This report by the Human Rights Watch surveys the evolving policies of governments in the Middle East and North Africa affecting the right of persons to receive and impart information through the Internet. The countries of focus include Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Bahrain Information Technology Society was founded in march 1981, with the main objectives of promoting the computer profession in Bahrain and improving the awareness of the general public to events and development in Information Technology.

This study describes the diffusion and absorption of the Internet in Bahrain. According to the study Bahrain is viewed as an emerging communications nexus with ambitions to become the principal connection point for regional telecommunications with the outside world. Infrastructure investment is considered as a key government policy.

Document prerared by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Telecommunications.

The Law Decree for the protection of Copyrights applies - as stipulated in Art.43- to the works of Bahraini authors which are published for the first time in Bahrain or abroad, the works of foreign authors published for the first time in Bahrain as well as to works of Arab authors who are citizens of the countries which ratified the Arab Agreement for the Protection of Copyrights in 1958.