May 2015: Photographer “Hubail” Prevented from Taking his Medications for 20 Days, “Hmaidan” accused of Taking over “Jaw” Prison and CNN Correspondent summoned
London- Bahrain Press Association: Bahrain Press Association recorded several violations against journalists, photographers and Internet activists during May 2015.
BPA’s records showed that photographer Ahmad Hmaidan was tortured and appeared before the Public Prosecution over new charges despite him already had been sentenced to 10 years in prison. The security authorities also summoned the correspondent of the Arabic “CNN” website, Mohammad Al-Ghasra, for questioning over publishing a report that tackled corruption.
Meanwhile, the arrested photographer Hussain Hubail complained about being unable to take his blood pressure medications for 20 days because the administration of “Jaw” prison refused to take him to the hospital for his medical appointments. Besides, the Court of Appeals upheld a 6-month jail term against Nabeel Rajab over “insulting the army”.
“Bahrain Press Association” condemns the authorities’ ongoing oppressive measures against the photographers, media people and Internet activists as a punishment for performing their jobs in covering the protests or exercising their rights in freedom of expression through the various media means. Below are the details:
Torturing Photographer Ahmad Hmaidan and Bringing Forth New Charges against Him
The family of the photographer Ahmad Hmaidan said they were allowed to see him on the 5th of May 2015 after about a month and a half of being unable to contact him. The family reported that their son Ahmad talked about being subjected to physical and psychological torture over the incidents that took place in Jaw Central Prison on the 16th of March.
He said that he was taken to appear before the Public Prosecution where new charges were brought forth against him; “inciting to attack the police” and “inciting to take over a public building”. Hmaidan’s family announced that they had lost contact with Ahmad since the first day of the rebellion at Jaw Central Prison on the 16th of March 2015.
Photographer Ahmad Hmaidan, who has won dozens of international awards, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in March 2014 over attacking a police station, following his arrest at the end of 2012.
“Hubail” Banned from Taking Medications for 20 Days
The family of the photographer Hussain Hubail said they received a call from Hussain on the 11th of May 2015 in which he said that he hadn’t take his blood pressure medications for 20 days, because Jaw Prison’s authorities refused to take him to the clinic. Hubail added that he always suffers from exhaustion and vertigo as a result. Reports on the 27th of March indicated that Hubail fainted because of his high blood pressure due to not taking his medications. The ongoing refusal of the prison’s administration to send Hubail to the hospital made him lose his medical follow up appointments.
Summoning “CNN” Website Correspondent
The cybernet department affiliated to the Ministry of Interior summoned the journalist Mohammad Al-Ghasra, correspondent of Arabic CNN Website, for investigation on the 11th of May 2015.
In this context, it was reported that Al-Ghasra was questioned over a piece of news he had published about corruption, without mentioning further details.
Court of Appeals Upholds 6-Month Jail Term against Nabeel Rajab
The Second Criminal Court of Appeals upheld, on the 14th of May 2015, a 6-month jail term sentence against the human rights activist and president of Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, for being convicted of insulting the Ministries of Interior and Defense via a tweet on his own twitter account.
The Attorney General Wael Buallay said in a statement published on Bahrain News Agency “BNA” that the Supreme Criminal Court of Appeals “upheld the appealed sentence that states imprisoning Rajab for 6 months over publically insulting two statutory bodies”. Buallay indicated that Nabeel Rajab “claimed that the Bahrainis who joined groups outside Bahrain are affiliated to the two security institution (ministries), describing the two ministries as the ideological incubator for terrorist groups.”
Detention of Online Activist Ali Al-Maqabi Renewed
The judge ordered on the 21st of May 2015 to renew the detention of the online activist Ali Hasan Al-Maqabi for two weeks. Al-Maqabi completed 5 months in detention since he was arrested on the 26th of January 2015.
In another context, on the 12th of May, the Court of Appeals adjourned the appeal session of the online activist Ali Al-Me’araj for the 12th time due to the absence of the attesting witness. On the 27th of May, the trial of photographer Sayed Ahmed Al-Mosawi was also adjourned until the 29th of June. Meanwhile, during the trial, three witnesses denied the involvement of Al-Mosawi in the case.
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 apply pressure on the Bahraini government to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release all the arrested photographers and media people who have been 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 personnel , the charge of “assembly” brought against photographers and that of “inciting hatred against the regime” brought against 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.
Source: http://www.bahrainpa.org/?p=375