Silence Is A War Crime
The 2012 Annual Report comes to mark the second year running of the coverage
started with the incorporation of the Bahrain Press Association (“BPA”) in July
2011 in London, the United Kingdom.
The Report, named ‘Bahrain: Silence Is A War Crime”, represents a
testament intended to be comprehensive and impartial in describing and
documenting the diverse violations pertaining to the freedom of expression and
media in Bahrain in the period spanning January to December 2012. It is the third
report issued by the BPA following “Bahrain: Word Leading to Death” issued in
October 2011 and “Hunger for Freedom” issued in May 2012.
The bilingual Report is comprised of chapters that summarize the obstacles
and challenges that have been, and are, in existence faced by media and
press professionals in Bahrain. It also includes, among other things, personal
testimonies, a table documenting violations, and some reportage with closer
look on the commitment the Bahraini authorities have shown to implement the
recommendations set by the Bahrain Independent Commission for Inquiry (“BICI”),
and the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council. The Report also
highlights very widely the violations and intimidation witnessed by the journalists,
photojournalists, reporters, and bloggers in Bahrain as have been largely
condemned and documented by leading international human rights advocates
and other NGOs concerned with the freedom of expression and the freedom of
the press.
The Report further sheds light on the freedom of expression and the freedom
of the press in Bahrain by documenting the violations faced by tens of local and
foreigner journalists along with several organizations, newspapers, media outlets,
and news agencies. The Report also stresses the 2011 inherent dilemma that
has more than 145 media and press professionals had been subjected to murder,
torture, and mass dismissal.
For more details