Champions for Justice: Bahrain’s Imprisoned Politicians
Last year marked the first general elections to be held in Bahrain since the pro-democracy uprising of 2011. Since the election, which has been named
The freedom of expression, assembly and association continues to be severely restricted in Bahrain, where human rights defenders, opposition activists and religious leaders face arrest and harassment for speaking out against the government. Both the 2002 Press Law and the 2006 Anti-Terrorism Law, exploiting the law’s broad definition of terrorism, are employed to target the media.
In the country’s most famous freedom of expression case, Nabeel Rajab is charged with criticising the government on social media, for publishing a letter in the New York Times, as well as for criticising the government in a televised interview.
Other high-profile cases of free expression and association include opposition acitivst Ebrahim Sharif, who is charged with “incitement to hatred and contempt of the regime”, Sheikh Ali Salman, who is charged for calling for change of the regime, and Zainab al-Khawaja, who is charged for tearing up a picture of the king.
After the government has partially suspended al-Wasat newspaper, Bahrain’s only independent newspaper, a free media in Bahrain is de facto non existent. Prior government harassment against al-Wasat encompassed intimidation and the prosecution of key staff, one of whom, Karim Kakhrawi, died under torture.
Last year marked the first general elections to be held in Bahrain since the pro-democracy uprising of 2011. Since the election, which has been named
Dr Abduljalil al-Singace hunger strike hits 160 days, 41 NGOs call for immediate release 27 August 2015, London – Bahraini prisoner of conscience Dr Abduljalil
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD)
Since 2011, students and children in Bahrain have faced arbitrary charges and detention related to their freedoms of expression and assembly. Some have been arrested
6 August 2015 – The Information Affairs Authority (IAA) today temporarily suspended Al Wasat newspaper, Bahrain’s only independent newspaper. According to the short government statement, issued
5 August 2015 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), the Bahrain Institute for Rights and
The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) along with Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), the Bahrain Center for Human Rights
FREE SPEECH IN BAHRAIN Session: 2015-16 Date tabled: 02.07.2015 Primary sponsor: MacNeil, Angus Sponsors: Day, Martyn, Bottomley, Peter, Edwards, Jonathan, Donaldson, Stuart, Saville Roberts, Liz That this House expresses severe concerns about
Wednesday, 15 July 2015, Issue #55 BIRD Weekly Newsletter In this Issue Nabeel Rajab released from prison • Ebrahim Sharif re-arrested • UK Designates 2.1M for Bahrain Assistance • FCO Minister on Free
Coming on the heels of Ebrahim Sharif’s re-arrest this Sunday, prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab was pardoned yesterday and released from prison due to