Journalism and media Status in Bahrain over 2011
– More than 135 journalists and media professionals were subject to violations and harassment
– The BICI acknowledges the deaths of two media professionals, torturing of journalists, and vandalizing Al Wasat Daily Newspaper
– The authorities took no initiative to remedy the trespasses and violations as evidenced by the BICI report
– Journalists and photographers lawsuits unknown; Abdul Emam, Al Sangice, and Ma’atook face abusive political sentences
London, 31/12/2011: The year 2011 was not a cheerful year for journalists and media professionals in Bahrain as they wrap it with great sorrow and grief for the regim-led violations and trespasses. Such wrongdoings resulted into the murdering of two media professionals (Publisher Kareem Fakhrawi and Bolgger Zakaryia Al Asheeri) while they were kept in custody. Tens of journalists and media professionals were subjected to arrest and dismissal and were abused by torture and cruel treatment in the detention houses managed by the Ministry of Interior, Bahrain Defence Force, or The National Guards.
The Report issued by the Bahrain Independent Commission Inquiry (BICI), established pursuant to a Royal Decree on June 29, 2011 to investigate and report on the events occurred in Bahrain in the months of February and March 2011 and the consequences of such events, acknowledges, in the chapter pertaining to media violations, the several violations and crimes against media professionals and journalists in Bahrain including, among other things, the killing of Zakariya Al Asheeri on April 9 and Kareem Fakhrawi on April 12; the arrests; the torturing; and the mass dismissals. The Report, publically known as ‘Bassiouni’s Report’, released late in November also acknowledges the violations committed by the state-run media outlets that were biased and incited hatered as per sectarian basis. The Report also made mention to the state attempt to control the daily newspapers and direct them politically towards its agenda. The Report has certified the targeting of Al Wasat Daily Newspaper which is the only independent daily among other papers. Shockingly, the Bahraini judiciary has through its criminal court fined on October 11, 2011 as per the case suited against Al Wasat’s editor-in-chief Dr. Mansoor Al Jamri; Waleed Nawihadh, the managing editor; Ali Al Shareefi, the editing secretary; and the local news head, Aqeel Mirza. The BPA then described the fines as an escape of acquittal not to declare the journalists innocence of fabricated accusations.
The BICI Report highlighted the importance of implementing the recommendations contained in it despite the many recommendations and calls by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Reporters Without Boarders, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX). Expectedly, the regime took no corrective measures towards what has been proved by said Report in terms of violations and trespasses against media professionals. The only action the regime applied was to establish a committee to implement the Report’s recommendations without engaging the civil society communities as per the Report terms. The newly-established committee yielded no fruits as yet pertaining to the media issue and the violations committed against journalists and media professionals. Another passive reaction is that the Ministry of Interior has not revealed any outcomes pertaining to its announcement to establish a committee to investigate the torture faced by Journalist Nazeeha Saeed after the IFJ so requested. Reem Khalifa, a Journalist, is facing a regime-led trial with of a political nature.
The BPA issued its first bi-lingual report pertaining to the freedom of media and journalism in Bahrain titled “Word Leading to Death” for the period starching from January 1 through July 15, 2011. The BPA Report is believed to be the first of its kind to look into media and journalism in Bahrain in document the harassment faced by media outlets, journalists, bloggers, photographers, Bahrainis and foreigners alike, amid the protests broke out on February 14, 2011. The BPA Report is also the most comprehensive report ever released since Bahrain got its Independence on August 14, 1971 that focuses on the hurdled obstacles that present challenges to the freedom of the press in Bahrain.
The BPA hereby affirms that, based on the violations and trespasses documented in Bahrain, the official toll is 135 violations against media professionals with tens of expat journalists and reporters representing many media outlets like Al Jazeera Satellite Channel; Reuters; and France Press, to name but a few. As per deliberate murder, two media professionals were murdered while in police custody, mass dismissals, arbitrary detention, depriving of basic human rights of a fair trial, and torturing of scores of media professionals. Some of the journalists, a list of which includes Faisal Hayat (Al Bilad Daily Newspaper), Mohamed Hayder (Al Wasat Daily Newspaper), Abdulla Alaawi (Al Bilad Daily Newspaper) were detained, tortured and the course of their trials is still unknown. The Bahraini Public Prosecutor has dropped many charges filled against medial professionals and journalists before the Bahraini criminal courts. It is feared, however, that the Public Prosecution will bring such cases to re-trial or blackmail the defendants eventually. The Public Prosecution has refused thus far to disclose any information pertaining to such trials.
The Bahraini judicial body, accused by the BICI report of falling short to follow and properly manage legal actions and its violating of defendants rights as granted by the national and international legal standards, handed on 22 June, 2011 three media professionals sentences of a political nature. The defendants were Dr. Abduljaleel Al Sangice, a blogger and a human rights activist; Ali Abdulemam, a blogger and a political forum founder; and Hasan Ma’atooq, a nurse and a photographer. Their sentences range from 3 years to 10 years imprisonment. Both Dr. Al Sangice and Mr. Ma’atooq are serving their sentences while Mr. Abdulemam was sentenced in absentia. Human rights organizations and bodies accompanied by journalists and media professionals defendants such as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Reporters Without Boarders, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), condemned such sentences as they lacked the semblance of due process of law, were not in accordance with international legal standards, and conflicted with international human rights obligations of which Bahrain is a signatory.
The BPA is set to organize an international convention to shed light on the media and journalism situation in Bahrain and the Arab World in collaboration with media and journalism defending bodies and organizations. The announcement and particulars of this international event will be disclosed later. The event will be held in London. The BPA is also working to prepare its annual bi-lingual report for 2011/2012 that will incorporate testimonies of torture and violations faced by journalists and media professionals in Bahrain.
The BPA is hereby calling upon all organizations, authorities, unions, whether regional or global, concerned with media and journalism along with human rights defenders to intervene into Bahrain and put pressure on the regime to ensure the safety of media personnel in the country. The BPA wishes to have the following procedures in place:
1. To form an independent international committee to investigate into the murder of Blogger Zakariya Al Asheeri and Publisher Kareem Fakhrawi to bring those involved in the murdering to justice;
2. To form an independent international committee to investigate into the torture faced by media professionals in the detention houses managed by the Ministry of Interior, Bahrain Defence Force, or The National Guards;
3. To call upon the Bahraini regime to ensure the recruitment of a permanent delegate of international organizations concerned with the freedom of the press and media (International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Reporters Without Boarders, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)), to function as a watchdog for two years to have a direct supervision on what Bahrain is witnessing as per the violations faced by the media professionals;
4. To suspend the applicability of Law No. 47 pertaining to journalism, print, and publication regulation, the unconditional release of media activists and bloggers jailed in Bahrain with immediate effect, stop all on-going trials against media professionals being held in the Court of National Security, a military tribunal, and the Criminal Courts, review all sentences issued against Bahraini bloggers, and to drop all charges kept in the Public Prosecution;
5. To reinstate all journalists, photographers, and bloggers who were arbitrarily dismissed to their public or private posts with compensating them for all corporal and incorporeal damages sustained;
6. To separate the Directorate of Media External Affairs from the state-run Information Authority, form a temporary committee to regulate media and journalism to managed by elected Bahraini journalists until an elected higher commission becomes into existence to regulate the matters of print and publication, and form an independent inquiry committee to investigate into the media manner adopted by the Ministry of Information during the past events in Bahrain and bring those responsible for the violations as certified by the BICI Report to justice; &
7. To stop all types of intimidation, harassment, and bullying against media professionals and activists and remove all security measures.
Wrapping up a busy year, the BPA would like to extend its thanks to: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Reporters Without Boarders, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), the Bahrain Center for Human Rights for the tremendous work and efforts they all have spent and are spending to monitor and document all violations and stand for media professionals and journalists in Bahrain along with their help.