the first editor-in-chief of AlAyam. In 2001 AlAyam was the best selling newspaper in Bahrain with a circulation of 36,000 copies. The paper's online version was the 40th most visited website for 2010 in the MENA region. Political stance and criticism The paper is a leading liberal daily newspaper. Its support for personal liberty and its criticism of religious extremism mean that Al Ayam has faced a barrage of criticism from Islamists. In 2005, hundreds of Shia Islamists protested outside the paper's offices after it published a cartoon on the victory of Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's election victory; while a concerted campaign by Sunni Islamists from Al-Menbar Islamic Society and Asala in May 2006 against the editor, Isa Al Shayji, saw the International Federation of Journalists intervene, with the IFJ's Secretary General Aidan White saying: “Journalists are rightly angry at this form of orchestrated bullying of a respected journalist. We want the authorities to speak out against this campaign. If they remain silent, it will only encourage further attacks.” Participants at an IFJ meeting in Beirut condemned the Islamist campaign against Al Shayji, saying “The vicious and unprovoked attack on a respected and distinguished colleague is an example of the intolerant and undemocratic character of extremist politics that is increasingly being used against the free press." References 1989 establishments in Bahrain Arabic-language newspapers Newspapers published in Bahrain Mass media in Manama Newspapers established in 1989