Internet in Bahrain: All that is contrary to the ruling family’s view is concealed.

Even before 2013, governments in the Arab world have harshly targeted opposing political viewpoints on news websites and social media.

This so-called electronic suppression begins with blocking access to critical or opposition websites. It includes monitoring Facebook and Twitter posts and arresting bloggers expressing unwelcome opinions.

The strategy, devised by several Arabic regimes, is enforced in Bahrain by a special electronic crimes department in the Ministry of Interior.  Outwardly, the unit is empowered to silence online voices promoting violence, inducing terrorism, inciting against the regime, spreading extreme ideas or other ready-made accusations.

The suppression of websites continued through 2013, confirming the extent of the authorities’ fear of the power of online media. Many citizens view Bahraini and international news sites and blogs as a social and political outlet where opinions can be expressed freely.

On Aug. 3, 2013, the Bahraini Ministry of State for Communication Affairs issued a list of 70 websites and forums classified as “dissident.” It was not long until specific accusations were added to the term “dissident”; the ministry described the sites as centers for inciting sectarian terrorism. While it has kept silent regarding what online content was designated to be blocked, the ministry announced that the forum of the Olamaa Islamic Council was included in the list in addition to Al-Manar Channel website and the website of the February 14 Coalition.

Those seventy websites were added to the list of those concealed during the last years. Among them were Bahrain Mirror (http://bahrainmirror.com),  Bahraini Martyrs and Victims of Torture (http://www.shaheedbh.com), the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (http://bchr.net/ar), the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (http://www.anhri.net) based in Cairo, Fajr Bahrain Forums (http://www.fajrbh.com/vb/) and Bahrain Online (http://www.bahrainonline.org).

A closer look at the content of some of the targeted websites may clarify the real reasons to block them:

• Al-Manar website is divided into several sections. It includes a part specialized for news of opponents’ activities and activists calling for political reforms. The site sometimes criticizes the ruling regime and highlights the violations against the nation. Thus, the ultimate solution to obscure the view was concealing the website.
• The Olamaa Islamic Council website is a religious site constructed on Oct. 21, 2004. The ruling authority in Bahrain was not pleased by the principles and political orientations of the website; it was blocked in August.
• Also in August, the media website of the February 14 Coalition was concealed. Its mission, in addition to communicating local events, is highlighting the rising violence adopted by the regime’s forces.

In addition to the concealed websites included on the list of 70 sites, other sites from the Bahraini Browser have continued to be blocked in 2013. The aim of that action was similar to the one mentioned above.

The news website Bahrain Mirror is considered one of the top news websites in Bahrain. This site was concealed several times and it remains blocked.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights faced the same fate. Publishing civil statistics on its site contrary to the ruling family’s interest was enough to be concealed. The center was registered with the Bahraini Minister of Labor and Social Affairs on July 2002. In November 2004, the authorities decided to close the center, which aimed to promote human rights in Bahrain.

This is also what happened with the website of Human Rights Watch  (http://www.hrw.org) and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (http://www.anhri.net/), broadcasting from Cairo. The    network aims to defend freedom of conscience and expression in the Arabic world.

Though most of the concealed websites in Bahrain are relevant to the political and social situation, they do not promote terrorism, contrary to what the authorities have alleged. They are not general pornographic websites to be obscured out of fear for an outrage of modesty and corrupting the morals of the youthful Gulf society. They are just news, statistical or social websites.

The clear purpose of the obscuring and online targeting is to split an opposition that is calling for transparency and political reform. However, the facts that the regime is trying to conceal from the Bahraini people will not be hidden from the world beyond the small country. The outside world will browse the websites concealed in Bahrain, observe the details and draw its own conclusions.

The reality that is depicted in social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is also prosecuted. Activists on those sites are arrested one by one, accused of expressing opinion. The scene is then more transparent: the other opinion is concealed quite as the websites. According to the government, these actions are classified as anti-terrorism although the justification of this description is not logical.

The continued electronic suppression campaigns have turned Bahrain into a state deserving of the term “unfree.” According to a report on online freedom by Freedom House, Bahrain ranked 10th among 11 included Arab states. It is suffering from political defeats pushing it to use up all means of real or even virtual intimidation. At last, all that is opposed to the ruling family’s view is concealed.