Journalist Ahmed Radhi Banned from Travelling – Internet Activist Mohammed al-Alaiwat Is Arrested – Journalist Nazeeha Said Referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office – Waad Society Banned from Holding a Seminar – Twitter-Users Are Arrested – Hameed Khatim Sentenced for “Insulting the King.”
July 2016:
The Release of Former Head of the Capital Municipal Council
On July 1, 2016 the security authorities released al-Wifaq Society leader and former Head of the Capital Municipal Council Majeed Milad after completing his sentence of one-year imprisonment. The First Degree Court had sentenced Milad for two years of imprisonment for “delivering political speeches” before the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to one year of imprisonment.
Journalist Ahmed Radhi Banned from Travelling
On July 7, 2016 the security authorities banned journalist Ahmed Radhi from travelling after he had intended to fly to another Gulf country from Bahrain International Airport. Radhi was told to review the Criminal Investigation Directorate. The journalist tweeted that he was “previously banned from entering Saudi Arabia and forcibly returned from the United Arab Emirates,” speculating that the reason was likely related to the “security orders issued by the Ministry of Interior.”
The Arrest of Internet Activist Mohammed al-Alaiwat
On July 7, 2016 the security authorities apprehended internet activist Mohammed al-Alawait while at his workplace in Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) in al-Hidd. Al-Alaiwat, who is also a football player at Sitra Sports Club, was referred to the Public Prosecutor after two days of investigation at the Criminal Investigation Directorate. Al-Alaiwat was accused of “insulting the King” through a private twitter account the directorate believed he administered. The Public Prosecutor ordered to detain him for seven days pending investigation.
The Release of Ibrahim Sharif
On July 11, 2016 the security authorities released prominent oppositionist and former Secretary-General of Waad Society Ibrahim Sharif after he was sentenced to one-year imprisonment for “inciting hatred against the regime.” Sharif was arrested after he delivered a speech in which he warned the government that “the situation is likely to explode once against due to its ongoing security measures.”
The Information Affairs Authority Refers Journalist Nazeeha Said to the Public Prosecutor’s Office
On July 16, 2016 the Public Prosecutor interrogated Nazeeha Said, a correspondent for France 24 television channel and Radio Monte Carlo, following a notification received from the Information Affairs Authority. Journalist Said stated through her twitter account that she was questioned over “a case filed against her by the Information Affairs Authority for practicing journalism without a license.” The authority, in its turn, stated on July 17, 2016 that it referred Said to the Public Prosecutor for “illegally taking up the role of a correspondent for foreign media,” adding that “no one is above the law.”
Waad Society Banned from Holding a Seminar
The Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs banned the oppositionist National Democratic Action Society (Waad) from organizing a seminar in its headquarters on July 20, 2016. The society reported that “based on a communication received by the Secretary-General on Tuesday, July 19, 2016; a letter from the Societies Affairs Office; a letter from the Political Societies Affairs Office at the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, regarding a discussion seminar Waad was planning under the title “Iran from the Inside;” and the Ministry’s order to refrain from holding the event, Waad apologizes for cancelling its seminar.”
The Arrest of a Number of Twitter-Users
On July 26, 2016 the Ministry of Interior arrested a number of individuals, whose names were not revealed, for what it called “misuse of social media by publishing inflammatory materials involving violations punishable by the law.” The Cyber Crime Directorate reported that it “recorded numerous accounts on social media that publish inflammatory materials and messages provoking illegal sit-ins. Based on this, necessary investigations were undertaken to identify the accounts administrators and to arrest them after obtaining a permit from the Public Prosecutor.”
One-Year Imprisonment for Hameed Khatim for Insulting the King on Twitter
On July 25, 2016 the security authorities apprehended internet activist Hameed Khatim while he was in his house in Samaheej, east of the capital. The security forces raided his house at dawn and took him to a police station without presenting an arrest warrant. He was immediately taken to investigation, in which he was accused of publishing “statements inciting hatred against the regime and offending the King” through his private twitter account. On August 31, 2016 a local court sentenced him for two years of imprisonment over the mentioned charge. However, the Court of Appeal reduced this sentence to one year on Wednesday, November 16, 2016.
August 2016:
Religious Cleric Arrested for Criticizing the Authorities –Religious Cleric Ordered to Trial for “Inciting Hatred Against the Regime”- Ghada Jamsheer Is Arrested –Religious Cleric of the Sunni Waqf is Suspended –Tayyiba Ismail Sentenced for “Insulting the King.
A Religious Cleric Arrested After Delivering a Sermon Criticizing the Authorities
On August 7, 2016 the Public Prosecutor suspended the Shiite religious cleric Shaikh Essa al-Momin for seven days pending investigation after he delivered a sermon in al-Khaif mosque in al-Dair area. His son Mujtaba reported on his twitter account that “the investigation with his dad was over the content of the sermon which he delivered two days ago at the mosque” and in which he criticized the security measures that the regime is taking against Bahraini citizens and, in particular, its Shiite population.
In the meantime, the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Muharraq announced on its twitter account “the detention of one of the mosque preachers for seven days pending investigation after being charged of inciting hatred against the constitutional regime.”
The Trial of a Religious Cleric for “Inciting Hatred Against the Regime”
On August 16, 2016 a local court reviewed a new case filed by the Public Prosecutor against the Head of Bahrain Shiite Clerical Council al-Sayyid Majeed al-Mishaal for “inciting hatred against the regime” after he had previously been accused of “crowding and rioting.” Al-Mishaal denied the charges directed against him, explaining that he was exercising his right to freedom of opinion and expressing his objection to the measures the government took against Shaikh Essa al-Qassim. The court postponed his trial to August 24.
The Arrest of Ghada Jamsheer
On August 15, 2016 the security authorities arrested internet activist Ghada Jamsheer at Bahrain International Airport while on her way to leave the country. Jamsheer was taken to the women’s prison in Isa Town to serve her sentence after using social media to voice criticism over claims of corruption. On June 22, 2016 Jamsheer was sentenced to one year in prison following an appeal of four cases filed against her involving tweets made from her personal twitter account. She also faced 12 charges that were made in the same cases.
Sunni Waqf Suspends One of Its Clerics
On August 18, 2016 the Sunni Waqf Directorate summoned one of its clerics to suspend him from delivering sermons and sign a pledge to abide by the ethics of religious sermons as specified in Ministerial Decision number 23, which was issued in 2009. The directorate did not reveal the identity of the cleric but emphasized in a statement “the necessity of committing to the rules of religious preaching and the objectives of the Friday sermons.”
Tayyiba Ismail Sentenced to One-Year Imprisonment for “Insulting the King”
On August 24, 2016 the Ninth Lower Criminal Court held its first session against internet activist Tayyiba Ismail for “insulting the King and publishing tweets that undermine peace and security in Bahrain.” The court decided to postpone the case until Aug 30 for review and decision. On that date, the court issued a verdict against her with the same charge, sentencing her to one-year imprisonment and a fine of 1000 dinars.