Manama, 16 April (AKI) – The Bahrain Journalists Association has urged reporters and rights activists to mobilise in support of blogger Mahmoud Al Yousuf who faces charges levelled by the Agriculture Minister, local daily Gulf News reports. The association, in a statement on Sunday, urged them to gather at the High Criminal Court on Tuesday in a show of support for the blogger. Last December, Al Yousuf in his blog ridiculed a statement by the newly-appointed agriculture minister Mansoor Bin Rajab in which he praised the performance of his ministry during the heavy rain that flooded several areas.
Al Yousuf has been summoned to the court on Tuesday. According to Gulf News, the minister reneged on an earlier accord brokered by Bahrain Journalists Association to end a stand-off.
His case is seen as a test for internet freedom of expression in Bahrain where blogs have proliferated, despite a controversial attempt to have them registered officially.
(Fmk/Aki)
Apr-16-07 12:46