DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain shut down a prominent independent newspaper Sunday “until further notice” over an article about unrest in Morocco, the latest move tightening expression in the Gulf nation as authorities wage a crackdown on dissent.

The sudden closure of the daily Al-Wasat marks the third time authorities have ordered it to stop publishing a print edition since the island’s 2011 Arab Spring protests and comes just after officials briefly banned it in January from publishing online.

Bahrain’s Information Affairs Authority issued the order first verbally Sunday and later through a statement published by the state-run Bahrain News Agency, said Mansoor al-Jamri, the paper’s editor-in-chief. The statement said the closure came over a story “affecting the relations of the kingdom of Bahrain with other countries.”

Al-Jamri identified that story as a column on page 19 of its Sunday edition focused on recent protests in northern Morocco’s El Hoceima. The area has been gripped by unrest since the death of a fish vendor in October, who was crushed by a garbage compactor while trying to save fish that officials had confiscated.

“We didn’t have any due process basically,” he told The Associated Press.

Al-Wasat is widely seen as the only independent newspaper in Bahrain, an island just off the coast of Saudi Arabia that’s home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and an under-construction British naval base. Independent news gathering there has grown more difficult, with the government refusing to accredit two Associated Press journalists and others .

For over a year now, Bahrain’s Sunni-ruled government has arrested or forced activists into exile while breaking up major opposition political parties in the Shiite-majority nation. In late May, a police raid killed five protesters in one of the bloodiest confrontations since the 2011 protests. Another 286 people were arrested during the raid on a sit-in supporting a prominent Shiite cleric who has been stripped of his citizenship.

Brian Dooley, a senior adviser at Human Rights First, called the decision to halt the publication of Al-Wasat “a panic move from the authorities scared of facts and quality journalism.”

“Today’s move is the latest attempt by Bahrain to prevent critical coverage of what’s happening in the country,” Dooley said in a statement.

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap. His work can be found at http://apne.ws/2galNpz.</s>The government in Sunni-ruled Bahrain announced Sunday an indefinite ban on the independent Al-Wasat newspaper on accusations that it publishes "what sows division" in the Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom.

The ministry of information affairs said it had decided to bar the publication and stop its circulation "until further notice", according BNA state news agency, without specifying if the ban affects the electronic edition.

The order was due to Al-Wasat's "violation of the law and repeatedly publishing what sows division in the society and affects Bahrain's relations with other states," BNA said.

The decision came after the paper published an article on Sunday that was "offensive to a sisterly Arab state," BNA said, in an apparent reference to an article that praised protests in Morocco.

The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy criticised the decision, saying it was "the latest in an escalated crackdown on independent civil society".

"They are trying to silence the only independent paper," BIRD's advocacy chief Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei said in a statement.

"Bahrain feels it can get away with any action because its key international allies the US and UK have shown they don't prioritise human rights. This attack on the press must be condemned by London and Washington," he added.

BIRD said an unnamed source at the newspaper said Al-Wasat was suspended due to the publication of an "opinion article" about widespread protests in Morocco.

Demonstrations and a strike have rocked the northern port of Al-Hoceima, in Morocco's neglected Rif region, where authorities arrested the leader of a popular protest movement and others on May 26.

The protesters have been demanding more development and railing against corruption, repression and unemployment.

Al-Hoceima has been shaken by social unrest since the death in October of a fishmonger who was crushed in a rubbish truck as he protested against the seizure of swordfish caught out of season.

Authorities in Bahrain had suspended the electronic edition of Al-Wasat for few days in January over accusations of sowing sedition and harming national unity.

The newspaper was also suspended for two days in August 2015 on similar charges.

Bahrain has been rocked by sporadic unrest since March 2011 when security forces brutally crushed an Arab Spring-inspired uprising.

At the height of the 2011 uprising, Al-Wasat was suspended and its chief editor Mansoor al-Jamri tried and fined for publishing false information.

The latest ban comes as authorities intensify a crackdown on the opposition, with police shooting dead five demonstrators last month as security forces dismantled a months-long sit-in.

And last week a Bahrain court dissolved the secular opposition party Waed, months after the main party representing the kingdom's Shiite majority, Al-Wefaq, was also banned.

Tiny but strategic Bahrain, which lies just across the Gulf from Iran, is a key regional ally of the United States and home to its Fifth Fleet.

It has come under frequent criticism from international human rights groups and the administration of Barack Obama often criticised the Manama authorities for not doing more to reconcile with the opposition.

However President Donald Trump made a clear break from that policy during a visit to the region earlier this month, telling Bahrain's King Hamad in neighbouring Saudi Arabia "there won't be strain with this administration".</s>Dubai (AFP) - The government in Sunni-ruled Bahrain announced Sunday an indefinite ban on the independent Al-Wasat newspaper on accusations that it publishes "what sows division" in the Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom.

The ministry of information affairs said it had decided to bar the publication and stop its circulation "until further notice", according BNA state news agency, without specifying if the ban affects the electronic edition.

The order was due to Al-Wasat's "violation of the law and repeatedly publishing what sows division in the society and affects Bahrain's relations with other states," BNA said.

The decision came after the paper published an article on Sunday that was "offensive to a sisterly Arab state," BNA said, in an apparent reference to an article that praised protests in Morocco.

The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy criticised the decision, saying it was "the latest in an escalated crackdown on independent civil society".

"They are trying to silence the only independent paper," BIRD's advocacy chief Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei said in a statement.

"Bahrain feels it can get away with any action because its key international allies the US and UK have shown they don't prioritise human rights. This attack on the press must be condemned by London and Washington," he added.

BIRD said an unnamed source at the newspaper said Al-Wasat was suspended due to the publication of an "opinion article" about widespread protests in Morocco.

Demonstrations and a strike have rocked the northern port of Al-Hoceima, in Morocco's neglected Rif region, where authorities arrested the leader of a popular protest movement and others on May 26.

The protesters have been demanding more development and railing against corruption, repression and unemployment.

Al-Hoceima has been shaken by social unrest since the death in October of a fishmonger who was crushed in a rubbish truck as he protested against the seizure of swordfish caught out of season.

- Authorities intensify crackdown -

Story continues

Authorities in Bahrain had suspended the electronic edition of Al-Wasat for few days in January over accusations of sowing sedition and harming national unity.

The newspaper was also suspended for two days in August 2015 on similar charges.

Bahrain has been rocked by sporadic unrest since March 2011 when security forces brutally crushed an Arab Spring-inspired uprising.

At the height of the 2011 uprising, Al-Wasat was suspended and its chief editor Mansoor al-Jamri tried and fined for publishing false information.

The latest ban comes as authorities intensify a crackdown on the opposition, with police shooting dead five demonstrators last month as security forces dismantled a months-long sit-in.

And last week a Bahrain court dissolved the secular opposition party Waed, months after the main party representing the kingdom's Shiite majority, Al-Wefaq, was also banned.

Tiny but strategic Bahrain, which lies just across the Gulf from Iran, is a key regional ally of the United States and home to its Fifth Fleet.

It has come under frequent criticism from international human rights groups and the administration of Barack Obama often criticised the Manama authorities for not doing more to reconcile with the opposition.

However President Donald Trump made a clear break from that policy during a visit to the region earlier this month, telling Bahrain's King Hamad in neighbouring Saudi Arabia "there won't be strain with this administration".</s>Dubai

 The government in Sunni-ruled Bahrain announced Sunday an indefinite ban on the independent Al-Wasat newspaper on accusations that it publishes “what sows division” in the Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom.

 The ministry of information affairs said it had decided to bar the publication and stop its circulation “until further notice”, according BNA state news agency, without specifying if the ban affects the electronic edition.

 The order was due to Al-Wasat’s “violation of the law and repeatedly publishing what sows division in the society and affects Bahrain’s relations with other states,” BNA said.

 The decision came after the paper published an article on Sunday that was “offensive to a sisterly Arab state,” BNA said, in an apparent reference to an article that praised protests in Morocco.

 The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy criticised the decision, saying it was “the latest in an escalated crackdown on independent civil society”.

 “They are trying to silence the only independent paper,” BIRD’s advocacy chief Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei said in a statement. “Bahrain feels it can get away with any action because its key international allies the US and UK have shown they don’t prioritise human rights. This attack on the press must be condemned by London and Washington,” he added.

 BIRD said an unnamed source at the newspaper said Al-Wasat was suspended due to the publication of an “opinion article” about widespread protests in Morocco.

 Demonstrations and a strike have rocked the northern port of Al-Hoceima, in Morocco’s neglected Rif region, where authorities arrested the leader of a popular protest movement and others on May 26.

 The protesters have been demanding more development and railing against corruption, repression and unemployment.

 Al-Hoceima has been shaken by social unrest since the death in October of a fishmonger who was crushed in a rubbish truck as he protested against the seizure of swordfish caught out of season.

 Authorities in Bahrain had suspended the electronic edition of Al-Wasat for few days in January over accusations of sowing sedition and harming national unity.

 The newspaper was also suspended for two days in August 2015 on similar charges.

 Bahrain has been rocked by sporadic unrest since March 2011 when security forces brutally crushed an Arab Spring-inspired uprising.

 At the height of the 2011 uprising, Al-Wasat was suspended and its chief editor Mansoor al-Jamri tried and fined for publishing false information.—AFP</s>The government in Sunni-ruled Bahrain announced Sunday an indefinite ban on the independent Al-Wasat newspaper on accusations that it publishes "what sows division" in the Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom.

The ministry of information affairs said it had decided to bar the publication and stop its circulation "until further notice", according BNA state news agency, without specifying if the ban affects the electronic edition.

The order was due to Al-Wasat's "violation of the law and repeatedly publishing what sows division in the society and affects Bahrain's relations with other states," BNA said.

The decision came after the paper published an article on Sunday that was "offensive to a sisterly Arab state," BNA said, in an apparent reference to an article that praised protests in Morocco.

Authorities in Bahrain had suspended the electronic edition of Al-Wasat for few days in January over accusations of sowing sedition and harming national unity.

The newspaper was also suspended for two days in August 2015 on similar charges.

Bahrain has been rocked by sporadic unrest since March 2011 when security forces brutally crushed an Arab Spring-inspired uprising.

At the height of the 2011 uprising, Al-Wasat was suspended and its chief editor Mansoor al-Jamri tried and fined for publishing false information.

The latest ban comes as authorities intensify a crackdown on the opposition, with police shooting dead five demonstrators last month as security forces dismantled a months-long sit-in.</s>DUBAI, June 4 (Reuters) - Bahrain on Sunday suspended the country's only independent newspaper indefinitely over a column that insulted a "sisterly Arab country", state news agency BNA reported, the second time the publication has been banned this year.

Al-Wasat editor described the decision as "harsh and shocking" but said he hoped to try to reverse the measure.

The move coincides with a crackdown by the Sunni-led government on the opposition that has included shutting down main political groups and targeting activists. Al-Wasat, while an independent newspaper, is seen as supporting the views of the opposition.

BNA said the Information Ministry decided to stop al-Wasat from being printed or circulated until further notice for "repeating the publication of ...that which spreads divisions in society and affects the Kingdom of Bahrain (vis a vis) other countries."

It said the decision came over a column published on Sunday which it said contained insults to an Arab country, but it did not say which one or give further details.

The editor, Mansour al-Jamri, said authorities verbally informed the newspaper that the decision was over a column it published about protests in Morocco.

"This is a harsh and shocking measure," said Mansour al-Jamri. "We are an independent newspaper, we publish stories covering both points of views," he added.

Jamri said the newspaper was shut down four times since 2011. The last time was in January, when authorities closed down the online edition.

In the past, "we would be in touch with the ministry and work things out," he said.

Western-allied Bahrain, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based, crushed mass protests by the Shi'ite majority in 2011.

Al-Wasat, founded by private investors in 2002, was briefly closed in 2015 and the government cited similar reasons then. It was also briefly shut in 2011 following anti-government protests and its senior staff were removed and prosecuted.

Jamri was one of three senior editors who was tried on charges of fabricating news when the paper reported the protests, led by the Shi'ites against the government of the Sunni Muslim ruling family. (Writing by Sami Aboudi; editing by Mark Heinrich)</s>Bahrain has ordered an independent newspaper to stop publishing "until further notice", amid a significant crackdown on dissent in the Gulf nation.

The Information Affairs Ministry said on Sunday (4 June) that the decision to shut down Al-Wasat came over its publication of a story "affecting the relations of the kingdom of Bahrain with other countries".

Mansoor al-Jamri, the paper's editor-in-chief, told the Associated Press that the article dealt with a northern Morocco town where the arrest of demonstrators has aggravated public anger over corruption and poor economic conditions.

Jamri said the order was a "total surprise." He added: "We didn't have any due process basically."

The decision comes amid a yearlong crackdown in which activists have been arrested or forced into exile, while political parties have been disbanded.

Bahrain was one of the first countries visited by President Donald Trump in his first state outing as Commander-In-Chief.</s>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain has ordered an independent newspaper to stop publishing “until further notice” amid a crackdown on dissent in the Gulf nation.

The Information Affairs Ministry said Sunday the decision to shut down Al-Wasat came over its publication of a story “affecting the relations of the kingdom of Bahrain with other countries.”

Mansoor al-Jamri, the paper’s editor-in-chief, told The Associated Press that the article dealt with a northern Morocco town where the arrest of demonstrators has aggravated public anger over corruption and poor economic conditions.

Al-Jamri said the order was a “total surprise.” He added: “We didn’t have any due process basically.”

The decision comes amid a yearlong crackdown in which activists have been arrested or forced into exile while political parties have been disbanded.</s>In this May 18, 2011, file photo, Mansoor al-Jamri, former chief editor of the Bahraini opposition newspaper Al Wasat, arrives at the courthouse in Manama, Bahrain.

Start the conversation, or Read more at The Beaumont Enterprise.</s>DUBAI, June 4 (Reuters) - Bahrain on Sunday suspended the country's only independent newspaper indefinitely over a column that insulted a "sisterly Arab country", state news agency BNA reported, the second time the publication has been banned this year.

The al-Wasat daily is associated with the mainly Shi'ite Muslim-led opposition, which has been facing a crackdown by the Sunni Muslim-led government since last year.

BNA said the information ministry decided to stop al-Wasat from being printed or circulated until further notice for "repeating the publication of ...that which spreads divisions in society and affects the Kingdom of Bahrain (vis a vis) other countries." It said the decision came over a column published on Sunday which it said contained insults to an Arab country, but it did not say which one or give further details. (Writing by Sami Aboudi; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Bahrain bans the independent Al-Wasat newspaper on grounds that it "sows division" in the Shia-majority kingdom.