August and September 2015: “Al-Wasat” newspaper targeted, Hani Al-Fardan received a warning and tweeters “Bou Khamees” and “Haji Ahmed” arrested
London- 30th September 2015-Bahrain Press Association: Bahrain Press Association recorded a number of violations during August and September 2015 against journalists, photographers and citizens who expressed their opinions. BPA’s records revealed that the “Al-Wasat” newspaper was suspended for two days. Moreover, its journalist Hani Al-Fardan received a warning from the Information Affairs Authority for writing a column criticising and doubting the government’s crackdown on opposing media and political figures who were charged with betrayal.
The security authorities arrested Masnour Al-Jidawi, known as “Sankimah” after circulating an audio clip on social media in which he criticised the discriminatory practices. The authorities also arrested tweeters Hussein Khamees, known as “Bou Khamees”, and Youssif Al-A’am, known as “Haji Ahmed” over their criticisim of Bahrain’s participation in the war on Yemen. In addition, the authorities also arrested photographer Mohammed Al-Shaikh, the correspondent of Agence France- Press (AFP), and photographer Ahmad Al-Fardan, the correspondent of the agencies Nur Photo and Demotix. Meanwhile, the Bahraini cabinet passed a law restricting the media institutions and imposing censorship on its media contents.
“Bahrain Press Association” sees that these strict policies have contributed to minimising the horizons of the political dialogue and social discussions. These policies have also limited the electronic horizon that was an incubator to the political and social reactions in the previous years.
The association stresses that imprisoning the photographers and media people in Bahrain is listed among the government’s general orientation towards taking revenge upon the media, photographers and all the activists who represent a narrative for the security events in Bahrain that is inconsistent with the governments’.
Arresting Comedy Actor “Sankimah”
On the 1st of August 2015 security authorities arrested the comedian actor Mansour Al-Jidawi, known as “Sankimah”. The General-Director of the Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security Directorate announced that “a person has been arrested for circulating a voice recording on social media that degrades one of the respected religious sects in Bahrain.” Sankimah’s arrest took place after posting an audio clip on social media in which he criticised the discriminatory nature of dealing with policemen in the Ministry of Interior.
Information Affairs Authority Warns Journalist Hani Al-Fardan
The Bahrain Information Affairs Authority sent a written warning on the 4th August 2015 to the “Al-Wasat” newspaper over an article written by the journalist Hani Al-Fardan. The warning came with reference to the column of the named writer which was entitled “And It Will Never Approve of You” and published in Al-Wasat newspaper on Saturday 1st of August 2015, number 4711. “We inform you that the column contained false information that is considered a violation to the Decree-Law No. 47 of 2002 on the Organisation of the Press, Printing and Publishing, thus the Bahrain Information Affairs Authority sends this warning to your newspaper pursuant to Article 84 of the decree, stressing on the necessity to publish it in the first publication after receiving this warning, as stipulated in the aforementioned article”.
Adjourning Majeed Milad’s Trial
The fourth minor criminal court adjourned on the 4th of August 2015 the case of Majeed Milad, the former president of the Capital Governorate Municipal council, over a case in which he is accused of “inciting disobedience of the law” until the 13th of December 2015 with his continued detention. During the session, lawyer Abdullah Al-Shemlawi asked for a copy of the CD related to the incident and listening to the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses for deliberation. He also demanded the release of Milad with any guarantee. The court; however, denied this request.
Suspending “Al-Wasat” Newspaper for 2 Days
On the 6th of August 2015, the Bahraini authorities suspended the Al- Wasat newspaper until further notice. The Information Affairs Authorities said that suspending Al-Wasat came “for its violation of the law and repeatedly publishing news and information that affect national unity and the Kingdom’s relations with other countries.” The decision came a day after the Minister of Information Affairs Isa bin Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi warned of taking legal measures against all media that publish information that he described as “false information about Bahrain”. On the 8th August 2015, the Information Affairs Authority said that “it decided to allow the Al-Wasat newspaper to resume its work”, explaining that the decision was issued “after the newspaper promised to commit to work according to the law”.
Investigating Sheikh Hani Al-Banna
The Ministry of Interior summoned on the 13th of August 2015 Sheikh Hani Al-Banna, member of the Central Committee of the Ulama (Scholars) Islamic Council, to Hamad Town’s police station. The ministry charged him with “inciting hatred against the regime”, “indirectly targeting the country’s ruler” and “targeting figures who are glorified in a sect” in a speech he delivered in July 2015. The ministry released sheikh Hani later on.
Photographer Baqer Al-Kamel Receives Injury
Photographer Baqer Al-Kamel was shot on the 14th of August 2015 while covering the protests in Sanabis, west of Bahrain, that were staged on “Independence Day”. Al-Kamel sustained a leg injury caused by shotgun.
Arresting Photographer Mohammed Al-Shaikh and Ahmad Al-Fardan
On the 28th of August 28, 2015, the security authorities arrested the photographer Mohammed Al-Shaikh, the correspondent of Agence France- Press (AFP), and photographer Ahamd Al-Fardan, the correspondent of the agencies Nur Photo and Demotix, while being in “Costa Coffee” in Budai, west of Bahrain. Their arrest came after a blast took place in Karana, although they were not on duty. The authorities released them three hours later.
Arresting Tweeter Hussein Khamees
The security authorities arrested the Tweeter Hussein Khamees on the 6th of September 2015 over “insulting Bahrain’s martyrs on social media,” referring to the five Bahraini soldiers who were killed in Yemen on the 5th of September 2015 while on duty in the Saudi-led coalition. The Director-General of the Anti-Corruption, Economic and Electronic Security Directorate said “the owner of Twitter account (Bou Khamees) who insulted Bahrain’s martyrs on social media” was taken into custody.
Arresting Tweeter Youssif Al-A’am
The security authorities arrested on the 7th of September 2015 the Tweeter Youssif Al-A’am who is a Mathematics teacher and writes posts on the social media under the name “Haji Ahmed”. A security force raided his home in A’ali and confiscated all his electronic devices. The Ministry of Interior issued a statement on the same day charging him with “mocking the country’s martyrs via his twitter account”.
Adjourning the Appeals Session of Al-Maskati and Abdulemam
The court of appeals adjourned on the 7th of September 2015 issuing the verdict against the two human rights activists Mohammad Al-Maskati, the digital security consultant at “Front Line Defenders”, and Nader Abdulemam, the president of Ensaf (Equity) human rights organisation, in the case in which they are accused of “participating in an illegal assembly” and over which they are sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.
The court adjourned issuing the verdict until the 2nd of November 2015 for deliberation. However, when the court held its session, it also adjourned the case until the 4th of November then to the 7th of January 2016. The minor criminal court has already sentenced the 2 activists on the 31st of December 2014 to 6 months imprisonment over “making riots and participating in an illegal assembly”, with reference to the “Self-Determination” protest that was staged on the 12th of October 2012 in the capital, Manama.
Appeals Session of Ali Mearaj Adjourned for the 14th Time
The supreme court of Appeals adjourned on the 13th of September 2015 the appeals session of the online activist Ali Mearaj until the 1st of December 2015 over the case in which he is accused of “insulting the king”. Mearaj’s session was adjourned for the 14th time. The judge refused to receive the plea until the lawyer waive the presence of the public prosecution’s witness in the case.
Journalist Hani Al-Fardan Stands Before Court
The “Al-Wasat” journalist, Hani Al-Fardan, stood before the first criminal court on the 14th of September 2015 over the case brought against him and its editor-in-chief Mansour Al-Jamri by the Member of Parliament Abdul Halim Murad in which they are accused of slander. The court decided to adjourn the case until the 21st of October 21 for pleading. Al-Jamri stood before the court and denied the charges raised against him. The Public Prosecution accused Al-Fardan and Al-Jamri that “on the 5th of February they publically attributed to the victim Abdul Halim Murad facts that defame him and subject him to punishment, for they accused the MP of exporting terrorism and illegal fundraising as presented in the documents.”
Adjourning the Sentence of Photographer Ahmad Al-Mosawi
The high criminal court adjourned on the 17th of September 2015 the case of the freelance photographer Ahmad Al-Mosawi in which he is accused of “photographing anti-government protests” and “distributing SIM cards to terrorist protestors”. The court decided to adjourn the case until the 28th of October and was then adjourned until the 1st of November. The court, once more, adjourned announcing the sentence until the 23rd of November 2015.
Bahrain’s Cabinet Passes Law Restricting the Media Institutions
The Bahraini cabinet approved on the 21st of September 2015 a draft resolution regarding the measures of supervision and censorship on the media’s content in which all the audio, read and electronic media means are obliged to comply with a number of restrictions and measures when practicing media work and on top; the sovereignty of Bahrain’s kingdom and respect of its regime, figures, institutions and its statutory bodies.
The decree also obliges the media institutions “not to broadcast and publish any information or news that affect the Kingdom’s relations with other countries, to respect the religions, not to demean the national and religious identity and not to damage the national unity and social cohesion.”
Bahrain Press Association calls on the US, UK, UN and all the international organisations and institutions that are concerned with defending freedom of opinion, expression, journalism and media to urgently interfere and put pressure on the Bahraini government to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release all the arrested photographers and media people who are arrested for covering the protests or exercising their right of freedom of expression;
- Stop the judicial trials over the charge of “insulting the king and soldiers” brought against internet activists and media people, the charge of “assembly” brought against photographers and that of “inciting hatred against the regime” brought against the politicians;
- Allow the freedom of media and journalism and close the Internet censorship office in the Ministry of Communications;
- End the authorities’ monopoly over TV media and open media channels for the other opposing view;
- And call on the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression to schedule an urgent visit to Bahrain.