Chief Executive Officer of the National Communication Centre (NCC), Yousif Al-Binkhali, had lauded the keynote address made by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, marking the World Press Freedom Day.
Al-Binkhali asserted that the royal address carries a message of appreciation and gratitude to the press personnel for their enlightening, awareness-raising and creative role.
He highlighted HM the King’s keenness to provide all constitutional and legal guarantees for the press, being an integral part of the comprehensive development march, noting that the Bahraini democracy has protected the press sector through putting in place the necessary guarantors that enable it to exercise its work safety, independently and freely, which, he said, has consolidated a responsible, professional and national press work over the past period.
NCC chief pointed out that the Bahraini press has always been, and still is a partner in supporting the efforts of Team Bahrain, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, citing its role in countering rumours and inaccurate information during the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which contributed to highlighting Bahrain’s model in managing the challenges, and reassuring the citizens and residents.
Al-Binkhali extended NCC staff’s thanks and appreciation to HM the King for lauding the role of NCC in carrying out its duties of disseminating quality and credible information to the fullest, pledging that NCC will continue implementing HM the King’s directives, and reflecting the nation’s conscience, unity, and authentic cultural and civilisational identity.
He praised HM the King’s directives to draw up a new and comprehensive law to combat hate speech, extremism and contempt for religions in expressing opinion in all its conventional and new forms, which will support the national efforts to spread the values of moderation, tolerance, disseminate the culture of peace and dialogue among all religions, cultures and civilisations, and to confront extremist ideas that fuel discord, violence and fan the flames of terrorism.
