[The following statement was issued by the Bahrain Press Association on 13 March 2013.]
Bahrain Press Association ("BPA"), the London-based association concerned with defending and addressing issues related to Bahraini media and press people, expresses its deep sorrow to the course of actions Bahrain has been witnessing since the awake of the 14 February Revolution as per the marginalization notion, intimidation of freedom of expression, and the on-going terrorization of journalists, photojournalists, and cyber activists. This poses many questions as to whether the regime is serious about making real reforms to the deteriorating climate in terms of freedoms and human rights situation storming the tiny island for over two years now.
The BPA, which is about to publish its second inclusive annual report that monitors the freedom of expression and the freedom of opinion in Bahrain during 2012, stresses that states, NGOs concerned with the freedom of expression and journalism, and international human rights watchdogs should place much pressure on the Bahraini regime to stop its on-going violations and make justice prevail pertaining to the cases of torture that claimed the lives of three (3) innocent citizens (Blogger Zakariya Al Asheeri, Publisher Kareem Fakrawi,& Photojournalist Ahmed Ismail) in addition to the arresting, torturing, and detention of tens of journalists and photojournalists.
Bahrain: Internet Enemy
On Monday, March 11, the Bahraini authorities arrested 6 cyber activists accusing them of slandering the King on Twitter. This accusation was later confirmed by the head of the persecution directorate, Nayef Yousif, in a press statement issued Tuesday March 12, 2013. The accused were kept in custody in preparation for their trial on "lèse majesté" charges.
The Bahraini judiciary has recently issued imprisonment sentences against 4 Twitter activists on charges pertaining to "slandering the King". Bahrain Center for Human Rights Chair, Mr. Nabeel Rajab, the now-detained human rights defender, and the Monitoring Head in the same Center, Mr. Yousif Al Mahafdha, were tried on charges pertaining to practicing freedom of expression and freedom of opinion on Twitter as well. As per the BPA census, 12 Bahraini citizens were prosecuted within 6 months for their thoughts posted on Twitter.
Journalists Blacklists
The BPA condemns blocking of Dr. Mansoor Al Jamri, editor-in-chief of Al Wasat Daily Newspaper, along with his wife and AP Reporter Journalist Reem Khalifa, from entering the UAE on Monday, February 25 without giving any reasons.
With the recurrence of deny-of-entry lists against media professionals and cyber activists into various Arab countries, especially those with good ties with the Bahraini regime, many of those denied entry have confirmed the authorities of the visited countries made it clear that there are ban lists issued by the Bahraini regime.
Zakariya Al Asheeri: Lost Justice
The BPA also condemns the ruling issued by the Higher Criminal Court presided by a royal family member, Mohamed Bin Ali Al Khalifa, yesterday to acquit 5 policemen, Pakistani nationals, who were accused of torturing and killing the head of Al Dair Forums, Blogger Zakariya Al Asheeri on April 9, 2011 while in the Dry Deck detonation house. This incident was affirmed and documented by Mr. Bassiouni`s report in Clause No. 1001 that reads "The reason of the death of Zakariya Al Asheeri was caused by his being tortured in the dry deck detention house."
The BPA considers such ruling yet another testament to the lost justice in the Bahraini judicial system and at the same time condemns, with the sever sense of the word, the Bahraini regime continuation to wrongfully allege the implementation of the BICI recommendations. The BICI confirmed in its lengthy report issued on November 23, 2011 to hold to account and bring to justice the violators, whether being civilian or military personnel, in crimes of torture and murdering that took place inside detention houses of the ministry of interior or the Bahrain ministry of defense. This commitment was not complied with by the Bahraini regime. Instead, the Bahraini regime has made military personnel of expat nationalities with lower ranks as `scapegoats` leaving the personnel with higher ranks untouched in the case of murdering Blogger Zakariaya Al Asheeri and many other cases. Yesterday, the regime acquitted the accused in a court presided by a royal family member which clearly emphasizes that the impunity culture is but one pillar of the monarchy and all its authorities regardless of their function.
The BPA confirms that the Bahraini regime`s commitments to implement the BICI`s recommendations and those of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and as per what the BPA monitors and documents on ground pertaining to the freedom of expression and the freedom of opinion and media freedoms, are just words of mouth and empty vows. Violations of all types, intimidation, and crackdown are current and are on the rise.