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Bahrain university criticizes students for posting online content about unrestMANAMA, Mar 27, 2011 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Bahrain's state-run university announced on Sunday that it will punish students who posted online objectionable content against the kingdom in the past few weeks. Officials from the University of Bahrain (UOB) said they proved involvement of some students who used social networking website such as Facebook, to post pictures and videos of anti-government protests. "Students, administration and members of the faculty were found to be involved in posting content of events on March 13. We have formed at the University a committee consisting of a student panel and academic specialists to study each case and monitor all online content posted by the students. Those found guilty will be punished," UOB President Dr. Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi said in a statement obtained by Xinhua. The February 14 online Youth Movement has been spearheading since last month series of anti-government protests calling for political reforms. Several groups, with thousands of followers, put online latest pictures of funeral, riots, pictures of those killed during clashes and other messages for the global community to understand the situation in Bahrain. The UOB president also highlighted that they suspended scholarships of some students pursuing higher studies at the cost of the government, who protested outside embassies against the Bahraini government. Meanwhile, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, the largest Shi' ite opposition group, has asked the Kuwaiti government to interfere and urge the Bahraini government to immediately start the national dialogue process to end the crisis. The national dialogue was initiated last month by Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa with opposition groups and all stakeholders to end the stalemate. Two parliament members from Al Wefaq, Abduljalil Khalil and Mohammed Mizal, reportedly went to Kuwait last week, where they held talks with senior officials urging the intervention of the Amir of Kuwait. However, Speaker of the Kuwait National Assembly Jassem Khorafi told Al Wefaq parliament members that the Amir would not accept any mediation since the opposition demands a constitutional monarchy. |