Recommendations: eight steps to restore freedom of expression and the press

The Bahrain Press Association sees Bahrain approaching the level of a rogue state within the Middle East. Without regard for its obligations and commitments to local laws or international treaties, the government shows little concern for the guarantee of freedom of expression and the press and the safety of journalists and cyber activists, who face violations and systematic targeting.

This belief is enhanced by the results of judicial trials of those involved in killing and torturing media professionals. These trials ended up acquitting the accused or issuing insignificant judgments and even upgrading security and political positions of others.

It has been proved for the association that in 2013 the Bahraini Government did not take any measures or make any serious reforms to implement the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (Bassiouni Commission) or the UN Human Rights Council. In fact, the government proceeded in its suppression policies and continued to prosecute journalists and cyber activists. The Information Affairs Authority continues to tighten its control on electronic media through several websites, while Bahrain’s audiovisual broadcasting continues to be monopolized by the state.

The Bahrain Press Association appeals to Western countries, especially the United States and United Kingdom, and to different regional and international organizations, bodies and federation concerned with media and press rights as well as human rights to intervene in Bahrain to pressure the Bahraini government toward making real reforms, ending the prosecution of journalists and cyber activists, and bringing those responsible for violations to justice.

The association seeks to implement the following measures:

1. Immediate release of detained journalists, photographers and cyber activists, and dropping all charges related to the freedom of expression.
2. Establishment of an independent  committee to investigate the killings of the blogger Zakariya al-Ashiri, the publisher Abdul-Karim Fakhrawi and the video- journalist  Ahmed Ismail Hassan, in addition to the torture of dozens of media members, and to bring those responsible to trial.
3. Formation of an independent committee to investigate the media approach adopted by Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation during the events in Bahrain since 2011 and to hold accountable the perpetrators of violations established by the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.
4. A pledge by Bahraini government to send a permanent representative to international bodies concerned with freedom of the media and the press (International Federation of Journalists; Reporters Without Borders; Committee to Protect Journalists) to work for two years as permanent monitors. The aim of this is monitoring directly violations, transgressions and targeting of media persons and journalists in Bahrain.
5.  Suspension of Law 47 on the organization of the press, printing and publishing; review of sentences handed down in cases related to the freedom of expression; and the dropping of all outstanding lawsuits at the Public Prosecution.
6. Reinstating of all journalists, photographers and bloggers who have been dismissed from their jobs at government and private institutions, and recognition of their right to compensation for all material and moral damage.
7. Separation between the Department of Foreign Media Affairs and the Information Affairs Authority; and election of a supreme commission of Bahraini journalists for the regulation of publishing, press and media.
8. Ending all forms of political persecution, abuse and security targeting of media professional, journalists and cyber activists.