The Human Rights Committee of the Shura Council indicated that it has referred the said draft law to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and National Security Affairs of the Shura Council for review and preparation of a report in this regard. Noting that the House of Representatives passed the bill on guaranteeing the right of access to information during its meeting on November 17, 2009, and referred it to the Shura Council. In addition, Law No. (16) of 2014 concerning Protection of State Information and Documents was issued. • The recommendation urging the public prosecution not to resort to arrest warrants in the lawsuits of audiovisual media, printing, the press, publishing and electronic media. The Public Prosecution confirmed that it is very keen on individuals exercising their right to freedom of opinion expression, within the limits set and guaranteed by the law and without prejudice to the Principle of Legality and the protection of the rights of other individuals, including not to undermine or defame people’s reputation unrightfully and with false statements; and the protection of national security or of public order, and public morals in line with the provisions of the law, and in accordance with the provisions of Article No. (19) paragraph 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Public Prosecution indicated that it does not resort to remand except in the narrowest limits and only when there are justifications or reasons as mentioned above. Concerning the offense committed by the press, printing, publishing and audiovisual, printed and electronic media, the journalist may not be held in pre-trial detention for crimes committed by the newspapers as stipulated in Article No. (81) of Legislative Decree No. (47) of 2002 on the Organization of the Press, Printing and Publishing. ‫اﻟﺘﻘﺮﻳﺮ اﻟﺴﻨﻮي اﻟﺜﺎﻟﺚ‬ ‫ﻟﻠﻤﺆﺳﺴﺔ اﻟﻮﻃﻨﻴﺔ ﻟﺤﻘﻮق اﻧﺴﻨﺎم‬ ‫ ـ ﻣﻤﻠﻜﺔ اﻟﺒﺤﺮﻳﻦ‬2015 ‫ﻟﻌﺎم‬ • The recommendation urging the government to lessen the censorship and restrictions on the various media outlets, including removing the censorship imposed on the political associations in releasing their own publications. A new paragraph was added to Article No. (11) of Law No. (34) of 2014 amending some provisions of Law No. (26) of 2005 with respect to political associations5, which stipulates that: “the association may issue periodic bulletins to express its principles, objectives, and programs provided it obtains a license from the competent Minister on Media Affairs. The Minister, in coordination with the Minister of Justice, issues a by-law listing the conditions required to obtain the license, as well as the responsibility of the bulletin’s editor-in-chief and the terms governing its circulation. These bulletins are subject to the limits of the freedom of opinion and expression in the law governing the press. “ 5 Issued on 7 August 2014, came into effect on 29 August 2014, published in the Official Gazette No. 3171 issued on 28 August 2014. 18