Manama– Bahrain Information Affairs Minister Ali al-Romaihi has said that Qatar’s al-Jazeera channel is leading several campaigns aimed at defaming the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

He said the TV network is trying to push for demands by the people for Qatar’s withdrawal from the council.

Qatar’s current media policy is to fabricate allegations based on historic and political fallacies, explained the minister, adding that its main purpose is to belittle the council and even allude Qataris into believing that all the measures taken were directed at them.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Romaihi pointed out that the Qatari media is now working on slandering the whole system with baseless lies. He expressed his deep regret that the media is trying to include the public in this political crisis.

The minister indicated that since the establishment of al-Jazeera channel, Qatari media has been trying to spread the lies and is continuing to do so through many programs and news reports.

He also mentioned that Jazeera never promoted Gulf unity, and since it was first on air, it broadcast programs that doubted the council and it even permitted its guests to insult GCC and its leadership.

According to the minister, the organized campaign is even promoted on social media in an attempt to show a public demand to withdraw from the council.

Romaihi regretted that Iranian media outlets are participating in this campaign and promoting that Qatar will gain benefits from leaving the GCC. Media in Tehran is even going as far as calling for a Qatari-Iranian-Syrian coalition, according to the editor in chief of an Iranian news agency.

The minister reiterated that GCC leaders ensure the stability and unity of the council and want the stability and security of all members without interfering in other states’ internal affairs.

During the opening of the 48th session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers held at the Arab League in Cairo, Rumaihi said in his speech that “Qatar is siding with terrorism regularly, and that it is not following any of the media ethics.”

Rumaihi also accused in his speech al-Jazeera and Iranian TV stations of carrying out attempts to undermine regional security and spread rumors and lies.

The minister called for adopting a firm stance against them for “posing a threat to the Arab national security.”