BAHRAIN: The tension between the Gulf States brings up more restrictions to the freedom of expression

GCC

London – June 12, 2017 – Bahrain Press Association: The political crisis in the Gulf has deeply affected the freedom of expression and speech in Bahrain, as the authorities announced penalties up to 5 years of prison for those who disagree with the government’s discourse.

On June 5, 2017, Bahrain, along with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, announced, the severing of diplomatic relations with Qatar, which they accuse of “supporting terrorism” while the latter denies the accusations.

In line with the government’s measures, the Bahraini Interior Ministry announced serious warnings to the opposition, and declared that sympathy or favouritism towards the Qatari government or the objection to the Bahraini government decisions, via social media, whether by tweets or shares or in any other written or spoken mean, is punishable by penalties up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine. “

This is not the first time that the Interior Ministry announces this kind of warnings. In fact, Bahrainis were prohibited from condemning the execution of the Saudi cleric Nimr al-Nimr in early 2016. The Bahraini government arrested a number of those who defied the announcement, including Dr. Saeed al-Samahiji, who spent a year in prison for sharing a tweet calling to protest against the execution of al-Nimr.

Moreover, the famous human rights activist Nabeel Rajab may face a sentence of five years if condemned by a Bahraini court of “Spreading rumours in wartime” by sharing tweets criticizing the human cost of the Saudi Arabia war against Yemen.

Bahrain often considers its external positions as determining factor of opinion and expression. On June 4, 2017, the Information Authority banned Al-Wasat newspaper for publishing an article reviewing the situation in the Moroccan Rif (countryside), which has witnessed protests during the last few weeks.

In this crisis, Bahrain went even further when a government agency ordered hotels, restaurants and tourist establishments to remove “all satellite channels belonging to Al Jazeera network” which is close to Qatar. And threatened those violating this circular with severe penalties up to “imprisonment or fine or both, and this also exposes the violating tourist institution to closure and immediate cancellation of the tourist license.”

The Bahrain Press Association believes that such statements and procedures reflect the image that the authorities want for Bahrain: a country with an expanding list of prohibitions while difference of opinions is unwelcome!