December 2015: Arrest of the “Al-Wasat” journalist, Mahmoud Al-Jaziri, from him home and warning the “CNN” correspondent, Mohammad Al-Ghasra. Tweeter “Bou Khamees” prosecuted over new charges
London- 28th December 2015- Bahrain Press Association: “Bahrain Press Association” is following with great concern the Bahraini authorities ongoing targeting of media people and internet activists. The results of December 2015 show the ongoing harassment approach, investigations, arrest, torture and trials over fabricated charges brought against journalists and tweeters, in addition to other personnel working on providing news.
The Bahraini authorities raided the house of the “Al-Wasat” newspaper correspondent to the Shura Council and the House of Representatives, Mahmoud Radhi Al-Jaziri, in the early morning of the 28th of December 2015 and arrested him. The authorities confiscated Al-Jaziri’s mobile phone and laptop. Moreover, the Bahraini judiciary commenced the trial of the tweeter Hussein Khamees, known as “Bou Khamees”, over new charges, although it has issued a previous verdict against him. The judiciary has also started the trial of tweeter Youssif Al-A’am, known as “Haji Ahmed”, whom the authorities raised against him flimsy charges such as “posting more than 80 thousands tweets that included insults to the martyrs of the United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”.
The targeting also included the correspondents of world news sites like that of “CNN”, Mohammad Al-Ghasra, who received a warning from the Information Affairs Authority after publishing a piece of news. This comes at a time when the courts of different levels proceeded in holding their sessions to prosecute journalists and other bloggers whose cases are still being adjourned.
“Bahrain Press Association” condemns the targeting of journalists, bloggers and photographers, and sees that the targeting has become a common and systematic trend. This is one of the most important reasons that led to the deterioration of Bahrain’s reputation on the international level with respect to freedom of press. According to 2015 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters without Borders, Bahrain occupied the 163rd rank within a list of 180 countries.
Adjourning the Appeals Session of Ali Mearaj for the 15th Time
The supreme court of appeals adjourned on the 1st of December 2015 the appeals session of the online activist Ali Mearaj until the 5th of January 2015. Mearaj’s session was adjourned for the 15th time. He is charged of “insulting the king”. The judge refused in a previous session to receive the plea until the lawyer waive the presence of the public prosecution’s witness in the case.
Commencing the Trial of Tweeter “Bou Khamees”
Bahrain’s first high criminal court commenced on the 3rd of December 2015, the trial of tweeter Hussein Khamees in the other case in which he is charged of spreading rumours during wartime via “Bou Khamees” twitter account. The court adjourned the case until the 17th of January 2016, with his continued detention, for deliberation, and presented the lawyer a copy of the case documents.
The Public Prosecution charged the suspect with “deliberately spreading rumours and false information during wartime in a manner that damaged war preparations and military operations of the armed forces”. The punishment of this felony reaches up to 10 years in prison. The prosecution also accused him of “inciting hatred and contempt against a sect”.
Adjourning the Appeals of Photographer Hossam Srour
The Court of Appeals adjourned on the 14th of December 2015 that appeals of photographer Hossam Srour in which he is accused of “attacking policemen”, “blasting explosives” and “participating in an illegal assembly”. The case was adjourned until the 14th of January 2016. Srour was sentenced to 3 years in prison on the 11th of November 2015 over the charges attributed to him.
Charging the Tweeter “Haji Ahmed” with Posting 80 Thousands Tweets
Bahrain’s first criminal court began on the 22nd of December 2015 the trial of the tweeter Youssif Al-A’am; the holder of “Haji Ahmed” twitter account, in which he is accused of “insulting soldiers participating in the decisive storm” and “spreading information during wartime in a manner that damaged war preparations and military operations of the armed forces and that he spread fear among people”. The court decided to postpone the session until the 7th of January 2016 for pleading. The Public Prosecution accused him of “posting more than 80 thousands tweets that included insults to the martyrs of the United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”.
Postponing the Trial of Ghada Jamsheer
Bahrain’s second minor court postponed on the 22nd of December 2015 the trial of human rights defender Ghada Jamsheer in the case related to posting tweets on her own twitter account regarding the corruption in King Hamad Hospital until the 9th of March 2016. The case against Ghada Jamsheer was brought by one of the ruling family; the director of the hospital, Salman bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa, his wife Dalal Hassan Isa and one of his employees, Khalid Shayel.
The Information Authority Affairs Summons Journalist Mohammad Al-Ghasra
The Information Authority affairs summoned on the 25th of December 2015 Mohammad Al-Ghasra, the CNN Arabic correspondent. The information authority affairs launched an investigation over a piece of news that he published. This is the second time that Al-Ghasra is being investigated this year. The cybercrime department affiliated to the Ministry of Interior summoned him for questioning on the 11th of May 2015 to investigate about a piece of news, related to one of corruption cases, which he published. On the 25th of June 2015, Al-Ghasra announced that he received a warning from the Information Authority Affairs regarding a local news he published on social media, although the minister of commerce affirmed the validity of the data it contained.
Arresting the Journalist Mahmoud Al-Jaziri
Bahraini security forces raided the house of Al-Wasat newspaper correspondent to the Shura Council and the House of Representatives, journalist Mahmoud Radhi Al-Jaziri, on the 28th of December 2015 and took him to an unknown location.
The house raid was carried out by masked civilians and a number of police patrol officers without presenting a search warrant. Al-Jaziri’s mobile phone and personal laptop were confiscated. His arrest came a day after publishing a news story in the newspaper about the details of the appointed Shura council session, specifically what was said by the Shura Council member Fatima Al-Kooheji, who supported the withdrawal of housing units from the families of the Bahrainis who were stripped of their nationality, which sparked a campaign against her.
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 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.