Bahrain’s Council of Representatives passed a law March 5 to protect government secrets, according to a March 6 article by Mohammed al a’ali in the Gulf Daily News.
The law will criminalize leaks and the unauthorized distribution of sensitive documents.
“It was passed despite strong opposition from several MPs, including parliament legislative and legal affairs committee chairman Ali Al Ateesh, who said it would hinder democratic reforms and transparency,” the Gulf Daily News reported.
“We are just looking to offer protection to important documents and information that has an impact on internal security,” a Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry representative is quoted as saying. “There is no need for panic as information and documents that are classified as being of public interest will continue to be available to the public.
The official said a new classification system will be introduced.
An Interior Ministry representative said, “There are official channels in which information and documents could be acquired if the legislative authority asks for it and we don’t intend to stop people from having an insight into what goes on in ministries, government bodies or companies the government owns 50 per cent or more of,” he said.
The bill will now be studied by the Shura Council, the upper house of the National Assembly, according to the report.
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