The Bahrain Press Association: Re-emergence of violationsmanifestations threatens the prospects for reconciliation in the country
The Bahrain Press Association (BPA) condemns the targeting of a peaceful demonstration in Diraz village on Friday 19th July by security forces affiliated with the Ministry of Interior. The demonstration was organized in support of demanding the release of prisoners in Jaw prison. It also denounced the harsh and unfair conditions they endure, following reports that the prison administration is deliberately depriving prisoners of electricity and reducing their food portions.
Security forces used excessive force against the demonstrators including the use of tear gas and sound bombs. They hit the child Hussain Habib Bedaw with a projectile in his head, leading to hospitalization, two surgeries, and his condition remains critical.
The Bahrain Press Association (BPA) condemns this unjustified violence against peaceful protesters—a brutal reaction that brings to mind the cruel practices of the security forces over the years of the crisis to suppress all forms of demonstration and protest in the country. The BPA also condemns the policies of the security authorities concerned with prison administration and demands an end to the systematic targeting, harassment and persecution of prisoners. Additionally, it demands that those responsible for endangering the life of the young Hussain Bedaw be held accountable.
Persecution of preachers, chanters and activists
In recent days, there has been a crackdown on preachers and religious chanters following the commemorations of Ashura. Security authorities summoned chanter Mahdi Sahwan, preacher Sheikh Hamed Ashur, preacher Abbas Mulla Attia al-Jamri and Sheikh Abdel-Muhsen al-Jamri. In addition, they detained preacher Sheikh Issa al-Qaffas for a week pending investigation and arrested chanter Saleh Mahdi Sahwan for an unspecified period after he had been summoned.
According to the Bahraini Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, the authorities arrested both Sayed Ali Hammam and Sayed Ali Nasser after they were summoned for interrogation on Tuesday. They also arrested Sayed Ali Muhana, the father of prisoner Hussain Muhana.
The Bahraini government’s continued targeting of the Ashura commemorations every year and the harassment of Shiite citizens is a systematic approach that represents a deliberate infringement on the rights of Shiite citizens to practice their beliefs and rituals. Such practices promote the spread of hate speech and sectarian grudge in the country, hindering the achievement of justice and equality among all segments of society and impeding the consensus necessary for greater stability in the country.
The BPA believes that these measures constitute a stark violation of the provisions of the Constitution and international conventions that Bahrain has pledged to abide by.
Travel Ban
The Bahrain Press Association also condemns the security authorities’ prevention of some citizens from traveling through border crossings, including Sayed Abdul Hadi Mushaima and researcher Jassim Al-Abbas. It is noteworthy that Al-Abbas is the editor-in-chief of the Sanawat Al-Jareesh (Years of Jareesh) website and was previously arrested in 2020 and in November 2023 after giving a speech on the history of Bahrain at a religious gathering.
These measures constitute a form of revenge practiced by the government against its opponents and their families, and demonstrate its unwillingness to turn the page on the past and move on with what happened in the past years. Such policies will lead to nothing but the destabilization of the country, maintaining its status among the states with the most severe violations of freedoms.
The Bahraini Press Association calls on the government to retract the arbitrary measures taken in recent days by releasing those who have been arrested, stopping the persecution of activists and those who exercise their right to opinion and expression. The BPA also urges the government to eliminate any restrictions on the freedom of mobility of its opponents and work towards achieving justice and equality among all citizens. The BPA is deeply concerned that such arbitrary measures would undermine the positive measures the government has taken recently and turn back the clock.