The Shoura Council has approved amendments to the media and publications law which prohibits publishing insulting and defamatory articles about individuals and government officials. This took place here at the 78th session of the Shoura Council, chaired by Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Aal Al-Sheikh, Speaker of the council. The amendments approved by the council include changes to five articles ordered under a Royal Decree issued last year. Aal Al-Sheikh said the changes outlaw the publication of any article that violates Islamic law and the country's Basic Law of Governance. He said the Royal Order protects individuals and officials from being insulted and their public service work demeaned. The Shoura Council also discussed the municipal council's draft law which consists of 12 chapters and 96 articles. One of the articles stipulates that the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has to appoint non-government and non-profit organizations to monitor municipal council elections. However, these organizations have the freedom to ensure the elections take place in a fair and transparent manner. The draft law stipulates that citizens have the right to vote if they are over 18, do not work at a military post and live inside the country. Citizens can also nominate themselves to stand in the elections as candidates, provided they are over 25 years of age, have no criminal record, and were not dismissed from their jobs for disciplinary reasons.
