Skip to main content

Bahrain authorities block Al Jazeera from GCC summit

Doha, Qatar - Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN) has been blocked from covering the 37th summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Manama by Bahraini authorities.


Al Jazeera journalist Jamal Elshayyal was refused entry at Bahrain International Airport on Tuesday even though AJMN had followed all necessary procedures and submitted all requested documents to the relevant authorities in time.
"We applied for accreditation well before the deadline, submitting the names and passports as requested," Elshayyal said in Qatar's capital, Doha, after his return.
"I flew out to Manama this morning and upon reaching the immigration counter, I filled out the required form specifying I was a journalist and I was there to cover the summit.
"I was asked to sit on the side by the immigration officer who later informed me the Ministry of Information said Al Jazeera was not allowed to cover the event and I was rejected entry." 
Bahrain's Information Ministry didn't immediately return repeated calls and emails seeking comment.
Sherif Mansour, Middle East and North Africa coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said he didn't have details on the incident but noted the Gulf kingdom's track record on press freedom.
"Bahrain has jailed journalists, repeatedly cracked down on local and international coverage of protests, and banned international journalists from covering human rights abuses in the kingdom," Mansour told Al Jazeera.
It wasn't the first time Bahraini authorities prevented Al Jazeera from reporting on events in the country.
"Manama previously blocked Al Jazeera's reporters from covering the 30th GCC summit, without providing convincing reasons," AJMN said in a statement released on Tuesday.
"The network had prepared for special, comprehensive coverage of this important event," it added.
No official reason has been received from Bahraini officials on why AJMN was refused entry.
"Al Jazeera condemns this measure, which is a deviation from the normal media protocols of host countries, and affirms that it will continue to cover news and events in Bahrain regardless of this ban."
The two-day summit in Bahrain's capital is hosting Arab and Gulf leaders who are discussing regional and international issues, including the wars in Yemen and Syria.
This year's summit is also being attended by British Prime Minister Theresa May, her first visit to the region.

Aljazeera.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arsenal’s Wenger concerned by Chinese spending power

Arsene Wenger fears the huge wages being offered by big-spending Chinese clubs could cause problems when the Premier League teams look to negotiate new contracts with their star players.  Wenger is currently locked in talks with Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez as the pair reportedly seek parity with the best-paid players in the Premier League. The Arsenal manager is hoping for successful resolutions to those contract stand-offs, but he believes the money on offer in the China Super League may persuade the Premier League’s star names to ask for even bigger pay packets to stay in England. Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been linked with a move to China, with an offer of £600,000-per-week ($739,000) reportedly on the table for the Spain international. Two of his former Chelsea team-mates, Oscar and John Obi Mikel, have already moved to Super League outfits, while former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez became the highest-earning player in the world when h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hausa Tribe Accused Britain of disrespecting their Culture and Religion

The people of Hausa tribe react to BBC HAUSA Sexual behavior research done by   Claremont Graduate   University in California on facebook. According to the research, Bisexuals enjoys the pleasure of sex mother than anyone. Some Facebook users of the Hausa tribe accused Britain of disrespecting the culture and the religion of Hausa’s. One of the users,   Aminu adam tangar   wrote in hausa: I’m not surprised, the media organization belongs to Britain, but whatever is the case: they should learn to respect our culture and religion. (Translated) Hamza Danbatta   also wrote: This is totally against the hausa culture, if this media organization is really for Hausa listeners then you’re not trying at all, may God deliver you. (Translated)
Post a Comment
Read more

Record signing, Oscar lands in Shanghai to join SIPG

 Brazilian midfielder Oscar landed in Shanghai on Monday where the 25-year-old was set to smash the Asian transfer record with a reported 60 million euros ($63 million) deal with Shanghai SIPG. Dozens of supporters chanting club songs swarmed the former Chelsea player at the city’s Pudong airport. Oscar’s arrival in the Chinese Super League comes ahead of that of Argentina’s former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez, who signed for Shanghai Shenhua in another big-money deal last week.  Tevez’s transfer fee was 10.5 million euros, according to the website transfermarkt.com, which tracks dealings in the sport, though the reported two-year contract of 38 million euros per season ($40 million) makes him the world’s highest salaried footballer. SIPG’s general manager on Monday dismissed concerns raised by state media of a market bubble in the super-rich Chinese league, arguing prices have to be higher to attract players away from big European leagues. “The leagu...
Post a Comment
Read more