Bahraini Press Association Calls for Transparency and Ensuring Fair Trial Standards

Bahraini Press Association, London – United Kingdom | April 29, 2026: A Bahraini court issued a ruling on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, sentencing photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamil to ten years in prison.

The relevant authorities had detained Al-Kamil in early March after summoning him to the Cybercrime Directorate for investigation. Subsequently, the Public Prosecution charged him with photographing and publishing content that included scenes and images of the aftermath of Iranian attacks during the recent war, which authorities deemed a violation of applicable laws.

The Bahraini Press Association notes that it has been monitoring and documenting other cases in which citizens were sentenced on charges related to photographing interception operations targeting Iranian missiles and drones and sharing such content on social media. Additional cases involved posts that authorities considered expressions of sympathy or support for the Iranian attacks, including content that featured mourning for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In this context, the Association calls on security and legal authorities to ensure fair trial standards, including guaranteeing the right to defense, enabling defendants to access legal counsel, and respecting all levels of litigation in accordance with established legal frameworks.

The Association also emphasizes, given the sensitivity of these cases and the nature of the charges involved, the importance of enhancing transparency in presenting information and clarifying the grounds of the charges and the evidence upon which judicial rulings are based, in order to strengthen public confidence in the course of justice.

Furthermore, the Association points out that guidelines regarding restricting or avoiding photography during the war period were not sufficiently clear or widely disseminated in its early stages. This, it argues, necessitates taking into account the timing and surrounding circumstances when assessing the alleged actions, and considering proportionality in relation to the motives behind the acts of photographing and publishing.