channel. "The Qatari regime, however, backed off, and denied attempts to internationalise the issue after being exposed to mounting pressures." "Not a single country can politicise Haj", Roumaihi added. "The Qatari citizens who feel the brunt today due to the accusations targeting their country have to realise the daily accusations leveled against Bahrain over 20 years", Roumaihi said.

He said the media has become part of the problem, fanning the flames of the crisis, rather than part of the solution. He added that the crisis with Qatar had been simmering long before the quartet decided to sever diplomatic ties with Doha.

"The history of the crisis with Qatar is rooted in the Doha-run media policies which paid no heed to kinship relations bonding the Arabian Gulf countries.

The ministry outlined the Qatari information policy which has been targeting Bahrain and interfering in its internal affairs blatantly, through its media arm, A Jazeera channel.

"When Bahrain expressed displeasure at hosting outlaws and branding them as the opposition, Qatar claimed that Al Jazeera is an independent channel", he said, adding that Qatari people have nothing to do with his country's subversive media role which does not represent the Qatari people.

He said that Qatari people did not benefit from Al Jazeera channel which was launched some twenty ago as a big media investment project and training centre, noting that Qatari nationals barely make up five per cent of the overall Al Jazeera staff strength and most of them play a secondary role away from the limelight.

Roumaihi said Al Jazeera provides intensive media coverage for the smallest incident in the farthest country and turns it into a big event while ignoring the tragic death of 13 children in a blaze which gutted a shopping mall in the vicinity of the channel. - Wam

• Qatar Crisis
• Bahrain