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.
On Monday, Bahraini security forces arbitrarily arrested journalist Mahmood al-Jazeeri, increasing the number of journalists, photographers, bloggers and internet activists under arrest in Bahrain to
Since the 2011 uprising, the Government of Bahrain has introduced laws granting authorities the ability to further prosecute and suppress peaceful opposition. In the past
18-December-2015- Outspoken Bahraini human rights defender Mohammed Al-Maskati faces six months in prison if an appeals court uphold a sentence handed down one year ago
25 November 2015 – London, Award-winning photographer Sayed Ahmed al-Mousawi was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in prison and had his nationality revoked, along with 12
06 November 2015 – London, The Bahraini authorities should release prominent academic, activist and blogger Dr Abduljalil al-Singace immediately and unconditionally and cease all judicial
5 November 2015 – Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has officially declared Sheikh Ali Salman, the prominent leader of
Evidence of presidency hopeful Sheikh Salman’s close links to human rights crackdown submitted to Fifa 3 November 2015, London – Bahrain NGOs today submitted evidence to
On 2 November 2013, two French journalists were assassinated in Mali. The United Nations chose that date to proclaim the International Day to End Impunity
31 October 2015 – Construction began today on Britain’s new Royal Navy base in Bahrain, despite ongoing controversies. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Foreign Minister
