Bahrain Press Association Calls to Release Journalist Faisal Al-Hayyat and Stop Chasing Media People

London- November 26, 2016- Bahrain Press Association: Bahrain Press Association condemns the trial of journalist and media man Faisal Al-Hayyat who is expected to appear before the criminal court over a tweet he published on his own Twitter account, in which the Bahraini authorities deemed an insult against a religious figure and an assault against a specific sect, based on article 309 of the criminal code, under which anyone defaming a recognized religious sect or ridiculing its rituals faces the possibility of a one-year prison sentence or a fine.

Journalist Faisal Al-Hayyat who has been arrested since October 9 will appear before the minor criminal court on November 29 for pleading, after his case was adjourned on November 2.

The association denounces the authorities’ intention in adjusting the laws in order to tighten the grip on freedom of expression. It stresses that the arrest of Al-Hayyat is a continuation for a series of violations followed by the Bahraini government since 2011 against freedoms of opinion and expression in the country. In this context, BPA highlights that chasing the journalists and arresting them over “fabricated” cases is one of the political revenge forms.

BPA warns from the continuation of the chasing and incriminating policy against the opinions that criticize events or historical figures that, if criticized, no person shall be chased or blamed by any party.

Bahrain Press Association calls to immediately and unconditionally release the Bahraini journalist Faisal Al-Hayyat as well as all prisoners of conscience, including journalists, media people and electronic activists. The association also urges the governments of democratic states and international organizations and institutions concerned in defending freedoms of opinion and expression to pressure more on the Bahraini authorities and to call them to stop their continuous policy in chasing and intimidating electronic activists and journalists.

Bahrain Press Association appeals all the international actors to interfere to put an end to these violations practiced by Bahrain, which has already signed most of the international treaties and conventions that guarantee freedoms of opinion and expression.

Source Text: http://www.bahrainpa.org/?p=530