Page 239 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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Towards the end of the year the government published a

proclamation ordering all correspondents of foreign papers
to register themselves at the government office, all un­
registered persons contributing to the press we re made

liable to a fine and imprisonment.

This produced the following article in "Al-Shourah" of
11th March 1931.
"On the first day of Ramadhan the Adviser to the Govt,
of Bahrain or in other words the "Musharrif" (Dictator)
of Bahrain pasted proclamations on the walls of the
town warning the people about sending articles in or
corresponding with newspapers in connection with Bahrain
(Political affairs) stating that anybody disobeying it
will be nunished v/ith three months imprisonment and
Rs 2000/- fin€.
"Let us suppose that the mouths of the inhabitants of
Bahrain will be stitched with thread bjit v/ho will under­
take to stop the leakage of news to the newspapers of
India, Syria and Egypt, and even those of Europe and
America through foreign representatives or travellers."”

It has now been arranged that no foreign journalists
will be given permits to visit Bahrain without previously

obtaining permission from Bahrain to do so.