The Bahraini Authorities to be Held Accountable for the Safety of Photojournalist Mr. Ahmed Humaidan

LONDON, January 2, 2013 – Bahrain Press Association (“BPA”), the London-based association concerned with defending and addressing issues related to Bahraini media and press people, is condemning the kidnapping of Photojournalist Mr. Ahmed Humaidan by security forces in civilian clothes in a shopping mall located at the heart of the capital city of Manama Friday night, December 28, 2012.

The BPA is highly concerned about the security forces denial of Mr. Humaidan being held in their custody despite the fact that he phoned his family informing them about his arrest. The BPA is hereby calling upon the ministry of interior to immediately set Mr. Humaidan free.

The BPA’s correspondent in Manama said the authorities are planning to accuse Mr. Humaidan of four trumped-up charges. Mr. Humidan is widely known of his continuous participation in all kinds of demos and protests sparring no effort in documenting the clashes and the daily confrontations by the Bahraini security squads and protesters.

Mr. Humaidan is a professional photographer who has won more than 145 international awards in still photography. He is also a member of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) and the Photographic Society of America (PSA). Mr. Humidan’s family said that their house was raided for five times along with some of their relatives’ houses in search of Ahmed.

The BPA believes the series of intimidation against media professionals and photojournalists is on-going in Bahrain making it clear that the tiny island is being set to be the kingdom of fear at the heart of the Gulf despite the several international pledges undertaken by the ruling institution; pledges of which are just ink on paper if compared to what is happening on ground.

On another note, the BPA sees the sentences passed recently against two employees of the national security division with imprisonment of seven years and the acquittal of two othes in the torture-leading-to-death case of Publisher Kareem Fakhrawi, the adjournment of the trial against the torturer of France 24 Correspondent Nazeeha Saeed, and the adjournment of the trial of Blogger Zakariya Al Asheeri who was murdered under torture are but catalyst to the culture of impunity being practiced in Bahrain. It is also another testimony to the regime’s failure to fulfill the pledges it undertook in front of the international community, whether it be Bassiouni’s recommendations or the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review on Bahrain in the Human Rights Council.

In this regards, the BPA announces that it will soon release its conclusive annual report that is detailed and rich in information pertaining to the reality of media and journalism freedoms in Bahrain. The report will also shed light on the freedom of expression in the country that is experiencing its worst times since independence.

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