Bahrain Press Association (BPA) publishes 9th annual report: Bahrain 2018: The Kingdom of Closed Doors
- 1527 violations of freedom of speech since the political crisis started in early 2011
- 86 violations of media and press freedom in 2018, in a country that does not tolerate freedom of expression
- Press coverage did not reflect the real political ‘conflict’ over the parliamentary elections
London, UK, 3 May 1, 2019, Bahrain Press Association: On the World Press Freedom Day 2019, Bahrain Press Association -an NGO based in London- publishes its ninth annual report titled ‘Bahrain 2018: The Kingdom of Closed Doors.’
Bahraini journalists endured hard times in 2018 as the government continued its fierce war on the remaining available outlets of the freedom of expression. Security authorities have taken full control of the media sphere after shutting down ‘Al-Wasat’ newspaper to keep journalism exclusive to the government’s press mouthpieces—pro-government newspapers that are mostly replicas of the official gazette.
The blockade was extended to include social media spheres, which activists had to abandon or, in best cases, resort to hiding behind nicknaming and oblique expressions after encountering high levels of risk for expressing critical views. Bahrain had never witnessed such hard times, even in the toughest periods such as the National Safety of 2011, when there was, at least, a role for social media to play. Social media that remained over the years following 2011 a primary debate platform for exchanging opinions and criticizing officials regarding matters of public interest have now completely changed. The Ministry of Interior has tightened its grip on the Internet as it continued its arbitrary admission of tweeters into courts and interrogation rooms. This bitter atmosphere has been exacerbated by passing the law of political isolation, which included banning members of dissident opposition groups and independent critics from participating in elections whether by voting, candidacy or even making an appearance in various media channels.
The Director of Bahrain Press Association Adel Marzooq pointed out that naming the Association’s 2018 annual report ‘the Kingdom of Closed Doors’ is meant to draw attention to “the congested horizon of the country and how press freedom has become. The state has closed all the doors in the face of the other opinion, not only in conventional media outlets but also the various social media platforms.”
Marzooq added that “with newly-documented 86 cases of violation [of civil rights] that leaves no room for doubt that freedom of expression is not tolerated in Bahrain, the number of violations since the political crisis in early 2011 has increased to approximately 1527 cases. Violations over the past year included 21 judicial verdicts; 32 interrogations, some of which involved torture; 24 arrests; as well as incidents of obstruction of work.”
In the elections held on 24 November 2018 and boycotted by the opposition, the reporters and journalists were prevented from covering the elections. The boycotters were prevented from making any appearance in the media or expressing their views—a right that is guaranteed by the Bahraini Constitution in Article (23). This was preceded by threats to deprive boycotters of government and housing services. In addition, the Ministry of the Interior criminalized expressing opinions of boycott and the threatened to pursue such calls by any means. These threats were actualized by arresting a former parliamentarian after he announced his family’s decision to boycott the elections.
Recommendations:
Bahrain Press Association condemns the targeting of journalists, bloggers, and photographers, which the Association believes, has become a systematic, common practice. Such constraints have considerably affected Bahrain’s international reputation in terms of press freedom.
The Association calls upon the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and all international organizations and bodies concerned with the defense of freedom of opinion and expression, press and media freedom to exert urgent pressure on the Bahraini government to:
– Immediately, and unconditionally, release of all photographers, reporters, journalists, and activists detained for conducting their work in covering protests or exercising their right of expression;
– Stop arbitrary prosecutions and arrests and judicial trials on charges of “insulting the king,” “spreading false statements” made against Internet activists and media professionals. Charges such as “protesting” for photographers, “inciting hatred of the regime” for politicians, and all charges pertaining to freedom of expression must be revoked;
– Secure the freedom of media and the press and to shut down the Office of Internet Surveillance in the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication, and to abolish Law No. (47) that regulates the press, publishing, and printing in the country;
– End the state’s monopoly of the television, radio and print media and enable the voice of opposition in the media, including reauthorizing the publication of Al-Wasat; and to
– Invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression to schedule an urgent visit to Bahrain.
The Bahrain Press Association would like to express sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to the completion of this report, and to The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in particular, for funding this report.