- JEDDAH: The Ministry of Justice is planning to hold a conference on its “complementary relationship” with the media which will pave the way for journalists to attend court sessions, Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication, reported Wednesday quoting an unnamed source at the ministry.
- The London-based Arabic daily did not specify a date for the conference but said it would be held during the next few days.
The source said the ministry had made excellent preparations for the conference which will also be attended by the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Saudi Journalists Association and other interested parties.
The source also said the designs for the new courts included spacious court rooms which could accommodate spectators who want to attend the sessions.
“We have closely monitored similar conferences held in various parts of the world with a view to benefiting from them,” the source said. The source added that court systems in the US, Sweden, Austria, Spain and other countries allow people to attend open court sessions. “It is the duty of the media to inform the public of what is going on in the courts,” he added. “This is the first conference of its kind in the Kingdom and is aimed at dealing methodically with the issue of the media and the courts,” he said.