diff --git a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatContactRightButtonMenu.java b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatContactRightButtonMenu.java
index 5e980d7e9..379a06778 100644
--- a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatContactRightButtonMenu.java
+++ b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/ChatContactRightButtonMenu.java
@@ -236,7 +236,9 @@ private void init()
         }
         else
         {
-            this.add(this.sendPrivateMessageItem);
+            if(!ConfigurationUtils.isPrivateMessagingInChatRoomDisabled())
+                this.add(this.sendPrivateMessageItem);
+
             if(room.getUserRole().getRoleIndex() >= 50)
             {
                 if(roleIndex <= 40)
diff --git a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/conference/ChatRoomMemberListPanel.java b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/conference/ChatRoomMemberListPanel.java
index df969e4c7..d3e950f64 100644
--- a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/conference/ChatRoomMemberListPanel.java
+++ b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/impl/gui/main/chat/conference/ChatRoomMemberListPanel.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import net.java.sip.communicator.plugin.desktoputil.*;
 import net.java.sip.communicator.service.muc.*;
 import net.java.sip.communicator.service.protocol.*;
+import net.java.sip.communicator.util.*;
 import net.java.sip.communicator.util.skin.*;
 
 /**
@@ -99,6 +100,10 @@ public void mouseClicked(MouseEvent e)
                     else if(e.getButton() == MouseEvent.BUTTON1 
                         && e.getClickCount() == 2)
                     {
+                        if(ConfigurationUtils
+                                .isPrivateMessagingInChatRoomDisabled())
+                            return;
+
                         memberList.setSelectedIndex(
                             memberList.locationToIndex(e.getPoint()));
 
diff --git a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/util/ConfigurationUtils.java b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/util/ConfigurationUtils.java
index dc5cf4753..0c8e00f77 100644
--- a/src/net/java/sip/communicator/util/ConfigurationUtils.java
+++ b/src/net/java/sip/communicator/util/ConfigurationUtils.java
@@ -101,6 +101,11 @@ public class ConfigurationUtils
      */
     private static boolean isLeaveChatRoomOnWindowCloseEnabled;
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates if private messaging is enabled for chat rooms.
+     */
+    private static boolean isPrivateMessagingInChatRoomDisabled;
+
     /**
      * Indicates if the history should be shown in the chat window.
      */
@@ -511,6 +516,10 @@ public static void loadGuiConfigurations()
                 = Boolean.parseBoolean(isMultiChatWindowEnabledString);
         }
 
+        isPrivateMessagingInChatRoomDisabled
+            = configService.getBoolean(
+                "service.gui.IS_PRIVATE_CHAT_IN_CHATROOM_DISABLED", false);
+
         // Load the "isLeaveChatroomOnWindowCloseEnabled" property.
         String isLeaveChatRoomOnWindowCloseEnabledStringProperty
             = "service.gui.LEAVE_CHATROOM_ON_WINDOW_CLOSE";
@@ -1100,6 +1109,20 @@ public static boolean isMultiChatWindowEnabled()
         return isMultiChatWindowEnabled;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns <code>true</code> if the "isPrivateMessagingInChatRoomDisabled"
+     * property is true, otherwise - returns <code>false</code>.
+     * Indicates to the user interface whether the private messaging is disabled
+     * in chat rooms.
+     *
+     * @return <code>true</code> if the "isPrivateMessagingInChatRoomDisabled"
+     * property is true, otherwise - returns <code>false</code>.
+     */
+    public static boolean isPrivateMessagingInChatRoomDisabled()
+    {
+        return isPrivateMessagingInChatRoomDisabled;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Updates the "isMultiChatWindowEnabled" property through the
      * <tt>ConfigurationService</tt>.
@@ -2687,6 +2710,12 @@ else if (evt.getPropertyName().equals(
             {
                 isMultiChatWindowEnabled = Boolean.parseBoolean(newValue);
             }
+            else if (evt.getPropertyName().equals(
+                "service.gui.IS_PRIVATE_CHAT_IN_CHATROOM_DISABLED"))
+            {
+                isPrivateMessagingInChatRoomDisabled
+                    = Boolean.parseBoolean(newValue);
+            }
             else if (evt.getPropertyName().equals(
                 "service.gui.LEAVE_CHATROOM_ON_WINDOW_CLOSE"))
             {