July 2011 The First Report on Press & Journalism in Bahrain From 1 January to 15 July 2011

THE BAHRAIN PRESS ASSOCIATION SUMMARY ISSUE DATE: JULY 2011 The Bahraini authorities have arbitrarily detained, deported, and in the worst cases murdered scores COPYRIGHT © 2011, BAHRAIN PRESS ASSOCIATION. of local and foreign journalists since the pro- democracy protests erupted back in February. Needless to say that journalists were abused during This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for any interrogation. It is shocking how they are facing purpose whatsoever without special permission from the copyright holder, provided further abuse and harassment. This has amounted acknowledgement of the source is made. BPA would appreciate receiving a copy of to a «frozen status» in the face of free expression in any publication that uses this report as a source. the tiny island Kingdom that has been the subject of many other human rights abuses. No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the Bahrain Press Association. This report documents how the Bahrain security Applications for such permission, with a statement of purpose and intent of the agencies in most cases arbitrarily detained reproduction, should be addressed to BPA. journalists, depriving them from the right to see neither their lawyers or family members while held incommunicado and confiscating their equipment and in some cases tortured them with some murdered while in detention. In many cases Comments on the report are welcome and can be sent to: also foreign media people were denied entry or forcefully deported for unknown reasons. The Bahrain Press Association abuse witnessed by journalists in Bahrain is a clear UK +44 7821135441 reflection of punishing any voice critical of the USA +1 2403869925 regime and preventing free speech on coverage related to political reforms with the state exerting E-Mail:[email protected] firm control over journalists to cover the ongoing incidents reporting peaceful protests. Website: www.bahrainpa.org The report also refers to many situations where journalists have been assaulted by the Bahraini BPA GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE CONTRIBUTION OF ALL PARTICIPANTS forces, and in some cases regime-led thugs, for the WHOSE VALUED CONTRIBUTIONS WERE BEHIND THE RELEASE OF THIS REPORT reporting period. However, other violations against journalists are set to be the subject of future.

Table of Content Page

Foreword 6

Chapter I: Pre-February 14th Era 8

Chapter II: Red Freedom/Post-February 14th Era 10

Chapter III: Foreign Press Under Ban 13

Chapter IV: Detailed List of Reprisals of Bahraini Press People 16

Chapter V: Report Calls 25 Appendix I: Press statements and reports issued by IFJ, RWB, CPJ, 26 BCHR, Amnesty, The Independent, and Pen International FOREWORD It feels more painful than the wound the families of Publisher Karim Fakhrawi and Blogger Zakariya Al-Ashiri suffered upon receipt of their beloved corpses just days after being arrested. It feels more painful than a scene of a less-than-thirty-year-old journalist who is sent to the gallows to pass out. It feels more painful than having press people of different specializations in custody facing the most brutal torturing ever with their feet tied up and with being forced to bray like a donkey and walk like animals in the ministry of interior›s national security detention stations. On the contrary to all such violations, the regime may, with full confidence, that freedom of press is guaranteed by the sovereignty of the constitution and the unmatched care of the leadership for media and media people.

What has been mentioned is but depictions of more detailed cruelty reports documented by international press-concerned organizations in thier media statements. Other violations are being documented by the Bahrain Press Association. These documentations are awaiting confirmation from those journalists and media people who are abused against to give their go-ahead for their relative information to go public; such individuals are in fear of reprisals by security forces inside Bahrain. The Bahrain Press Association is working on compiling all such violations to file a lawsuit against those who committed them inside and outside Bahrain.

The release of this report was put on hold for several times. The BPA›s Verification & Inspection Committee was insisting that there have always been cases which are anew and exclusive to be documented and constitute part of this publication. However, we found this timing, though critical, to be perfect for it to be publicized with a much comprehensive one to be released by the year end.

What we truly seek to have from all governments and concerned bodies in democratic countries along with international and regional unions and organizations is to pay much focus on, and show interest in, the press dilemma inside the territories of Bahrain. Such organizations are called upon and urged to participate in defending all media people against the state systemic torture.

BAHRAIN PRESS ASSOCIATION First Report on Press People 8

punishment for journalists, the royal promise socially denying the Bahraini community the Minister Mansoor Bin Rajab. Despite the fact Chapter I: remains unfulfilled. The Ministry of Information opportunity to benefit from a neutral source that some legal actions received conviction Pre-February 14th Era and Cultural Affairs continues to make further of information. rulings, unlawful publication ban remained Bahrain has an accumulated record of amendments on the law and ties it to the operative. Some journalists were brought Punishment Law which means that journalists’ III. Restrictions on Newspaper Licensing and before the court after they disseminated facts predation and intimidation on the freedom of : on Government Advertisment Allocation expression and of the press despite the regime fear for being behind bars is still alive. of cases but not the interrogation process. boasting about otherwise. The so-called Journalist Rahdi Al-Mosawi, editor-in-chief of Press Law no. 47 of 2002 has a complex process The list of journalists who got prosecuted in political openness that came at the wake of Al-Democrati Newsletter was the first to be to found newspapers in Bahrain especially this regard includes Mohamed Al-Sawaad and the National Referendum endorsement in detained during the interrogation in 2002. The with the financial guarantee amounting Ahmed Al-Aradi of Al-Waqat Newspaper who 2001 and the reinstating of a constitutional King then was personally linked to imposing to BD one million (US$ 2,666,000). This jointly circulated a media coverage related to life in 2002, did not grant press freedoms. This a ban of imprisonment against press people complexity is intended to keep station license the Bandergate scandal although a judgment was coupled with many local newspapers through special understanding, a ban got applications restricted but to plutocrats who was issued. halted with the February 14 uprising. Lifting seeing light like Al-Wasat, Al-Methaq, Al- have mutual commercial interest with the VI. Blockage of News Websites Waqet, Al-Watan, and Al-Bilad. However, the such imprisonment ban led to the murdering regime. This restriction worked as a buffer line of Blogger Zakaryia Al-Asheeri and Publisher denying political parties the will to establish Blocking news websites, professional blogging launch of a liberated press environment based 2 on democracy is yet to flourish with so many Kareem Fakhrawi while in detention houses. their independent journalism channel. The posts, Facebook & Twitter pages, and websites factors appearing on the surface that lead to a Journalists in Bahrain were brought actions restriction ensures that daily newspapers’ of political societies is among the most reverse direction. against by ministers, officials, and The Ministry capitals are the gateway by which the state intimidating tools on media inside Bahrain. Net of Information and Cultural Affairs, which further intervene in such newspapers and surfers in order to overcome this blockage tend Both in Bahrain and abroad, the freedom monitor their content. Nevertheless, such to use proxies and other routing techniques to of expression and of the press were among is the body that oversees the press in the Kingdom. The list of those journalists who obstacles did not block the way to found bypass such websites blockage. This practice the most controversial topics, especially in two daily papers, Al-Wasat and Al-Waqat, has forced so many users to attend internet the sessions of the elected house of the two were persecuted includes Mansor Al-Jamri, editor-in-chief of Al-Wasat Newspaper; Anwar distinguished for being independent and cafes instead. chambers and the appointed Shuraa Council backed by a majority of financers. in the Kingdom to discuss the newly issued Abdulrahman, editor-in-chief of Akhbar Al- While the Ministry of Information and Cultural Press Law. This Law received much criticism by Khaleej Newspaper; Isa Al-Shayjee, editor-in- Another tool used by the regime to put much Affairs disavowed the responsibility for blocking reports and indices released by international chief of Al-Ayam Newspaper; Journalist Husain pressure on the aforementioned papers whose websites and this complex issue remains afloat organizations concerned with the freedom of Khalaf of Al-Wasat Newspaper; Journalist tone is believed be singing out of the regime’s with no authority acknowledging it despite the press. 1 Mohamed Al-Sawaad of Al-Waqet Newspaper; flock through the ban of official advertisements the fact that all blocked websites are routed to Rashid Al-Ghayab of Al-Ayam and Al-Bilad from ministries and government bodies. Ministry’s website. The list of blocked websites Such reports and indices are remarkably Newspaers; Journalist Maryam Al-Shorooqi Suffering from this ban that eliminated the includes Bahrain Online, Waad’s Website, Al- contradictory and overlapping with some of Al-Wasat Newspaper; and Jaffer Al-Jamri of funding yielded by advertising, Al-Waqat Wefaq’s Website, and Amal Society’s Website. that regard Bahrain as a country qualified to Al-Wasat Newspaper. Prosecutions in light of Newspaper was liquated. This clamp on websites aims to block civil host an unmatched environment full of press the notorious law were stretched to include society and political societies websites freedoms while other reports emphasize bloggers and activists posting their views on IV. State interference in Media Content of and any independent news websites and otherwise. Such reports indicate that Bahrain social networking websites like Twitter and Daily Newspapers other blogging posts disseminating facts or is infertile to produce a librated environment Facebook. The prominent incident is the case The Ministry of Information and Cultural newsfeeds critical of the state or state figures, for the press with journalists, bloggers, and brought Blogger Mahmood Al-Yousif by Ex- Affairs directly gets involved in the printed even if such criticism does not address political activist are being put on trial repeatedly in the minister Mansoor Rajab. content of Bahraini papers by pressurizing issues. Bahraini courts. II. Government Monopoly on Broadcast editors-in-chief, their deputies, and the chairs VII. Legislative Gap of the Freedom to Obtain The main obstacles that handicapped the Media of local media unites and dictates that certain Information realization of the freedom of the press in issues not to be released or challenge some the period up to February 14, 2011 can be The government has firm monopoly on published issues. The right to obtain information and impart it summarized as follows: broadcast media means since independence in is a genuine right as stipulated by Article 19 1971 until today despite on-going individuals Usually, the said Ministry avoids written of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I. Law No. 47 of 2002 Pertaining to the and corporate interest to establish radio and orders in this respect but imposes its Media means in Bahrain suffer a great deal Regulation of the Press, Printing, and television stations. Such interest has been met recommendations building on the directives from of information scarcity and the negative Publishing with deaf ears on the grounds that there exists issued by the leadership as represented by the attitude by all government bodies pertaining a gap in legislation to regulate the license. Royal Court in particular. The issuance of Law no. 47 of 2002 is the to information disclosure. prominent controversy that kept the will of a Eight years have passed with the same clichés V. Orders of Publication Ban An opinion poll, done by the now-dissolved true press environment frozen. Press people being repeatedly heard by any applicant Bahrain has witnessed many complicated Al-Waqat Newspaper in January 2009 have long labeled such law as “notorious” as it desirous of filing a requisition to establish a security and political incidents in the period and conducted on journalists of various allows the trial of journalists in criminal rather broadcast station and the regime still refuses to stretching from 2004 to 2011. The regime local dailies, showed that 95% of Bahraini than civil courts and adopts imprisonment grant any license to establish a station to third used its absolute power to arbitrarily impose journalists had a pressing need to have in as a punishment. The Law is deeply rooted in parties with both press people and the national orders to ban the disseminating of certain place a legislation covering the right to obtain much firm law, i.e. the Punishment Law with economy suffering from accumulated losses details like those related to the Bandergate information. sentences in prison up to 25 years. incurred as such. This was also the factor that scandal, a scandal named after a British citizen forced some televised-media corporations to !ee Despite the King’s personal promise to draft of Sudanese origin who worked as an adviser their home bases after it became di"cult to be to the Cabinet Affairs Ministry. The scandal a new law allowing much room for the in Bahrain. In so doing, this further supported freedom of the press with no imprisonment reveled regime-led conspiracy with the aim to the firm fist of the regime on information and foment sectarian strife in the country. The other 1 Please refer to press statements of the International Federation of manipulating it politically, economically, and case banned was the administrative corruption Journalists in the period from 2004 to 2010. Also refer to the index of Reports Without 2 Please refer to Appendix I and manipulating of public funds case of the Boarders for the said period

Bahrain Press Association 9 First Report on Press People 10

Ahmed Al-Khalifa, on April 5, 2011 to represent legislative gap pertaining the regulation of the green-light go behind all media people printing and publishing, the sentences to the arrests. on April 7, Journalist Faisal Hayat was charges above range between six months to arrested and this arrest was the start of violating three years imprisonment. Observers indicate press people’s rights. Of the worst experiences, that the reliance of the military prosecution Journalist Hayder Mohamed faced a hanging on the Punishment Law rather than Law no. mockery as his fault was that he requested the 47 which has exclusive jurisdiction to matters interrogators of the national security function related journalism, print, and publishing, is to respect the World Press Freedom Day and a clear intent of it to impose the maximum stop the physical harassment he was under. degree of punishment against press people. Mr. Mohamed fainted on the spot and was later released without any accusation being Alwasat Newspaper: Plotted targeting to charged against him. eliminate an opposing voice A crackdown on press people was broadcast live In the same context, Dr. Mansor Al-Jamri, editor- by the state-run television channel following in-chief of Al-wasat three other colleagues, the Journalists Protest in the Pearl Roundabout Waleed Nuwaihd the editing manager, Aqeel and the martial law declaration. The shows Mirza head of local news, and Ali Al-Shareefi aimed to slander and incite hatred against the editing secretary, were all accused signs of severe beating on the chest, back, and press people using defamatory language. A list with the charges of publicizing fabricated legs of Mr. Fakhrawi. of those targeted includes Mansoor Al-Jamri, information to challenge stability in Bahrain. Chapter II: In addition to this, tens of journalists, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Al-Wasat Defenses made by the paper show that an photographers, and cyber-dissidents were Newspaper; Abbas Busafwan, editot-in-chief ‘anonymous’ body put the whole organization Red Freedom/Post- arrested and interrogated in the detention of Aswaq newspaper; Adel Marzooq, head of in a stalemate condition in the period from 25 February 14th Era houses of the Ministry of Interior and the political and local affairs and development to 29 March as all workers and editors were Ministry of Defense. Testimonies of those department in Al-Bilad Newspaper; Hayder not able to leave their homes. Moreover, the Media people, photographers, and cyber- released show that they were all tortured dissidents in Bahrain are intimidated by Mohamed, a journalist of Al-Wasat Newspaper; printing house of the paper was attacked by with different levels of severity. They were and journalist Faisal Hayat a sports-media armed thugs, which made reporters work from violations, mass arrests, and mass dismissals no exception from the arbitrary job dismissal amid the crackdown on the country that broke specialist. home. At this critical time as the country went targeted at anyone whose participation on a martial law status with curfew applied, out in March 15 onwards after the state head or sympathy for the revolution has been declared martial laws in response to a popular Journalists behind bars & before criminal such fabricated news, amounting to 5 pieces suspected as approved by the Bahrain Trade courts of news, was planned to revenge against the uprising started as of February 14 demanding Union and many other neutral international political, economic, and social reforms. Ever Twelve press people fled the country to live paper. This was carried by the establishment of reports. in exile after their receipt of arrest threats by a fake news center in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, since that law was declared, pro-democracy The role of international organization campaigners faced vicious crackdowns with security authorities. The regime responded that sent the bunch of fabricated news such concerned with human rights and defending coldly to pressures and criticism it received that the paper publicized it. Investigations Saudi and UAE troops augmenting Bahrain’s journalists and bloggers helped in limiting mercenary corps. The Kingdom has witnessed by international organizations to set some later found that all the fabricated news came such violations. Nevertheless, the Bahraini press people free. Press people have been from one source and was traced to be one IP countless violations of human rights. The authorities still detain some bloggers and plight of the popular uprising in Bahrain is charged with ludicrous crimes such as inciting address registered in Saudi Arabia. photographers. Prominent Bahraini Blogger hatred against the monarchy, publicizing false Responding to the pressure of the Alwasat made worse by the fact that most foreign Ali Abdulemam was sentenced to 15 years life media is banned from local coverage. Added information and pictures that might harm the board of directors, the-editor-in-chief imprisonment in absentia as well as Blogger national security, and assembling in a public was forced to step down and the other to this, most of regional media – seen as a Abdujalil Al-Sangice.4 cheerleader for the uprisings else where of the domain. accused were suspended. Inside informers Recently released journalists, cyber-dissidents, Journalist Abbas Al-Marshed has been charged of the regime confirmed that “the series of Arab Spring waves – has deliberately censored and photographers are awaiting being put on any coverage of the tiny but strategically with a new accusation (incitement of the terminations and the appointment of a state- trial in the criminal courts to face sentences public to disdain the monarchy, as per Article loyal editor-in-chief were long-wished by the Arabian Gulf’s island. ranging from three to five years. Tens of The brutal crackdown resulted in the (165) of the Punishments Law that stipulates authorities because Alwasat took the lead in journalists were arbitrarily dismissed due “A person is punished by prison or penalty if publicizing all facts and violations practiced by termination of Publisher Kareem Fakhrawi to their political views and posts on local and Blogger Zakariya Al-Asheeri who were got found guilty of incitement of the public to the security authorities since its inception”. and international media along with social disdain the monarchy or disfavoring it” along murdered under mysterious circumstances networking websites.5 3 with the typical charges every journalist faces. Dismissals of Journalists and Photographers while in custody. After they were both Information available, up to this report drafting, announced dead, the Bahrainis authorities Journalists Faisal Hayat, Abdulla Alaawi, and from Media Outlets shows that the clamp on media people is led Jasim Al-Sabagh of Al-Bilad Newspaper face Journalists got involved in the daily coverage alleged in an official statement that they the directly by the Ministry of Information and death cause was due to chronic diseases they similar charges. It is worth mentioning that of the events as of February 2011 onwards, Cultural Affairs. Observers link the visit by the national security function denied detained either by way of their job requirements, via both suffered from. The statement content the such MICA’s minister, Shaikh Fawaz bin was later vigorously denied by the martyrs’ journalists access to their lawyers and making statements to local papers or satellite Mohamed Al-Khalifa, to the chief commander respected no constitutional or legal provisions channels, by corresponding on-spot reports, families and was evidenced by the pictures of Bahrain Defense Force, Shaikh Khalifa Bin released by CNN Channel in a report showing normally applied to detainees. or by way of posting or tweeting on social 4 Bahrain News Agency All charges are derived from the Bahraini networking websites and blogs. 3 Please refer to statements by The IFJ and RWB in 5 Please refer to violation table faced by media people in Bahrain in Punishment Law at a time Bahrain suffers no 95 professional and amateur press people of Appendix I. Chapter IV .

Bahrain Press Association 11 First Report on Press People 12 various specialties that include journalists, passed out of panic. Hayder was then released photographers, or bloggers, were collectively on May 22 without being charged. dismissed from work on an arbitrary basis in Another sorrowful story is that of obvious violation to all local and international Nazeeha Saeed, a local reporter for France 24 laws.6 The vast majority of such people were and Radio Monte Carlo, who was summoned the subject of different intimidation threats on Sunday, May 22 at around 12.30 for by the regime and its subsidiaries along with interrogation in Al-Riffa police station. While state-loyal bodies. in the interrogation room was brutally beaten Arbitrary dismissals practiced by all daily and assaulted without any charge or reason. newspapers in Bahrain. Alwasat terminated She was forced to drink a bottle of urine with the services of 4 of its cadre by a board baton beating over her back. resolution with further dismissals of other The French Embassy in Manama then journalists after the newly-appointed board of sent Nazeeha to receive medical treatment directors took over. Albilad paper, chaired by in Paris promptly after the incident. After the Bahraini Journalists Society vice-president a statement by the IJF and so many other Mones Almardi, sacked 14 journalists, chief organizations and international commissions, typists, and photographers. Later on, Alayam, the Bahrain Ministry of Interior declared chaired by Isa Alshayji, the president of the that it would take action against those held Bahraini Journalists Society, sacked 8 press accountable for these assaults. The reporter people. The MICA, in its television broadcasting told her ordeal chapters before the military division, has either terminated the contracts general prosecutor who investigated the of or sacked 18 media personnel. Al-Watan case. Up to date, the authorities released no Newspaper sacked 28 employees of which 18 particulars in this respect. were press personnel. on July 19, the Committee to Protect harassment against journalists.7 not been the case for all press people with Bahrain Photography Society: Mass Arrests Journalists (“CPJ”) issued a statement calling some facing no obstacles at entry. We were 10 authorized photographers who are on the Bahraini authorities to end harassment fortunate enough to get a two-week visa registered under the umbrella of Bahrain and legal prosecution of fabricated criminal Chapter III: Foreign Press while others got only a 72-hour visa, this was Photography Society are jailed with arrest charges against those journalists critical the case of the crew of France 2. Upon entry, dates spanning from March 23 to May 22, of the monarchy. The CPJ confirmed that Under Ban we saw the BBC reporter being held and his Bahraini security forces paralyzed the work 2011. Many testimonies of those released criticizing journalists were exposed to threats, equipment seized.” of foreign reports working for international affirm their being tortured by police officers in interrogations, and slandering by regime- She further added “On the contrary of what media outlets with well-established and world- detention houses. owned, pro-regime publications, or regime- seemed to be a promise by the Bahraini class reputation via many means to influence Photographers are charged with the same loyalists. authorities, our equipment, that was seized, their job in transmitting the events have been accusation of that of the journalists. After the The statement also includes the story of was not returned back until now. We were running in Bahrain since last February. King declared an investigation commission be Journalist Reem Khalifa who was targeted as unable to broadcast any live reports and The means and methods used have been formed to look into civil rights violations inside part of a coordinated slandering campaign, instead our media coverage was uploaded on different. One incident shows that a sniper Bahrain, some photographers were set free against journalists critical of the regime. the internet.9 from a hovering chopper fired a gun shot on while the judicial authorities still hold their In this regards, Ms. Khlifa was accused of The Bahraini authorities deported CNN Michael Slackman, a reporter of the New York cases in trials, which implies that they might verbally abusing and physically assaulting reporter Moahmed Jamjoom, on March 16 Times Newspaper and Patrick Ferl, the paper’s face imprisonment sentences. a government supporter. This came amid a with no justifications given.10 photographer who were in the middle of press conference held by an Irish delegation On March 16, masked men of the Bahraini covering the crushing of protesters in the Pearl Sever Violations: From Hayder Moahamed of medical and human rights practitioners. The National Guards arrested Wall Street Journal Roundabout in the capital city of Manama on to Nazeeha Saeed press conference was to be prematurely ended reporter Alex Delmar-Morgan as he was February 18.8 At the dawn of Sunday, April 24, a gang with pro-government medial practitioners heading towards the Pearl Roundabout. He The regime spared no effort to use all possible consisting of 30 masked men attacked the and journalists bullying delegation members. faced three-hour detention before being set means to put restrictions on foreign reporters house of Journalist Hayder Mohamed, working Ms. Khalifa was targeted with fabricated free. On the same day, the authorities attacked entry to the country. This has been clearly for Alwasat Newspaper whose PC and camera legal proceedings of slapping a physician CBS Radio Channel reporter Ms. Tula Fiaho in reveled by a reporter working for France 24 to were confiscated as well. On May 3, while in on the face and was summoned to attend a the accompanying crew.11 Reporters Without Boarders. “We approached the interrogation room, Hayder asked the questioning session. On March 30, the security forced detained CNN Bahrain in the early morning of February 19 officer to show some respect to the World Both the Bahrain Press Association and the reporter Amber Lyon and the accompanying at around 1.00 and were forced to spend our Press Freedom Day and stop torturing him. The CPJ have affirmed, after thoroughly reviewing crew in front of the house of human rights first night at the airport and were denied officer then convinced Hayder that he was on the video footage, other still photos, and advocate Nabeel Rajab. The detainees were access to the country. It was not until the a real trial and he shall be sentenced to death testimonies by the Irish delegation and questioned for five uninterrupted hours and afternoon of the next day that we were by hanging. The officer acted as if it was real journalists that the physician’s allegation is at the end of session Ms. Lyon was officially granted entry to the island.” The lady reporter with all procedures to execute and a rope was void and comes as part of a series of journalists warned not to film anything in Bahrain without put around Hayder’s neck. At that time, Hayder intimidating campaign. The BPA and CPJ have was quoted as narrating her story. She added “Our equipment was confiscated and this had 9 http://en.rsf.org/maghreb-et-moyen-orient-overview-of-media- 6 Please refer to violation table faced by media people in Bahrain in issued statements to declare their stands and 7 Please refer to Appendix I. freedom-08-03-2011,39693.html appendix no. <<<<>>>>> calls on the official authorities to end the 8 http://en.rsf.org/maghreb-et-moyen-orient-media-continue-to-be- 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtRj0SaHkLU targets-as-23-02-2011,39604.html 11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwDghM-RZr4

Bahrain Press Association 13 First Report on Press People 14 a prior permission.12 on the local media content through focusing - CNN reporter Amber Lyon and The Bahraini authorities refused to give on international coverage broadcast and her fellow crew – Arrested and entry permission to foreign reporters of the ignoring local news coverage dealing with the interrogated with their camera following media outlets: on-going pro-democracy protests with the content erased (March 30, 2011). 21 1. The New York Times aim to marginalize them in the press arena. - The National reporter Bradely Hope 2. The Guardian The Bahrain Center for Human Rights has and France 24 reporter Nathalie 3. The Telegraph condemned the clampdown on foreign press Gillet – Arrested and their camera 4. France 24 reporters and the harassment they go through. content inspected (July 3, 2011).22 5. CNN In a detailed report, the Center publicized a 3. Expelled Journalists & Reporters: 6. Financial Times series of harassments and assaults faced by - CNN reporter Mohamed Jamjoom – 7. BBC foreign reports since the protests broke out in Expelled (March 16, 2011).23 8. Wall Street Journal late February.14 - Press TV reporter Johnny Miller – Some other reports were granted permitted Below is a list publicized by the Bahrain Center Expelled (March 16 2011).24 entry to the country but on complex terms for Human Rights through its website on the - Reuters reporter Fredrick Richter – under security forces’ control and with such foreign press reports harassment account: Expelled (May 10, 2011).25 reporters being escorted by two persons 1. Physically-assaulted Journalists & - Irish Times reporter Finian representing the Ministry of Information and Reporters: Cunningham – Expelled (June 19, Cultural Affairs. The BBC broadcast a report - ABC News reporter Miguel 2011).26 stating that the restriction on permitting Marquez – Beaten by thugs foreign reporters to enter the country was armed with batons (February 4. Journalists & Reporters Denied Entry to operative since February 19. 17, 2011).15 Bahrain: Other foreign reporters were exposed by a - Al-Jazeera reporter Bilal Randeree systematic clampdown on social networking - CBS Radio News reporter Toula – Denied entry arriving at Bahrain websites by a group recruited by the regime Vlahou – Confronted by riot Airport (February 17, 2011).27 working behind the scenes. The first target of police with rubber bullets fired - Freelance Journalist Omar this attack was the New York Times columnist and smashed his vehicle (March Chateriola – Denied entry arriving at Nicholas D. Kristof who was in Bahrain 17, 2011).16 Bahrain Airport (March 17, 2011).28 reporting on the spot in from the Pearl The referenced-to video footage presents - Al-Jazeera reporter Soraya Lennie Roundabout at the first security raid on it. Bahrain Foreign Minister challenge the – Denied entry arriving at Bahrain Mr. Kristof was also present at the Salmaniya event.17 Airport (April 9, 2011).29 Medical Complex reporting the events very - El Mundo journalist Monica G. Prieto accurately. Mr. Kristof is still a subject of the - DPA reporter Mazin Mahdi – Denied entry arriving at Bahrain said pro-regime gang. and Nazeeha Saeed – Both Airport (May 9, 2011).30 were tortured and physically In early days of April, the regime deported two assaulted while in police were Iraqi nationals who were employees in custody (May 22, 2011).18 Al-Wasat Daily Newspaper. Waleed Nuwaihd, 2. Arrested Journalists & Reporters: a Lebanese national, the editing manager of - DPA reporter Mazin Mahdi the same daily is facing charge of circulating – arrested for a short period pomed.org/blog/2011/03/photo-wsjs-alex-delmar-morgan-arrested-in-bahrain.html/ fabricated information along with the daily’s of time for taking pictures 21 http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-11/world/bahrain.detain_1_bahrain- center-entering-bahrain-military-vehicles/2?_s=PM:WORLD and http://www.youtube.com/ editor-in-chief after the Bahraini authorities of armed thugs who were watch?v=S8oZpwyY_3k

filed a lawsuit against the daily. Evidence shows vandalizing shops in the city of 22 Twitter: @bradleyhope: inside the police station near Sanabis in #Bahrain. 19 that the fabricated information was prepared Riffa (March 11, 2011). Detained since 4 p.m for walking on street. They are analyzing photos. in one of the official bodies of the government - Wall Street Journal reporter Twitter: @nat_gillet: Just freed from police station in Bahrain with reporter @bradleyhope. Kept and sent from the Saudi capital with the Alex Delmar-Morgan – Arrested there for 2 hours. They checked my camera. Back in the hotel now intent to eliminate the only-independent and by members of the National 23 http://www.cpj.org/2011/03/bahrain-expels-cnn-reporter-harasses-journal- objective daily in the Kingdom. Guards (March 16, 2011).20 corre.php and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtRj0SaHkLU 24 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwB9LMKJVfA and http://www.presstv.ir/ The Bahraini authorities order an Irishman 14 http://www.bahrainrights.org/ar/node/4375 detail/170845.html Finian Cunningham, who has been living in 15http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gjbkV9uYKA_QJtwvfbx8gu 25 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/10/us-bahrain-reuters- Fl04Hg?docId=CNG.68e525354daffd868eac000986513f10.151, http://abcnews.go.com/ Bahrain for years, Irish writer and journalist idUSTRE7494LR20110510 and http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE74G41220110517 WNT/video/abcs-miguel-marquez-beaten-bahrain-protests-revolts-government-police- who had been living in Bahrain for a to 26 http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-journalist-deported-others-tried-22-06-2011,40503. journalist-attacked-violence-middle-east-12936174 leave the country. Reporters Without Boards html 16 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20044298-503543.html confirmed that Cunningham was back home 27 Twitter: @bilalr: I arrived@ #Manama airport this morn- was told by 17 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpxSPY5ZPCM 13 immigration that no more visa on arrival for #aljazeera ppl- returnin to #Doha soon on 19 July. 18 http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-france-24-correspondent- 28 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rueqlep43hIx6NjYRTCvhcppPGxoBhO The regime in Bahrain applies, amid its seizure tortured-30-05-2011,40374.html; http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/bahrain-police- of the Pearl Roundabout, indirectly censorship detain-2-reporters-for-foreign-media; and http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/ EqZ2IZ7Z7eTQ/http:/storify.com/omarc/rejected-by-bahrain 12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2j3DHu18HE. middleeast/news/article_1640917.php/Bahrain-police-detain-dpa-reporter 29 Twitter:@pizzazzgabor: being deported from #bahrain with another guy who http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/11/bahrain.detain/index. 19 Twitter: @mazenmahdi: I’m seemingly being arrested for picturing lives in Doha called reza. Pity he has a shiia name. html?iref=allsearch Jawad’s chain shops; good work guys! 30 http://bahraincenter.blogspot.com/2011/05/el-mundo-journalists-are-not-

13 http://www.ifex.org/middle_east_north_africa/2011/06/24/cunningham_deported 20 http://en.rsf.org/+wall-street-journal-reporter-alex+.html and http:// welcome-in.html

Bahrain Press Association 15 First Report on Press People 16

Chapter IV: Detailed List of Reprisals of Bahraini Press People*

Name Media Shop Position Currently Comments 11 Abbass Al Jamry Al Bilad Editor He was dismissed detained? 12 Baker Zain Al Din Al Ayyam Journalist He was dismissed 1 Mansour Al Jamry Al Wasat Editor-in-Chief The Newspaper was targeted and he was 13 Ali Al Bazzaz Al Ayyam Caricaturist He was dismissed forced to resign after the board of directors of the newspaper was put under pressure. He is 14 Hussein Al Al Ayyam Journalist He was dismissed currently subjected to criminal investigation at Sabbagh the hands of the attorney general of the army. 15 Ismat Al Mousawi Al Ayyam Journalist, She was dismissed and has been classified as a He has been classified as a traitor, a classification column traitor (a targeted group). that puts him as a security target. Fabricated writer, and news was sent to the newspaper about the 14th a Founding of February Revolution from outside Bahrain member in with names of some political activists during the Bahraini the state of general safety. After the publishing Journalists' of this news, a TV episode was dedicated and Association the newspaper was shutdown for one day. The 16 Hussein Abd Al Al Al Bilad Director He was dismissed prosecution has refused to reveal the source of the information via IP tracing. 17 Abbass Abu Aswak Editor-in-Chief A warrant was issued in his name; he is currently Safwan outside Bahrain. 2 Walid Nuwayhid Al Wasat Editing The newspaper was targeted and he was Manager arbitrarily let go by the newspaper owners. He is 18 Hussein Abd Ali Al Watan Journalistic He was dismissed currently subjected to a criminal investigation by Director the attorney general of the army 19 Nada Al Wadi Al Wasat Journalist Nada was summoned to appear at a police 3 Aqil Mirza Al Wasat Ex-Board Was arbitrarily fired by the newspaper owners station and was forced to sign a statement of member of and is currently subjected to a criminal alleged representation that she called for the the Bahraini investigation by the attorney general of the overthrow of the regime. Journalists' army. 20 Hayder Al Wasat Journalist Hayder was arrested from April 25 to May 22. He Association Mohammad was tortured and and listed on the 'Traitors' List'. 4 Adel Marzouk Al Bilad Head of Local Adel was classified as 'Traitor' and listed in the 21 Wafa' Al Amm Radio and TV Anchor Wafa was summoned to appear at a police Affairs and Ex- 'Traitors' List'; a list circulated by the security Television station VP of Bahrain forces. He is wanted by the police. Journalists' 22 Ahmad Al Al Bilad Editor Ahmad was summoned to appear at a police Association Haddad station 5 Mohammad Al Al Bilad Journalist Mohammad was classified as 'Traitor' and listed 23 Mohammad Al Al Bilad Editor Mohammad was summoned to appear at a Sawad in the 'Traitors' List'; a list circulated by the Makhlouk police station security forces. 24 Hussein Al Al Bilad Head of Hussain was detained for one day. 6 Hussein Khalaf Al Bilad Journalist He was dismissed. He has been classified as a Ghudayri the Disc traitor (a targeted group) department 7 Hussein Marhoon Al Waqt formerly, Blogger, A A warrant was issued in his name; he is currently 25 Ali Al Diri Bahraini Ministry of Blogger & Ali received threats and listed in the 'Traitors' List' an activist journalist who outside Bahrain. He has been classified as a Education Auother . in electronic wrote many traitor (a targeted group). 26 Ali Al Jalawi Poet and Ali received threats and listed in the 'Traitors' List'. journalism articles in Arab Political He is currently outside Bahrain. newspapers activist. about the 14th of February 27 Sadiq Marzooq Member of He is on the run and his house was broken into revolution in the Bahrain twice. Bahrain. He's Society of also active Photography & online on photographer Facebook and 28 Jaffer Al Halwachi Member of Jaffer was arrested from 2 to 5 April. Twitter the Bahrain 8 Faisal Hayyat Al Bilad Journalist Since Was arrested after the king's speech Society of 8-Apr-11 Photography & photographer 9 Ali Jawad Al Bilad Journalistic Since 20- He was dismissed and arrested right after that. Director Apr-11 29 Hussain Al Khal Bapco Member of Hussain was dismissed from work. He was then the Bahrain arrested from March 27 to July 2. 10 Hussein Ali Khalaf Al Bilad Journalist in He was dismissed Society of the sports Photography & section photographer

Bahrain Press Association 17 First Report on Press People 18

30 Mahmood Hasan Member of Mahmood was arrested early in April and 48 Karim Fakhrawy Media Activist, Karim was murdered while in custody three the Bahrain released on June 20. Publisher, & days after he was arrested. Society of Shareholder Photography & of Al Wasat photographer Daily 31 Zuhair Al Shamaa Member of Zuhair was arrested on April 16 and released 49 Zakariya Al Online activist, Zakariya was murdered while in custody few the Bahrain later on. Aushayri Founder and days after he was arrested. Society of Adminstrator Photography & of Al Dair photographer online forum 32 Hani Al Fardan Al Wasat Journalist and He has been classified as a traitor (a targeted 50 Huda Al Radio and Program She was fired Founder of group). Mashakihl Television design and online news archives.

33 Abbas Al Murshid Bahraini Ministry of Journalist and He was arrested on May 14 and set free on July 51 Rajaa Rahma Radio and Program She was fired Education researcher. 10 after being listed in the 'Traitors' List'. Television design and archives. 34 Rim Khalifa Al Wasat Journalist She has been classified as a traitor (a targeted active on group). 52 Ahmad Al Fardan Radio and Program He was fired twitter (before Television design and crackdown) archives. 35 Lamis Dhaif Gulf newspapers Blogger, She has been classified as a traitor (a targeted 53 Hussein Al Radio and Program He was fired Column writer group), her house was attacked with Molotov Hulaybi Television design and in many cocktails archives. newspapers 54 Mohammad Al Radio and Program He was fired 36 Qassem Hussein Al Wasat Journalist He has been classified as a traitor (a targeted Faka Television design and group). archives. 37 Muna Al Nashaba Al Watan Journalist She was fired. 55 Jaafar Al Alawi Radio and Program He was fired Television design and 38 Basima Al Kassab Blogger, Writer She was interrogated 3 times at work, fired from archives. in many Arab her job at ministry of education , interrogated at newspapers, a police station 56 Fadel Al Marzouk Online activist Since 28- Arrested author & Co-Founder Mar and of online released 39 Issa Ibrahim Al Wasat Press He was barred from leaving Bahrain. He has been forum www. early in Photographer interrogated. maameer.org July 40 Mahmoud Al Blogger Arrested for 2 days (3031- Mar 2011), banned 57 Hani Al Tayf Cyber Activist, Since 27- Arrested Yousif from any electronic media action. runs website Mar-11 41 Mohammad Al Blogger Arrested for a week (30Mar-8Apr 2011), banned of Al-Manar Maskati from any electronic media action. forums http://www. 42 Amani Al Maskati Al Wasat Journalist She was arrested at the airport, and forced manarcom. to sign a confession including an attempt to com overthrow the regime. 58 Nabeel Rajab Bahrain Center for International His house was targeted with tear gas. Faces 43 Ali Al Shirifi Al Wasat Secretary Arbitrary lay-off and forced to deport country. Human Rights human rights court martial under allegations of spreading Editor (Iraqi) activist, instigating news on Twitter. 44 Rahim Al Ka'bi Al Wasat Head of Arbitrary lay-off and forced to deport country. member Development of many (Iraqi) international organizations 45 Mujtaba Al Blogger Apprehension for 7 hours at the airport. Barred Mu'min from traveling. 59 Foreign CNN - BBC Subjected to attempts to stop them from doing correspondents their jobs, delayed at airports, and some foreign 46 Fadel Anan Al Bilad Journalist Fired from his part time job/ Under investigation journalists were apprehended and later released. at the Ministry of Education (his primary job) Review human rights organizations reports 47 Yasmin Khalaf Blogger, Her house was raided on the 26th of April. No (Bahraini Center for Human rights/International Journalist confirmed information about her arrest. Federation for Human Rights). activist online 60 Mohammad Al Al Wasat Press He was assaulted by security forces personnel (Formerly Makhrak Photographer while performing his job as a photographer. worked at Al Waqt) 61 Al Wasat The The building was attacked and machines were Newspaper newspaper's destroyed by police in civilian cloths. printing house in Al Rifa'

Bahrain Press Association 19 First Report on Press People 20

62 Habib Abdullah Al Ayyam Journalist He was fired. 81 Mohammed Photographer, From May 9 Arrested Salman Al-Sheikh Head of to July 2 63 Hussein Al Darazi Al Ayyam Journalist He was fired. Also arrested (23 May - 2 Jun 2011) the Bahrain 64 Amir Al Bakali Al Ayyam Journalist He was fired. Society of 65 Mohammad Al Al Ayyam Journalist He was fired. Photography Maghni 82 Saeed Abdulla Photographer Arrested for about 24 hours (1516- May) 66 Salah Al Hayiki Al Bilad Editor He was fired. Dhahi 67 Saeed Abbass Al Bilad Editor He was fired. 83 Ali AbdulKarim Photographer Arrested (1520- May) Alkufi 68 Hussein Al Saeed Al Bilad Journalistic He was fired. Director 84 Hasan AlNasheet Photographer, Arrested (1520- May) VP of the 69 Muhammad Al Al Watan Journalist He was fired. Bahrain Ghasra Society of 70 Abdullah Alawi Al Bilad Journalist Since He was fired/arrested Photography Apr-11 85 Hasan Salman Photographer Since 23- Arrested 71 Jasem Al Al Bilad Editor Late in Was arrested after the king's speech Al-Ma'atooq and a nurse Mar-2011 Sabbagh March to 86 Salman Photographer Since 29- Arrested early June AbdulHadi Mar-2011 72 Ahmad Yusif Online Activist, From April Arrested Almakhraq al-Dairi co-founder 1 to early 87 Zuhair Alshama'a Photographer Since 16- Arrested http://www. July , member Apr-2011 aldair.net/ of Bahrain forum/ Society of 73 Hamza Ahmad Online Activist, From April Arrested Photography Yusif al-Dairi co-founder 1 to early 88 Hasan Qambar Photographer Since 18- Arrested http://www. July Apr-2011 aldair.net/ forum/ 89 Jameel Hasan Photographer From Was beaten then arrested - video of Alshuaikh of AlWefaq 21-Apr to his arrest http://www.youtube.com/ 74 Hussein Abbas Cyber Activist, From Arrested political 10-July watch?v=gCWm4KPCecI Salem Freelance March 28 society photographer to early July 90 Mohamed Ali Al Bilad Photographer Since Arrested Alaradi 8-May-2011 75 Mohamed Blogger Arrested for 1 day (2829- Apr 2011), no activity to 30-June Marhoon after that 91 Abdullah Hasan Al Watan Photographer Since 14- Fired from his job and then arrested 76 Jaffar Abdalsjad Online Activist, Since 28- Arrested May-2011 abdulHussain Al Co-Founder Mar-11 Abbas of online 92 Abdullah Ahmed Photographer Since 17- Arrested forum www. Salman May-2011 maameer.org 93 Nedhal Nooh Photographer From Arrested (18 May- 16 Jun 2011) 77 Hussain Online Activist, Since 28- Arrested , One of 20-May to Abdalsjad Photographer, Mar-11 founders 16-June abdulHussain Al Co-Founder of Bahraini Abbas of online Society of forum www. Photography, maameer.org Head of Technical 78 Mujtaba Salmat Freelance was arrested for about a month, released on committee Photographer April 27, 2011 of Bahraini with online Society of activity Photography 79 Anmar Kamal Blogger and was arrested for for 24 hours on May 12 94 Sadiq Ja'afar Photographer Since 19- Arrested Aldeen photographer, Aldurazi , member May-2011 active on of Bahrain twitter Society of 80 Ali Omid Online activist, Arrested (1022- May 2011) Photography Moderate 95 Hussain Ali Photographer Arrested (2226- May) online forum AlQumaish (http:// alialasghar.us/ 96 Fadhel Habib Al Wasat Columnist Arrested at a checkpoint (2023- May) vb) , blocked since 2009 Bahrain Press Association 21 First Report on Press People 22

97 Naziha Saeed MONTE CARLO journalist summoned by police for interrogation for more 118 Ismael Asaqi alwatan Port, He was fired Radio than 12 hours on 22 May 2011, reportedly newspaper Department of tortured Production 98 Mazen Mahdi DPA Photojournalist summoned by police for interrogation on 22 119 Zakariya alwatan employee, He was fired May 2011 , released with the chance of being Almobasher newspaper Department of called back in again, reportedly tortured Printing 99 Hussein Ali Makki Cyber Activist, Since Arrested 120 Ali Mohana alwatan employee, He was fired Administrator 9-June- newspaper Department of of the Pages ( 2011 correction RASAD NEWS) 121 Hussain Almajed alwatan employee, He was fired on Facebook newspaper Department of and Twitter. correction 100 Abdulla Hassan alwatan News He was fired 122 Mohamed Aljaber alwatan employee, He was fired newspaper accidents newspaper Department of and head of correction photography 123 Husain Alasfoor alayam newspaper Journalist He was fired 101 Hasa Ali alwatan photography She was fired newspaper 124 Hussain Alaly alayam newspaper Employee data He was fired in the updated 102 Jawad al Khabaz alwatan photography He was fired website of the newspaper newspaper 103 Fahad Ebrahim alwatan photography He was fired 125 Zahra Humaidan akhbar alkhaleej Journalist Her salary was deducted newspaper 126 Shaker Alarady akhbar alkhaleej Journalist His salary was deducted 104 Zinab alwatan Journalist He was fired Abdullameer newspaper 127 Fatema ali akhbar alkhaleej Journalist Her salary was deducted 105 Ali Alaly alwatan Journalist He was fired 128 Maki Hasan akhbar alkhaleej Journalist His salary was deducted newspaper 129 Ahmed haydar al wasatnewspaper photographer he was fired 106 Swsan Dhmem alwatan Acting Head He was fired newspaper of local * There might have been inaccurate information in certain names and dates of detention and release due department to the security grip by the regime against journalists. Some journalists, due to fear of persecution, refused to 107 Taha Alawi alwatan journalist He was fired newspaper declare any information pertaining to their assault or document their violations. The BPA will make sure to revise all available data periodically before being incorporated and released in its 108 Abulla Ashoor alwatan head of sport He was fired newspaper department annual report. 109 Sayed Kathem alwatan Acting Head He was fired Abdulla newspaper of sport department 110 Isa Abass alwatan Journalist He was fired newspaper 111 Mohammed alwatan Journalist He was fired Taqawi newspaper 112 Younes Mansoor alwatan Journalist He was fired newspaper 113 Hamed Hayat alwatan Director of He was fired newspaper production department 114 Aziz Abdulrasool alwatan head of archive He was fired newspaper department 115 Amar Mahdi alwatan officer at He was fired newspaper archive depatment 116 Hasa Albnnai alwatan Officer, He was fired newspaper Department of Printing 117 Ahmed Sarhan alwatan Port, He was fired newspaper Department of Production

Bahrain Press Association 23 Chapter V: Report Calls We are calling on the United Nations, Heads of States, Governments, all International communities and associations especially those concerned with human rights to take rapid and effective measures based on the documentations contained herein to prevent and repress the occurrence of torture against press people, defend their rights, and hold those who committed violations against them accountable for their actions. Calls to reach: 1.The King of Bahrain, Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa – Royal Court 2.The Premier of Bahrain, Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa – Prime Minister Court 3.The Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa – Crown Price Court

Bahrain Press Association 25 First Report on Press People 26

1-The International Wasat and Al Bilad newspapers, came Al-Jazeera. “The ILO is doing whatever it under severe political pressure, including can with the government and other social Federation of Journalists banning advertising in Al Wasat, to get rid partners to find a way forward so that (IFJ) of staff members who opposed political people can return to their jobs.” interference. Senior journalist Mansour Al ------IFJ Calls for End to Intimidation Jamry, editor -in-chief of Al Wasat and his IFJ Condemns Brutal Assault of Campaign against Journalists colleagues Walid Nuwayhid, the paper’s Journalist by Police in Bahrain in Bahrain editing manager and Akil Mirza, member of the Bahraini Journalists Association 26 May 2011 18 may 2011 (BJA), an IFJ affiliate, lost their jobs in http://mena.i#.org/en/articles/i#- http://mena.i#.org/en/articles/i#-calls- this campaign which affected at least 68 condemns-brutal-assault-of-journalist- for-end-to-intimidation-campaign- media staff, according to the report. by-police-in-bahrain against-journalists-in-bahrain Mansour will go on trial this week along The International Federation of Journalists with three other senior staff charged with (IFJ) today joined its affiliate in Bahrain, The International Federation of publishing false information about the the Bahrain association of Journalists Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the police crackdown, a charge which carries (BJA) in condemning the savage beating widespread intimidation campaign a one-year prison sentence, media reports and inhuman treatment of reporter targeting journalists who work for say. Nazeeha Saeed who was arrested on 22 newspapers which are critical of the The IFJ is deeply concerned by the May over the story she had filed about the Bahraini government. The IFJ accuses situation of the Bahraini journalists who repression of anti-government protesters. the authorities of systematic harassment have been caught up in this crackdown, The female reporter, who was covering of media in the wake of recent anti- whether they are in detention, awaiting the uprising for France24 and Radio government protests and says that at least trial or on the run in exile and calls on the Monte Carlo in the of Douar el loulou area 68 journalists working for two leading government to rescind all measures which , suffered severe injuries at the Rafa police Bahraini newspapers, Al Wasat and Al violate the rights and the independence station where she was badly beaten by Bilad, have been singled out for sacking, of media. her interrogators. She also bore torture arrests and charges for treason. Others “We urge the authorities to re-establish marks, according to the reports. were forced into exile to escape arrest in the climate of respect for press freedom ”We are appalled by this senseless and the on-going clampdown. which the right of the public to accurate cruel treatment of a working journalist “There is an appalling campaign to information requires, “added Boumelha. and we urge the Bahraini authorities to silence dissent in Bahrain and journalists “This won’t happen unless and until hold accountable the officers involved,» have become the prime targets,” said Jim all detained journalists are set free, said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President. «The Boumelha. “The authorities are resorting outstanding warrants of arrest and brutal behaviour of security forces to interference in media affairs and blatant charges cancelled, the ban on advertising towards Saeed shows there is no end intimidation to control information and in Al Wasat lifted, journalists who have to media repression in Bahrain and the stifle independent reporting. This must be been unfairly dismissed reinstated and world must make it clear that these Appendix I: Press exposed and resisted.” an independent commission of inquiry gross violations of peaceful protesters›, Reports say that the Bahraini authorities set up to investigate reports of journalists’ women›s and journalists› rights will not statements and have embarked on a hunt fdr the deaths in detention.” go unpunished“. government’s critics and arrested several In the meantime, the massive dismissals of Media reports say that Saeed was journalists, on allegations of betraying workers suspected of involvement in the summoned to the Rafa police for reports issued the country. One report on the media anti-government protests have prompted questioning over her report on the death crackdown in Bahrain entitled ‘ Journalists the International Labour Organisation of Ali Abdelhassan who was allegedly by IFJ, RWB, CPJ, in Bahrain: The murder of Free Speech (ILO) to warn the Bahraini government killed by security forces during the anti- and the Siege of Freedom’ says that those that these measures threaten to tarnish government protests of 17 February BCHR, Amnesty, arrested include the Al Wasat reporter the country’s record of “progressive 2011. She was detained for 12 hours Haidar Mohammad and blogger Zakariya policies towards labour in the Gulf region”. during which she reportedly was savagely The Independent, Al Oushayri who is reported to be one The organisation has, however, welcomed beaten up and tortured. After her release, of the two journalists who died while in the decision to establish a joint committee the French consulate arranged for the and Pen detention. to review all dismissals. journalist to receive medical treatment in More journalists were sacked from their “Bahrain stands out as a country with an France due to the gravity of her condition. jobs after management of public and independent trade union movement,” ILO The BJA has also called for a full International private media in Bahrain, particularly Al Deputy Director General Guy Ryder told investigation into the allegations of torture

Bahrain Press Association 27 First Report on Press People 28 and requested from the authorities a copy 2-REPORTERS WITHOUT Rights (FIDH) meanwhile reported that of the complaint made by the reporter, the military prosecutor general issued a stressing the need for transparency and BORDERS decree on 28 March – Decision No.5 of independence in the investigation in this 2011 – under which the publication of any case. Bahraini and Syrian information about ongoing investigations The IFJ has accused the Bahraini authorities try to impose news by military prosecutors was banned on government of widespread intimidation blackout, kidnapping in Yemen national security grounds (http://www. and systematic harassment against fidh.org/Bahrain-risk-of...). The decree journalists which have already led to the 4 April 2011. Updated on Thursday 26 May reinforces the arsenal of measures arrests and sackings of at least 68 media 2011. that authorities can use to silence any personnel in the country since the start of http://en.rsf.org/bahraini-and-syrian- reporting about human rights violations. the protests for political reforms. authorities-04-04-2011,39946.html CNN journalists Scott Bronstein and Taryn The Federation is taking part in a protest Fixel were briefly detained on 29 March visit to the embassy of Bahrain in Brussels Reporters Without Borders condemns while interviewing Nabeel Rajab, the head today. The protest, jointly organised the Bahraini government’s attempts to of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, at by the IFJ, the International Trade impose a news blackout on the ongoing his home. Union Confederation (ITUC), Education demonstrations and the police crackdown. Reporters Without Borders also International (EI) and the Belgian trade Closure of opposition media, forced condemns the harassment of Bahraini unions ACV/CSV, ABCC/FGTB and ACLVB/ resignation of senior media personnel, bloggers. Photos of bloggers and human CGSLB. The organisers will deliver a harassment of local journalists and rights activists labelled as “traitors to letter calling ,among other measures, foreign TV crews, intimidation of Bahrainis the homeland” have been circulating for the immediate release of all detained who talk to foreign journalists, arrests of on the Internet for several days. They trade unionists, teachers, journalists and bloggers, government propaganda and include Mahmood Al-Yousif and Manaf workers as well an end to all harassment military court orders – the authorities are Al-Muhandis, who were arrested on 30 against trade unions leaders and activists resorting to all possible means to limit March and were released the following and respect for press freedom. coverage of the protests and to smear day. their organizers and participants. Mohamed Al-Maskati, who blogs under Yesterday, the information ministry the name of Emoodz, is still being held announced the closure of Al-Wasat, an in an unknown location since his arrest opposition newspaper founded in 2002. also 30 March. After blogging actively in Access to its online version was also the past few weeks and posting videos of blocked. The day before, the national recent events on his blog (http://emoodz. television programme “Media Watch” com/) and on Twitter (http://twitter. had accused Al-Wasat of trying to harm com/emoodz), he was threatened by a Bahrain’s stability and security and of presumed member of the royal family, disseminating false information that Mohd Al-Khalifa (https://twitter.com/#!/ undermined the country’s international MohdSAlkhalifa). Since his arrest, he has image and reputation. been able to contact his family only once, The Information Affairs Authority, the on 31 March. government agency that regulates the Khalifa meanwhile continues on Twitter media, subsequently gave Al-Wasat (https://twitter.com/#!/MohdSAlkhali...) permission to resume publishing from to threaten anyone calling for Makati’s today but three of its most senior release: “#FreeEmoodz anyone that’s journalists – editor Mansour Al-Jamari, living in Bahrain and is supporting the managing editor Walid Nouihid and local terrorist emoodz, will have his IP address news editor Aqil Mirza – were forced to taken and will get arrested!” resign. The board of directors announced There is still no news of Ali Abdulemam the appointment of Abidily Al-Abidily to and Sayid Yousif Al-Muhafdah, two replace Jamari as editor. bloggers who disappeared on 16 March, Jamari told the Associated Press that and Abduljalil Al-Singace, a blogger the government was trying to silence who was arrested the same day. The independent media in Bahrain. blogosphere has reported the silence of The International Federation for Human several of its members without knowing

Bahrain Press Association 29 First Report on Press People 30 whether they have been arrested or reported that the military prosecutor Co-founder of independent on 13 April, people removed the clothes have gone into hiding to escape the general issued a decree on 28 March – newspaper dies in custody to verify the torture allegations. Photos police crackdown. Reporters Without Decision No.5 of 2011 – under which the and video posted online show his body Borders urges the government to end its publication of any information about in Bahrain, some journalists covered with cuts and bruises. hate campaign against bloggers and to ongoing investigations by military freed in Syria and Libya Founded in 2002, Al-Wasat was banned immediately release all those it is holding. prosecutors is banned on national on 3 April, one day after the national ------security grounds. The decree reinforces 18 April 2011. television programme “Media Watch” No concessions to media as the arsenal of measures that authorities http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-co-founder-of- accused it of trying to harm Bahrain’s independent-18-04-2011,40037.html indiscriminate repression can use to silence any reporting about stability and security and disseminating human rights violations. Reporters Without Borders hails the false information that undermined continues in countries with The public prosecutor meanwhile decided release of the Syrian blogger Wassim the country’s international image and pro-democracy protests yesterday to press charges against the Hassan by the authorities in Damascus. reputation. The Information Affairs three senior Al-Wasat journalists who He had been held since 14 April. Authority, a government agency that 12 April 2011. Updated on Wednesday 6 were fired on 3 April for alleged “serious The press freedom organization also regulates the media, reversed this decision July 2011 abuses” including publishing fabricated notes the release of the Syrian journalist and gave Al-Wasat permission to resume http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-no-concessions- news that undermined the country’s Rana Akbani in Libya. Her family says publishing on 4 April but three of its most to-media-as-12-04-2011,40009.html international image and reputation. the Libyan authorities freed her on 14 senior journalists were forced to resign The three – editor Mansour Al-Jamari, April. A resident in Libya for the past 15 and were summoned for questioning by Reporters Without Borders strongly managing editor Walid Nouihid and local years or so, Akbani works for the arts and the agency (http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-no- condemns netizen Zakariya Rashid news editor Aqil Mirza – said they had been culture section of the Libyan newspaper conces...). Hassan’s death in detention on 9 April, sent a summons by fax by the Information Al-Shams. In the Al-Libya TV interview, As previously reported, the netizen six days after his arrest on charges of Affairs Authority, a government agency which has been posted online (http:// Zakariya Rashid Hassan died in detention inciting hatred, disseminating false news, that regulates the media. almanaramedia.blogspot.com/2...), on 9 April, seven days after his arrest on promoting sectarianism and calling for Their problems began on 2 April, when presenter Hala Misrati accuses her of charges of inciting hatred, disseminating the regime’s overthrow in online forums. the national television programme “Media lacking objectivity, lying in her coverage false news, promoting sectarianism and He moderated a now-closed forum Watch” accused the newspaper, which of street demonstrations in Benghazi and calling for the regime’s overthrow in providing information about his village of was founded in 2002, of trying to harm of collaborating with foreign countries. online forums. He moderated a now- origin, Al-Dair. His family has rejected the Bahrain’s stability and security. The next (read http://en.rsf.org/libya-syrian-jour...) closed forum (http://www.aldair.net/ interior ministry’s claim that he died as a day, the information ministry announced BAHRAIN forum/) providing information about his result of sickle cell anemia complications. its closure. After the three had been Reporters Without Borders is outraged village of origin, Al-Dair. His family has Three other netizens are still detained. forced to stand, the Information Affairs to learn that Karim Fakhrawi, one of the rejected the interior ministry’s claim that They are Fadhel Abdulla Ali Al-Marzooq Authority reversed this decision and founders of Bahrain’s only independent he died as a result of sickle cell anemia (arrested on 24 March), Ali Hasan Salman announced that Al-Wasat could resume newspaper, Al-Wasat, and a member of complications (http://en.rsf.org/bahrain- Al-Satrawi (arrested on 25 March) publishing and distributing on 4 April. its board, died in custody on 12 April, one no-conces...). and Hani Muslim Mohamed Al-Taif Two Iraqi journalists who had worked for week after his arrest. The exact cause of ------(arrested on 27 March). Marzooq and Taif the newspaper since 2005, Raheem Al- death has yet to be established. Seizures of newspapers, smear moderated forums in which Internet users “A total of four people have now died in Kaabi and Ali Al-Sherify, were deported campaigns against journalists could discuss the ongoing events. Satrawi the same day. custody,” Reporters Without Borders said. was a forum member. There is no news of Reporters Without Borders has learned “Bahrain’s authorities are responsible for in Yemen, arrests in Bahrain Abduljalil Al-Singace, a blogger arrested all these places of detention. They must of the arrests of two photographers last 27 April 2011. on 16 March. month. They are Mujtaba Salmat, who account for these deaths and respond to Reporters Without Borders is also worried the allegations of systematic mistreatment http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-seizures-of- was arrested on 17 March, and Hussain newspapers-smear-27-04-2011,40111. that Nabeel Rajab, the head of the Abbas Salim (also known as Hussain Al- or even torture of detainees. We call for Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, has an independent investigation into the html Khal), who was arrested on 28 March. BAHRAIN been accused by a military prosecutor Both are members of the Bahraini exact causes of Fakhrawi’s death. Those of posting a “fabricated” photo of the responsible must be arrested and tried.” Haider Mohamed Al-Noaimi, a blogger Photography Association. They had been and journalist who works for various injuries inflicted on Ali Isa Saqer, one of taking photos of the demonstrations A Shiite businessman and member of the two people who died in detention on 9 opposition party Al-Wefaq, the 49-year- media including the opposition in Pearl Square. Salmat had posted newspaper Al-Wasat, was arrested by April. Rajab posted the photo on Twitter some of them on Facebook. The sports old Fakhrawi, died of kidney failure, the same day, saying Saqer had died as according to the authorities, but his about 30 men who came to his home on journalist Faisal Hayat was arrested on 8 the evening of 24 April and confiscated a result of mistreatment while in police April for participating in the 14 February family disputes that, insisting that he was custody. in good health at the time of his arrest. his computer and cameras before taking movement. His photo was displayed on him away. They reportedly hit him during As previously noted, theInternational state TV with the label “traitor.” While his body was being taken for Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) burial in the Hoora district of Manama the raid. His Facebook profile, where he

Bahrain Press Association 31 First Report on Press People 32

News photographers among evidence presented by the prosecution. crackdown’s latest targets The defendants are being tried before a special Manama court under martial 17 May 2011. law. The same court sentenced four http://en. rsf. org/ bahrain- demonstrators to death last month. posted his articles, has been blocked since A few releases in Syria, foreign news- photographers- among- The head of the pro-democracy and civil 3 April. Another Al-Wasat journalist, Nada media still targeted in Bahrain crackdown-17-05-2011,40301.html liberties movement Al Haq, Singace used Al-Wadi, was detained and questioned for Many photographers who have been his blog to denounce the deplorable around 10 hours on 20 April. 11 May 2011. covering the pro-democracy protests state of civil liberties in Bahrain and Ahmed Yousif Al-Dairy, a netizen who has http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-a-few-releases- taking place in Bahrain since mid-February the discrimination against its Shiite been detained with his two sons since 1 in-syria-foreign-11-05-2011,40268.html have been arrested in the past few days. population. April, has apparently not been getting By carrying out these targeted arrests, Anmar Kamal Al-Dine, a 24-year-old the treatment he needs for his diabetes. Reporters Without Borders condemns the Bahraini authorities are trying to limit netizen who blogs on the social network His lawyers have not been able to see yesterday’s decision by the Bahraini media coverage of their crackdown on Twitter as @anmarek, was meanwhile him and the authorities continue to say authorities to expel German journalist the protests, especially coverage in the arrested on 12 May and was held for 24 nothing about the case. Like Zakariya Frederik Richter, the Reuters international media. hours. He has been posting photos of Rashid Hassan, who died in detention on correspondent in Manama since 2008, Reporters Without Borders calls for demonstrations on Twitter, especially 9 April after being tortured, he was one for alleged bias in his coverage of the the immediately release of these the funerals of demonstrators in March of the moderators of the forum Aldair pro-democracy protest movement. He photojournalists and all the other people and April during which many arrests (http://www.aldair.net/forum/). His family has been given a week to leave. “Reuters who have been arrested for circulating were made. His Twitter account has been fears he may have suffered the same fate. regrets Bahrain’s decision to expel its information about the demonstrations inaccessible since his arrest. ------correspondent,” editor-in-chief Stephen and the ensuing government crackdown. Abbas Al-Murshid, a prominent freelance King Hamad Ben Aissa Al Khalifa Adler said, adding that the agency stood Mohamed Salman Al-Shaikh, a freelance columnist and writer who also participates 3 May 2011. Updated on Friday 29 April by his reporting. photographer who heads the Bahrain in several online forums, was arrested 2011. The Information Affairs Authority Society of Photography, was arrest in his after being summoned for questioning at http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-king-hamad- nonetheless insists that it is not closing home in Sanabis, a village west of Manama, 6 p.m. yesterday. He managed to contact ben-aissa-al-khalifa-03-05-2011,40139. down Reuters’ operations in Manama on 11 May. He is a member of several his family today to let them know that html and is prepared to accredit another international photography organizations he is being held. He is well known for Since the start of the country’s pro- correspondent appointed by the agency. and has won many international prizes. the views he has expressed on sensitive democracy movement, the government Monica Pietro of the Spanish daily El Three photographers were arrested on subjects in recent months. In 2009, he was has tried to control news about the Mundo was denied entry on arrival at 15 May. One was Saeed Abdulla Dhahi, injured in the right eye by a rubber bullet protests and the excesses of police and Manama airport on 9 May and was sent who was arrested at his home in Juffair, fired by riot police. troops. Foreign journalists have been back to Spain the next day. Read her southeast of the capital. His photographic Mattar Ibrahim Mattar, a parliamentary arrested and deported, others have account in Spanish: http://www.elmundo. equipment was seized during searches of representative of the Al-Wefaq party who been unable to get entry visas and es/elmundo/2011/.... his home and the home of his fiancée. He often talks to the international media Bahrainis wanting to tell them what is Reporters Without Borders strongly was the freed the next day. about the current repression in Bahrain, happening have been threatened. Free- condemns the government’s attempts The other two arrested on 15 May were was arrested on 2 May, after giving an speech activists have been hounded and to obstruct news media that are trying Ali Abdulkarim Al-Kufi, a member of the interview to Al-Jazeera the previous prosecuted, photographers, bloggers and to cover the pro-democracy protests Bahrain Society of Photography, and day in which he stressed the danger of netizens arrested (one of them dying in in Bahrain and urges it to allow foreign Hassan Al-Nasheet. opposition leaders being arrested. prison), journalists forced to resign from journalists to enter the country and work The third hearing in the trial of 21 The following are still detained: the main opposition paper and called without any restrictions. human rights activists and opposition t'BZTBM
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Bahrain Press Association 33 First Report on Press People 34

Amid international west of Manama, on 11 May. Photographer to the newspaper together with bogus Crackdown continues in indi!erence, targeted Nedhal Nooh, a member of the Bahrain phone numbers from the same IP address Bahrain, bloggers go on trial in Society of Photography, was summoned in what appeared to be a deliberate plot repression continues in for interrogation on 18 May in West Riffa to get the newspaper to publish wrong Emirates Bahrain and Yemen (a city to the south of the capital). He has information. 16 June 2011. been held ever since. Founded in 2002, Al-Wasat was banned http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-crackdown- 24 May 2011. on 3 April, one day after the national continues-in-bahrain-16-06-2011,40467. http://en. rsf. org/ bahrein- Fadel Habib, a columnist who writes television programme “Media Watch” html amid- international- mainly about educational issues for Al- accused it of trying to harm Bahrain’s indifference-24-05-2011,40337.html Wasat, was arrested at a check-point stability and security. The Information Regime officials have reportedly taken on 20 May and was released last night. Affairs Authority, a government agency over the Facebook and Twitter pages In the past few days, the authorities have Naziha Saeed, a journalist who works for that regulates the media, reversed this of Rasad News, a major source of news arrested more photographers and photo- Radio Monte-Carlo and France24, was decision and gave Al-Wasat permission to about human rights violations in Bahrain, journalists who had been covering the summoned and interrogated for nearly resume publishing on 4 April under new and are posting anti-protest and pro- pro-democracy demonstrations taking 12 hours on 22 May. She has often talked editors. The newspaper’s board initially regime material after the arrest on 9 June place in Bahrain since mid-February. about the government-orchestrated announced that the newspaper would of Hussein Ali Makki, administrator of the The aim of these targeted arrests is to repression in the foreign media in recent close, but subsequently said it would pages. Rasad News has since opened a limit the dissemination of news reports, months. continue operating. new Facebook page to continue its work. photos and video of the protests and the The photo-journalist Mazen Mahdi was Another hearing that was held on 22 May PalTalk, an audio and video chat group government crackdown. summoned and questioned for two in the trial of 21 human rights activists that was becoming increasingly political, Reporters Without Borders calls for the hours on 22 May, mainly about his Twitter and opposition members. After witnesses especially one chatroom called Bahrain immediate release of these photographers activities during demonstrations, his work gave evidence, the court adjourned Nation, has been blocked since the and of all the other people who have for DPA and his alleged links with Lebanese until 25 May. The defendants present in beginning of the month. been arrested for circulating information and Iranian media. He was handcuffed court included the blogger Abduljalil Al- Access to a new anti-government news about the protests and repression. The and blindfolded, beaten several times Singace. Fellow blogger Ali Abdulemam, site, http://bahrainmirror.com, has been press freedom organization also calls and threatened with torture. Mahdi was regarded as one of the country’s Internet blocked since 5 June. on the courts to overturn the conviction previously detained briefly in March for pioneers, is also a defendant but he Ali Omid, administrator of an online forum of Hassan Salman Al-Ma’atooq, a taking photos of thugs smashing shop is being tried in absentia. Despite the arrested on 10 May, was released on 22 photographer who has been sentenced windows. judge’s instructions to the contrary, it May but is still liable for prosecution. to three years in prison. Reporters Without Borders has learned seems that most of the detainees have Mattar Ibrahim Mattar, a member of that Ali Abdulkarim Al-Kufi, a member been in solitary confinement. parliament for the Al-Wefaq party and Reporters Without Borders has learned of the Bahrain Society of Photography, The following are still detained: leading pro-democracy activist, was that a military court imposed the sentence and Hassan Al-Nasheet were released on t'BZTBM
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Bahrain Press Association 35 First Report on Press People 36

Journalist deported, others two of which were linked to his work as life sentences. Thirteen others received Massacres continue far from tried in Bahrain, reporter a photographer: fabricating photos of sentences ranging from two to 15 years cameras in Syria and Yemen, injured people and disseminating false in prison. Ali Abdulemam, a blogger who kidnapped, others hounded in photos and information. was tried in absentia, was given 15 years. situation stabilizes in Bahrain Yemen Many journalists, photographers and “The only crime committed by 7 July 2011. Updated on Friday 8 July cyber-dissidents are currently detained in Abdulemam and Al-Singace was 2011. 22 June 2011. Bahrain. Those still held include: freely expressing opinions contrary to http://en.rsf.org/massacres-continue-far- http://en.rsf.org/bahrain-journalist- those of the government,” Reporters from-07-07-2011,40614.html deported-others-tried-22-06-2011,40503. Ɣ Faysal Hayyat, Ali Jawad, Abdullah Without Borders said. “These sentences, html Alawi and Jassem Al-Sabbagh, who were handed down at the end of trail that BAHRAIN arrested after being forced to resign from flouted defence rights, are typical of the Reporters Without Borders hails King Finian Cunningham, an Irish journalist the newspaper Al-Bilad. intransigence that the authorities have Hamad Ben Issa Al Khalifa’s announcement and writer who has been living in Bahrain Ɣ Ali Omid, Hani Al-Tayf, Fadel Al-Marzouk, been showing towards those identified as on 29 June that the prosecution of civilians for years, was “invited to leave” by the Hossein Abdalsjad Abdul Hossein Al- government opponents, who have borne before military courts is being ended and Bahraini authorities, Reporters Without Abbas, Jaffar Abdalsjad Abdul Hossein Al- the full brunt of their repression. The that their cases are being transferred Borders has learned. He returned to Abbas, Hamza Ahmed Youssef Al-Dairi and international community must call the to civilian courts. The press freedom Ireland on 19 June. Ever since the start Ahmed Youssef Al-Dairi, who were online government to account on its strategy of organization calls on the authorities to of the pro-democracy movement in forum administrators and moderators. stifling all dissent.” drop all charges, including civil charges, mid-February, he had been actively Ɣ Hossein Abbas Salem, a photographer. The head of the pro-democracy and civil against journalists and all other persons commenting on developments, especially Ɣ Abbas Al-Murshid, a freelance journalist, liberties movement Al Haq, Singace was who were arrested during protests. the government-orchestrated crackdown, writer and contributor to several online rearrested on 16 March after being held The organization also urges the courts to and had been giving many interviews. forums, who was arrested on 16 May. from September to February. He was quash the jail sentences that a military Ɣ Mohamed Salman Al-Sheikh, the previously arrested in 2009 for allegedly court passed on 22 June on 21 defendants Cunningham told Reporters Without president of the Bahrain Society of trying to destabilize the government accused of belonging to “terrorist” Borders he had a tourist visa that was Photography, who was arrested on 11 because he used his blog (http://alsingace. organizations and trying to overthrow due to expire in July, but the authorities May. katib.org) to denounce the deplorable the government. Eight of them, including notified him that it had been cancelled Ɣ Mohamed Ali Al-Aradi, a photographer state of civil liberties and discrimination the human rights activist and blogger because of his journalistic activities. They with the newspaper Al-Bilad, who was against Bahrain’s Shiite population. Abduljalil Al-Singace, received life warned him that he could be summoned arrested on 8 May. sentences. Thirteen others received for interrogation if he did not leave within Ɣ Abdullah Hassan, who had recently Abdulemam is regarded by fellow sentences ranging from two to 15 years in 48 hours. been fired from the newspaper Al-Watan. Bahrainis as one of his country’s Internet prison. The blogger Ali Abdulemam, who He was arrested on 14 May. pioneers and is an active member of was tried in absentia, also received a 15- The trial of Jameel Hassan Al-Shuwaikh, Ɣ Hussein Ali Makki, the editor of the Bahrain Online, a pro-democracy forum year jail sentence. a photographer for the opposition group Facebook and Twitter pages of Rasad that gets more than 100,000 visitors a day Reporters Without Borders has learned Al-Wefaq, began before a military court News, an important source of news about despite being blocked within Bahrain. A of the release of the following journalists on 14 June. 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sentenced by court martial on 12 May of them, including human rights activist arrested on 18 March, was released on 2 to three years in prison on four charges, and blogger Abduljalil Al-Singace, got July.

Bahrain Press Association 37 First Report on Press People 38 t.PIBNFE
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participating in illegal demonstrations, Reporters Without Borders hails the France 24 correspondent photographer who was arrested on 8 May, disseminating false information on online release of Faysal Hayyat, a sports journalist tortured for covering pro- was released on 29 June. forums and inciting hatred against the who was arrested on 8 April, although he The obstacles to media freedom and government. His request to be freed on is still facing charges of “sports crimes.” democracy demonstrations journalists’ freedom of movement had not bail was denied. Security officers present A military prosecutor issued a statement Monday 30 May 2011. however ended. Two foreign journalists in the courtroom refused to let his wife saying he would be tried according to http://en. rsf. org/ bahrain- were detained for two hours on 3 July. and lawyer talk to him although the judge established legal procedures. No trial date france- 24- correspondent- had given his permission. He is to be tried has so far been announced. tortured-30-05-2011,40374.html BAHRAIN : Disturbing wave by court martial on 7 July. The blogger Ali Omid has also been of prosecutions on eve of Abdullah Alawi and Jassem Al-Sabbagh, released but seven other netizens When Nazeeha Saeed, the Bahrain two journalists who were arrested and eight journalists, including three national dialogue correspondent of France 24 and Radio after being forced to resign from the photographers, continue to be detained. Monte Carlo Doualiya, was summoned newspaper Al-Bilad, are being prosecuted To read: http://en.rsf.org/bahrain- 30.06.2011 to a police station in the city of Rifa’a for on charges of publishing false information disturbing-wave-of-prosecutions- English : http://en.rsf.org/bahrain- questioning at midday on 22 May, she and photos, and participating in illegal on-30-06-2011,40556.html disturbing-wave-of-prosecutions- expected to be back home two hours demonstrations. The second hearing in on-30-06-2011,40556.html later and had no inkling of the nightmare their trial was held on 23 June. Reporters Without Borders accuses the MIDDLE-EAST : Preventive awaiting her. As already reported, a military court authorities of continuing to crack down arrests and “German chair” for On arriving at the police station, she took imposed jail sentences on 22 June on 21 on journalists and media freedom in a seat and waited calmly. Other women, people accused of belonging to terrorist detainees in Syria violation of the spirit for the national mainly nurses, were also waiting, sitting organizations and trying to overthrow dialogue that King Hamad Ben Issa Al- 26.07.2011 on the floor. the government. Eight of them, including Khalifa wants to begin tomorrow with the English : http://en.rsf.org/preventive- An hour later, she was called. She entered the human rights activist and blogger aim of relaunching political reforms after arrests-and-german-26-07-2011,40696. an office where there was a male officer. In Abduljalil Al-Singace, were given life the unrest that began last March and the html a quiet but unsettling voice, he told her to sentences. The other 13 got sentences ensuing repression. French : http://fr.rsf.org/bahrein- answer the questions that would be put to ranging from two to 15 years in prison. Journalists and media are still being arrestations- preventives- et- her. He then left her with a female officer, The blogger Ali Abdulemam, who was prosecuted before military courts, chaise-26-07-2011,40695.html who accusing her of “lying” in her reports tried in absentia, got 15 years (http:// although the state of emergency was Bahrain and told her to admit her links with the en.rsf.org/bahrain-one-blogg...). lifted on 1 June. The authorities are During a news conference at Manama’s Hezbollah TV station Al-Manar and the The authorities are keeping reporting also maintaining strict control over the Ramada Hotel on 14 July, the journalist Iranian Arabic-language TV station Al- about the ongoing trials under strict circulation of news and information and Reem Khalifa was violently attacked by Alam. “You must confess,” the woman control, maintaining a ban on coverage of are pumping out propaganda aimed at government supporters, who accused kept repeating, going on to accuse her national security cases. The government both Bahraini and foreign media. her of using violence. Like many other of participating in the pro-democracy news agency BNA publishes a daily Reporters Without Borders calls for journalists, Khalifa is constantly harassed demonstrations that have taking place in summary of some of the ongoing trials, a response from the international by the regime’s supporters and often gets Bahrain since March. but trials involving any journalists other community that includes the dispatch of telephone death threats. An hour later, she was taken to another than those with Al-Wasat are usually a United Nations special rapporteur to She has been a target ever since a news office. There, a woman police officer ignored. Bahrain. conference by foreign minister Khalid mocked and insulted her. When Nazeeha The authorities announced on 14 June Bahrain Society of Photography president bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa on 17 February ignored her, the policewoman grabbed that they were going to bring a lawsuit Mohamed Salman Al-Sheikh, a freelance at which she expressed outrage at the her by the chin, held it hard, and slapped against British journalist Robert Fisk, the photographer who was arrested on 11 government’s violent crackdown on the her with the other hand. “You must tell London-based Independent’s Middle East May, was brought before a military court initial demonstrations and talked of a me the truth,” she screamed, continuing correspondent, in the United Kingdom for in Riffa, the second largest city, on 28 “massacre.” The secretary-general of the to slap her and then seizing her by the waging a “defamatory and premeditated June. His family was not told about at Gulf Cooperation Council attended the hair and throwing her to the ground. media campaign” against Bahrain and for the hearing and therefore was unable to news conference. Four policewomen proceeded to slap, alleged bias and unprofessionalism in his organize his defence. No information has ------punch and kick her repeatedly. One of the coverage of recent events. been released about the charges being women took her shoe and forced it into Fisk has repeatedly criticized the trials of pressed against this journalist, who has her mouth. “You are worth less than this doctors and nurses accused of supporting won many international awards. shoe,” she said. the anti-government protests. He also Abbas Al-Murshid, a freelance journalist With the shoe still in her mouth, she was reported that Saudi military forces and writer who was arrested on 16 May, dragged to yet another office, where she invaded Bahrain without waiting for an was brought before a judge on 27 June was blindfolded and was initially made invitation from the Bahraini authorities. and was told that he was charged with to stand. Then she was forced to kneel

Bahrain Press Association 39 First Report on Press People 40 on a chair, facing the back of the chair, for 45 days, pending trial. The Committee to Protect Journalists exposing her back and the soles of her The head of the police station nonetheless 3-CPJ called on Bahraini authorities today to feet, which were now beaten repeatedly asked to see Nazeeha. He told her he conduct an immediate and transparent with a piece of flexible black plastic was very surprised to find her there and Al-Wasat founder dies in investigation into the death in state tubing. As she cried out with pain, a pretended not to know she had been custody in Bahrain custody of Karim Fakhrawi, left, founder police officer kept shouting “Shut up and interrogated. She was allowed to phone and board member of Al-Wasat, the answer my questions” without asking any her mother and was finally allowed country’s premier independent daily. questions or without giving her time to to return home. But she has not yet Fakhrawi died Tuesday, a week after say anything. recovered from the ordeal. She continues he was apparently taken into custody, She continued to be accused of lying and to suffer physical and psychological after- according to news reports. Human rights of “harming Bahrain’s image.” The blows effects. defenders told CPJ that Fakhrawi had kept on coming. The blindfold finally fell The interior ministry subsequently gone to a police station on April 5 to from her eyes and she noticed the male announced proceedings against those complain that authorities were about to officer, the one who had spoken to her responsible for the mistreatment. bulldoze his house. initially, coldly observing the scene. Nazeeha gave an account of her ordeal Earlier this month, the government Nazeeha was then taken to a room to the military prosecutor in charge of the accused Al-Wasat of “deliberate news where there were other women, nurses, investigation. fabrication and falsification.” Since then, who were awaiting their turn to be She is currently in France receiving the government has announced it will interrogated. medical care and is due to return to file criminal charges against three of the After a while, she was taken back for Bahrain tomorrow. paper’s senior editors and has deported another interrogation session. The Reporters Without Borders is appalled two other senior staffers. nightmare resumed. Blindfolded again, by the way this journalist was mistreated Fakhrawi is one of numerous investors she was told to bray like a donkey and to and urges the authorities to carry in Al-Wasat, local journalists told CPJ. He walk like an animal. A new humiliation. out an independent and transparent is also a book publisher, the owner of And she was beaten again. At one point, investigation that sheds all possible light one of Bahrain’s biggest bookstores, and a woman held a plastic bottle against her on this shocking and disgraceful episode. a member of Al-Wefaq, Bahrain’s chief mouth. “Drink, it’s urine,” the woman cried, Those responsible should be charged opposition party. pressing her lips against the mouth of the and tried, as should those in the chain of Bahrain’s official news agency said on its bottle. Nazeeha managed to knock the command who were involved. Twitter feed that Fakhrawi died of kidney bottle out of the policewoman’s hand, but This young woman’s case gives a glimpse failure. Photographs published online, the policewoman picked it up and poured of the treatment of journalists by security however, show a body identified as that of part of its contents over her face. Nazeeha forces in Bahrain. The list of detained Fakhrawi with extensive cuts and bruises. did not know what it was, but it stung her reporters, photographers and cyber- “The crackdown on dissent in Bahrain face. dissidents keeps on getting longer amid has taken a deadly turn with two deaths She was taken to another office and was complete indifference on the part of the in custody in unexplained circumstances forced to kneel on a chair again. The soles international community. in less than a week,” said Mohamed Abdel of her feet, her back, her arms and her Dayem, CPJ’s Middle East and North head were again beaten with the plastic Africa program coordinator. “The Bahraini tube. authorities must clarify how they reached She was taken back to the room where the conclusion that Karim Fakhrawi died other women were waiting and the of kidney failure when photographs show blindfold was removed. When she his body covered in cuts and bruises.” recovered the use of her eyes, she saw Online journalist Zakariya Rashid Hassan that it was past midnight. All the women, al-Ashiri also died under mysterious including Nazeeha, were now allowed to circumstances while in government go to the toilet and were brought food. custody. Authorities claimed that al- They were also brought documents to Ashiri, who died April 9, had suffered New York, April 15, 2011 sign, without being able to read them. complications from sickle cell anemia. Al- http://www.cpj.org/2011/04/al-wasat- Nazeeha signed. Ashiri was the first Bahraini journalist to founder-dies-in-custody-in-bahrain.php The policewoman who had initially die in direct relation to his work since CPJ received her at the police station checked began keeping detailed death records in all the women with a stethoscope and 1992. told them they would be sent to prison

Bahrain Press Association 41 First Report on Press People 42

Bahrain expels CNN reporter, He was freed after three hours. and Time magazine; Haley Sweetland be the prelude to intensified repression detains WSJ correspondent Numerous cases of harassment and Edwards, a contributor to the Los Angeles of local journalists seeking to cover the obstruction have been reported in Times; Joshua Maricish, a photographer; protests in Yemen,” said CPJ Deputy New York, March 17, 2011 Bahrain this week after the government and Portia Walker, a contributor to The Director Robert Mahoney. “We call on the http://www.cpj.org/2011/03/bahrain- invited Saudi and United Arab Emirates Washington Post. The four were brought authorities to revoke these expulsions expels-cnn-reporter-harasses-journal- troops to help contain demonstrations by before immigration authorities who and allow all journalists to work freely.” corre.php the country’s Shiite majority. A crackdown ordered their expulsion for “national In Bahrain, security forces and men on protests in Manama and the arrests of security reasons.” The Times identified in plain clothes beat Mohammed al- Bahraini authorities expelled a CNN several opposition leaders have followed. Holmes and Walker as British, Maricish Mukharaq, a photographer working reporter and briefly detained another A local journalist told CPJ that police and and Edwards as American. for the independent daily Al-Wasat, international reporter on Wednesday military forces blocked access to areas “I’m positive that this is related to the fact according to news reports and local amid an intensified crackdown on where protesters were being cleared. that all four of us have been reporting journalists. Mukharaq, wearing a vest that political unrest. The Committee to Protect The journalist, who spoke on condition about the upswing of violence against carried the name of his newspaper, told Journalists condemns the Bahraini of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said protesters,” Holmes told the Times by CPJ he was covering a demonstration on government’s ongoing obstruction of mobile telephone service appeared to phone from the airport. Edwards said Sunday in Manama when a group of 20 or news media and calls for authorities to be interrupted near Pearl Square, a main their expulsion was a clear indication that more men approached, beat him, crushed allow journalists to cover this story of protest site. the crackdown against protesters will his camera and mobile phone. Mukharaq international import. Elsewhere in the ------intensify “and there’s no one here who’s said he suffered extensive bruising. region, anti-press attacks and harassment As unrest bubbles, Bahrain going to see it.” Local journalists told CPJ that a list called continued to be reported in Morocco, and Yemen obstruct press Reporter Patrick Symmes and the “Bahrain list of dishonor,” is circulating Yemen, and Libya. photographer Marco Di Lauro, on online and identifying 25 people as “Governments in Libya, Bahrain, Morocco, New York, March 14, 2011 assignment for Outside, a U.S.-based “collaborators aiming to sell their country.” and Yemen are obstructing or attacking http://www.cpj.org/2011/03/as-unrest- travel and adventure magazine, were The author is unclear. CPJ, which reviewed journalists in an effort to prevent local and bubbles-bahrain-and-yemen-obstruct- detained Saturday by security agents, the list, found the names of at least nine international audiences from accessing press.php Symmes told CPJ. Although they had press critical journalists, including Mansour critical information,” said Mohamed Abdel visas, they were put on a flight to Istanbul. al-Jamri, editor-in-chief of Al-Wasat; Dayem, CPJ’s Middle East and North Authorities in Yemen and Bahrain are “It is obvious that we are being expelled Abduljalil Alsingace, a Bahraini blogger Africa program coordinator. “We call continuing to obstruct news coverage of simply to prevent the chance that we are and human rights activist; Ali Abdel Imam, on the authorities in these countries to ongoing political unrest, the Committee in any way capable of learning what is a Bahraini blogger; and Qasem Hussein, a stop harassing the media and release all to Protect Journalists said today as it happening in Sana’a,” Symmes told CPJ in critical columnist. One journalist whose detained journalists.” called on the two government to allow an e-mail. Symmes said they were working name appears on the list told CPJ: “I don’t Bahrain’s Ministry of Information expelled journalists to work without reprisal. In on a travel article and had repeatedly feel safe anymore. I’m receiving threats via CNN correspondent Mohammed Yemen, at least six international journalists emphasized to authorities that “we have phone telling me that they will stab me in Jamjoom on Wednesday after he had were expelled since Saturday, according not asked to cover demonstrations, and the back and my name is also on the list.” reported on the forcible dispersal of to news reports and CPJ interviews. In have not done so.” The journalist asked not to be identified protesters in Manama, the journalist Bahrain, security forces and plainclothes Government supporters continue to for fear of reprisal. reported on air. “We kept trying to find men attacked an Al-Wasat photojournalist intimidate local reporters. On Saturday, “Reports of the existence of a ‘Bahrain out why; they would not say. They insisted covering a demonstration in the capital, a group of about 20 people believed list of dishonor’ are deeply troubling,” that I had to go,” Jamjoom reported, Manama. to be government supporters went to CPJ’s Mahoney said. “The authorities must saying an information ministry official Yemeni security forces today raided the Journalists Syndicate in Sana’a and condemn this list and ensure the safety of escorted him to the airport. Other CNN a Sana’a apartment shared by four threatened to burn it down, according to all journalists.” journalists remain in Bahrain, the network international journalists, The New York two local journalists and an item posted ------said. Also Wednesday, Bahraini soldiers Times reported. The Times identified on the syndicate’s website. detained Wall Street Journal reporter Alex the journalists as Oliver Holmes, a “We are alarmed by the expulsion of Delmar-Morgan, the newspaper reported. contributor to The Wall Street Journal foreign journalists and fear that it may

Bahrain Press Association 43 First Report on Press People 44

Bahraini blogger dies in custody. Bahraini authorities, meanwhile, “If the case against Al-Wasat and its coverage of the political turmoil,” said custody; journalists under announced that they would file criminal journalists is not a politicized witch-hunt, Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ’s Middle East charges against three senior editors at prosecutors must seriously investigate the and North Africa program coordinator. k attac the Gulf kingdom’s premier independent paper’s claims that they were duped into “The authorities must cease all hostile acts daily, continuing a months-long pattern publishing false information, which was against journalists immediately and allow of violence, harassment, and intimidation later used as a pretext for manipulating the press to work freely and securely. “ against journalists covering widespread the country’s premier independent Bahrain: civil unrest. CPJ documented other attacks publication,” CPJ’s Abdel Dayem said. t"DDPSEJOH
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Bahrain Press Association 45 First Report on Press People 46

Arabsat, the network reported on the Coordinator Mohamed Abdel Dayem. his human rights advocacy multiple times clear this was not a simply a case against air. It continues to broadcast from other “Through its actions, the government in recent years, according to CPJ research. bloggers, human rights activists, and satellites. of Bahrain has displayed a stunning CPJ has documented dozens of cases members of the political opposition. This t1SPUFTUFST
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disregard for due process and basic of journalist detentions in Bahrain, the was a trial intended to silence critical radio station and are broadcasting live human rights. It is now incumbent death in custody of two journalists, voices such as that of al-Khawaja, who online, according to Foreign Policy. “The on the international community, and the shutdown of the country’s premier has a long record defending the Bahraini radio commentary itself is gripping, with particularly the kingdom’s closest allies, independent daily, arbitrary deportations, people’s rights. breathless amateur announcers calling to unambiguously convey to Bahrain that an orchestrated smear campaign against Al-Khawaja founded the Bahrain Center on the international media to cover such blatant contempt for basic rights will independent journalists and activists, for Human Rights, which has been what ‘the criminal Qaddafi’ is doing and not be tolerated.” and a large number of physical assaults characterized by the International warning fellow Libyans about ‘foreign The trial, ongoing since early May, has against reporters since mid-February. Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) as a mercenaries,’” the magazine reported. been plagued by legal and procedural ------strong defender of press freedom and the ------shortcomings, CPJ research shows. Local, Kings, queens, and torture in freedom of expression in Bahrain. In Bahrain, extraordinary regional, and international rights groups Bahrain Al-Khawaja has defended the rights of tribunal sentences bloggers to have also documented irregularities. the bloggers he has now been convicted life The accused were tried by the Court http://cpj.org/blog/2011/06/kings- alongside. In 2005, he said: “Ironically, the of National Safety, an extraordinary queens-and-torture-in-bahrain.php old press law did not include electronic New York, June 22, 2011 tribunal made up of civilian and military Queen Margrethe II of Denmark visited media. But when the term ‘electronic http://www.cpj.org/2011/06/in-bahrain- judges established after the imposition Bahrain in February at the invitation media’ was inserted into the 2002 press extraordinary-tribunal-sentences-blogge. of martial law in Bahrain in March. The of King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa. As law, this gave the authorities capacity to php court, described by some legal experts part of the official program, the queen control electronic media without clear as unconstitutional, has continued to honored Hamad with the “Storkorset af constraints.” The Committee to Protect Journalists operate after the lifting of martial law Dannebrog,” the second highest Danish Last year, according to Danish-based condemns today’s politicized verdict in in May. Additionally, family members of royal order. Although the visit took International Media Support (IMS), al- which 21 bloggers, human rights activists, the detained men, the Bahrain Center for place about two weeks before Bahraini Khawaja led the IMS-supported Arab and members of the political opposition Human Rights, and international human authorities began a violent crackdown Working Group in monitoring Bahraini were found guilty of plotting to topple rights groups have reported that the court on protesters, Bahrain has long had a media’s coverage of the country’s the monarchy. Today’s court ruling further refused to hear testimony or examine troubled human rights and press freedom elections in October 2010. Jesper Højberg, cements 2011 as the worst year for press evidence of torture. International record. The current crackdown includes executive director of IMS, described al- freedom in Bahrain since the island observers said they were not allowed serious attacks on the press. Khawaja as “a key player in the fight for kingdom declared its independence in to attend multiple sessions of the trial, The queen’s visit was not the only recent human rights and a free and fair media in 1971. despite government assurances that they event in Bahrain creating headlines in Bahrain.” Among the 21 men convicted are two would be able, CPJ research shows. Danish news media and in the human Al-Khawaja, who was arrested and badly bloggers, Abduljalil Alsingace and Ali Abdel Imam, a leading online journalist, rights community. As CPJ reported last beaten on April 9, was one of 21 people Abdel Imam, as well as prominent human was initially arrested in September on week, bloggers Abduljalil Alsingace and found guilty of antistate charges, most rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. charges of spreading “false information” Ali Abdel Imam were convicted alongside significantly “organizing and managing a Alsingace and al-Khawaja were sentenced while Alsingace, a blogger and human prominent human rights activist terrorist group for the overthrow and the to life imprisonment, while Abdel Imam rights activist, was detained in August Abdulhadi al-Khawaja in the Bahraini change of the country’s constitution and was sentenced to 15 years in prison after accusations of having abused “the Court of National Safety, a special tribunal the royal rule” and “attempting to incite in absentia, the official Bahrain News freedom of opinion and expression composed of civilian and military judges and solicit the overthrow and change the Agency said. They were found guilty of prevailing in the kingdom,” an unnamed established after the imposition of martial country’s constitution and royal rule by 12 anti-state charges, most significantly security official told local media. Both law in March. Back in 1991, al-Khawaja force.” “organizing and managing a terrorist were released as part of a royal amnesty in obtained political asylum in Denmark In May, Joe Stork, deputy Middle East group for the overthrow and the change late February after the eruption of social and later received Danish citizenship. director at Human Rights Watch, said: of the country’s constitution and the royal unrest. Both men were then rearrested Al-Khawaja and his family returned to “It appears that Abdulhadi al-Khawaja’s rule” and “attempting to incite and solicit in March. Al-Khawaja, one of Bahrain’s Bahrain in 2001, news reports said, and jailers tortured him during the month they the overthrow and change the country’s most prominent human rights activists, he continues to hold dual Bahraini-Danish held him in incommunicado detention.” constitution and royal rule by force.” is the founder and former director of the citizenship. Human Rights Watch has documented the “The charges against Alsingace, Bahrain Center for Human Rights. He is Alsingace and al-Khawaja were sentenced routine use of torture by Bahraini security Abdel Imam, al-Khawaja, and their also the former regional director of the to life imprisonment, while Abdel Imam officials during similar interrogations in 18 codefendants are nothing more Dublin-based international human rights was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in political and security-related cases. than political score-settling,” said CPJ organization Frontline Defenders. He has prison, the official Bahrain News Agency According to the Bahrain Center for Middle East and North Africa Program been arrested and tortured in relation to said. During the politicized trial it was Human Rights, al-Khawaja told his family

Bahrain Press Association 47 First Report on Press People 48 about one of the instances of abuse Earlier in April, the authorities accused Al- arbitrary confiscations, seized shipments Bahrain has intensified its crackdown when he was given a few minutes to talk Wasat of “deliberate news fabrication and of several independent publications. On on media since imposing a state of with them after a May 16 hearing. That falsification.” Since then, the government Friday, Republican Guards confiscated emergency last month, CPJ research week, al-Khawaja said, he was driven has announced it will file criminal a shipment of unknown size of the shows. to an undisclosed location where he charges against three of the daily’s senior independent weekly Al-Shahid, and “Alleging bias in Al-Wasat’s coverage was questioned, in a room with a video editors and has deported two other staff 8,000 copies of the independent weekly without providing credible evidence camera, by a man who said he represented members. Karim Fakhrawi, founder and Al-Yaqeen in the southern cities of Aden to support such a claim is laughable,” the king. The man asked al-Khawaja board member of Al-Wasat died in state and Taiz, the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ’s repeatedly to apologize to the king. custody on April 12 under suspicious said. Middle East and North Africa program When al-Khawaja refused, he was taken to circumstances. Zakariya Rashid Hassan ------coordinator. “Bahrain has previously another room where four men threatened al-Ashiri, who moderated and wrote for Bahrain manipulates daily; hurled unsubstantiated accusations of to rape him and rape his daughter, human a website that covers news and other attacks in Libya, Iraq, Yemen bias in order to silence critical media, rights defender Maryam al-Khawaja. The developments in his village, also died most prominently against Al-Jazeera last four men undressed themselves and under suspicious circumstances while in New York, April 4, 2011 year when the government wanted to groped al-Khawaja, he said. government custody on April 9. http://www.cpj.org/2011/04/bahrain- shut the channel’s local bureau. Back in February, the Danish newspaper “We are concerned for the safety of manipulates-critical-daily-attacks-in-liby. Lotfi al-Messaoudi, one of four Al-Jazeera Politiken said, the Danish queen told Haidar Mohammed al-Nuaimi,” said CPJ php journalists detained by Libyan authorities, reporters at a press conference in Bahrain Middle East and North Africa Program was released and arrived in Tunisia on that she did not see “any reason” to Coordinator Mohamed Abdel Dayem. The Bahraini government continued its Sunday night, the Qatar-based news reconsider her visit in the country. The “The Bahraini government must clarify attempts at muzzling critical media with station reported. Al-Massaoudi, along queen continued: “In Bahrain, it is obvious the reasons for his arrest and account the Ministry of Information ordering with colleagues Ahmed Vall Ould Addin, they worry about the situation in the immediately for his whereabouts. This the country’s premier independent Kamel Atalua, and Ammar al-Hamdan, entire region. It was evident; the King is is doubly urgent after a publisher and daily temporarily shut down on Sunday. were arrested in mid-March and freed on paying attention to what is going on.” a blogger died in state custody and the The Committee to Protect Journalists Thursday only to be re-arrested on the ------authorities failed to convincingly explain condemns the Bahraini government’s same day. The three journalists remain in Bahrain detains columnist; 4 the two deaths.” strong-arm tactics, which effectively custody, according to Al-Jazeera. At least located in Libya Elsewhere in the region: forced a change in a prominent paper’s seven local journalists who spoke critically In Libya, American photographer James editorial management. In Libya, Iraq, and of government policies remain missing New York, April 25, 2011 Foley, who was detained near Brega on Yemen, independent and critical media amid wide speculation that they are in the http://www.cpj.org/2011/04/bahrain- April 5, was permitted to call his family continue to be targets for government custody of forces loyal to Qaddafi. detains-columnist-4-located-in-libya- on Saturday for the first time since his intimidation and harassment, CPJ research “We are relieved that Lotfi al-Messaoudi yemen.php capture, Global Post reported. He told his found. has been released, but remain concerned mother that he was being treated well Al-Wasat did not appear on newsstands on about the fate of the other missing and The Committee to Protect Journalists and was uninjured, according to the same Sunday and its online edition was disabled, detained journalists in Libya,” said CPJ’s called on Bahraini authorities to disclose report. Spanish photographer Manuel according to local and international news Abdel Dayem. the whereabouts of Haidar Mohammed Varela, who was detained with Foley, was reports. The Information Ministry accused On Sunday, Libyan authorities ordered al-Nuaimi, a columnist for daily newspaper also able to call his family, his father told Al-Wasat of “deliberate news fabrication London’s Daily Telegraph correspondent Al-Wasat. Roughly 30 uniformed and CPJ. and falsification during the recent unrest Damien McElroy to leave Tripoli, according plainclothes police raided al-Nuaimi’s Anton Hammerl, a freelance South African that gripped the Kingdom of Bahrain,” to news reports. The Libyan government family home in Manama today, dragging photographer and Clare Morgana Gillis, the official Bahrain News Agency provided no justification for its action. On him into the street and beating him, local an American freelancer, appeared in reported. On Monday, president of the Wednesday, the government expelled journalists told CPJ. government custody on Friday and are Information Affairs Authority, Shaikh Reuters correspondent Michael Georgy, Al-Nuaimi was then taken to an unknown apparently in good health, CPJ research Fawaz bin Mohammed al-Khalifa, lifted who had been covering the conflict for location, according to the same accounts. shows. the ban after the paper’s editor-in-chief, several weeks. Again, no reasons were A Facebook page in support of Al-Wasat On Sunday, Yemeni security forces Mansoor al-Jamri, Managing Editor Walid given for the expulsion. recounts the same events in Arabic. surrounded the home of Mohammed al- Nouwaihidh, and Local News Director In Iraq today, security forces arrested On Thursday, Amani al-Muskati, another Lawzi, a reporter for independent daily Aqeel Mirza stepped down. Murtadha al-Shahtour, media director of reporter with Al-Wasat, was detained at Akhbar Al-Yawm, according to the Yemeni “Resigning was a difficult decision but Al-Nasiriyya’s police department and a the Bahrain International Airport upon her Journalists’ Syndicate. Local journalists it is what was needed to safeguard the regular contributor to the independent return from Egypt. Al-Muskati was later told CPJ that no one was arrested and that newspaper and the livelihood of its staff,” daily Azzaman and other news websites. transferred to a Manama police station authorities gave no reason for the three- al-Jamri told CPJ. “The paper has been On January 2, al-Shahtour published for interrogation and then released a few hour-long siege. subjected to a relentless campaign of an article on the website Kitabat in hours later, local journalists told CPJ. Yemeni authorities, in an echo of past intimidation by the authorities.” which he criticized government policies

Bahrain Press Association 49 First Report on Press People 50 related to security issues. Kitabat said Journalists detained in blogger and Internet freedom advocate. Manama hotel on Thursday evening. The that al-Shatour’s detention stems from Bahrain, Egypt “We call on Bahraini authorities to release press conference ended prematurely after the January 2 article; the Journalistic our detained colleagues without delay,” government supporters and journalists Freedoms Observatory (JFO), a local press New York, March 30, 2011 said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ’s with state media outlets bullied delegation freedom group, concurred. http://www.cpj.org/2011/03/journalists- Middle East and North Africa program members, as well as independent and Security forces arrested Raya Hamma detained-in-bahrain-egypt.php coordinator. “Government officials must critical journalists, according to CNN. Karim, a correspondent for the recognize that journalists don’t create When Khalifa tried to interview a member independent weekly Hawlati and Niyaz A CNN crew was detained today in unflattering news; they simply report it.” of the delegation she was repeatedly Abdullah, a journalist and a board Manama while interviewing a prominent Editor’s note: This alert was updated in interrupted by a small group of pro- member of JFO, in Iraqi Kurdistan today, Bahraini human rights defender, according paragraph three to report the release of government medical practitioners, who news reports said. Both were covering to a Twitter posting by the network and a the four journalists in Bahrain. followed and taunted her, according to student protests at a university in Arbil. CPJ interview. The detentions come amid ------Khalifa and corroborating testimony by In Yemen, Ahmad al-Aghbry, a journalist a recent series of repressive actions by CPJ calls on Bahrain to other journalists who were present. working for the official SABA News the Bahraini government, which included end harassment of critical An argument ensued and Khalifa reached Agency and a member of the Yemeni today’s arrest of a well-known blogger. journalists to take a camera away from a woman Journalists’ Syndicate, told CPJ that he Anti-press actions were also reported who was haranguing and filming her. received an email that it interpreted as a in Egypt, Syria, and Libya, CPJ research New York, July 19, 2011 Described by various news outlets as threat. In the email, the sender accuses al- shows. http://cpj.org/2011/07/cpj-calls-on- a physician or a nurse, Hind al-Fayez Aghbry of possessing information about CNN tweeted this evening from Bahrain bahrain-to-end-harassment-of-critical. claimed that Khalifa had hit her. CPJ’s an upcoming terrorist attack, adding that a crew had been detained at the php review of the video footage and still that he would be held accountable for home of Nabeel Rajab, president of the shots from it indicate that Khalifa did not it, al-Aghbry told CPJ. The syndicate Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Rajab The Committee to Protect Journalists strike al-Fayez. On Sunday, Khalifa was condemned the threat, and called on the told CPJ that the crew included CNN calls on Bahrain to end harassment and summoned by the public prosecutor for Interior Ministry to seriously investigate journalists Scott Bronstein and Taryn Fixel, contrived legal proceedings against questioning and was released pending this and similar previous threats. CPJ has along with an unidentified cameraman. critical journalists. Since February, critical an investigation, according to local news documented dozens of threats made He said a fourth journalist, an unidentified journalists have been intimidated, reports. Khalifa denied all accusations and against journalists during the past two documentary filmmaker, was also interrogated, smeared in government- filed a counterclaim for insult and invasion months in person, on the telephone, and detained. owned and -aligned publications, and of privacy. over email. Rajab said masked men in seven police harassed and sued by government Meanwhile, state media have engaged Reuters said that Syrian authorities cars descended on his home. “They supporters. in a smear campaign against Khalifa, freed its Damascus-based photographer pushed me against the wall, insulted me Reem Khalifa, a journalist for the much- reporting on the incident as if she had Khaled al-Hariri on Sunday, six days after and ordered me not to say a word,” Rajab harassed Arabic-language daily Al- committed a crime and had been found detaining him. Al-Hariri was the last of told CPJ. “Then they proceeded to ask Wasat and a contributor to other local guilty of it. Al-Watan, Al-Ayyam, Akhbar al- five Reuters journalists who had been the journalists who they worked for and and international media, has been the Khaleej, Al-Bilad¸and the official Bahrain detained incommunicado by Syrian told them that they would be taken for target of harassment, intimidation, and News Agency all described her as an authorities in the past two weeks. All interrogation.” The journalists were freed a coordinated smear campaign; ,most assailant and most attached misleading have since been released. On Friday, hours later, a CNN spokesman said. recently she was also charged with still shots from the video that insinuate two correspondents for The Associated Prominent Bahraini blogger Mahmood al- verbally abusing and physically assaulting that Khalifa had struck al-Fayez. Press were ordered to leave the country Yousif was also detained today, according a government supporter, according to Khalifa has frequently been a target with less than an hour’s notice, the news to a local journalist and the blogger’s local news reports. of government supporters on social agency reported. CPJ continues to track brother. On his blog, al-Yousif regularly “Bahrain’s government has a responsibility networking sites. In some instances, the cases of a handful of local journalists wrote about Bahraini politics, society, to protect journalists from those who anonymous individuals wrote entries who have been rounded up in Syria, either and recent demonstrations. Police resort to threats of violence, intimidation, tracking her whereabouts, indicating while reporting or from their homes. arrested al-Yousif at his home around 3 or fabricated criminal charges to influence where she could be harassed. In one ------a.m., according to his brother, Jamal,who coverage,” said CPJ Middle East and North posting, a Twitter user announced when posted details on Twitter. Africa Program Coordinator Mohamed and where Khalifa picks up her children Al-Yousif was among the first journalistic Abdel Dayem. “The government should from school, imploring readers to “go say bloggers in Bahrain, according to CPJ halt the smear campaign in pro- hello.” research. He was also the administrator government publications against critical Khalifa is not alone; CPJ research reveals of JustBahraini, a website that featured journalists.” that numerous critical journalists have a campaign against sectarianism and Khalifa was at a press conference held by been subjected to the same tactics, was closed by the government in 2009, an Irish delegation of medical, political, including local journalists Maryam al- according to Jillian York, a U.S.-based and human rights practitioners at a Shrooqi, Lamees Dhaif, Naziha Saeed,

Bahrain Press Association 51 First Report on Press People 52

Mazen Mahdi and international journalists Mohammed Fadel and Fredrick Richter. 4- Others Al-Shrooqi, who has been subjected to Bahrain Center for politicized legal proceedings in 2009 for Front line exposing institutional discrimination Human Rights against Shia and writing about other Journalist harassed after press politically sensitive topics, has faced brie"ng in Bahrain Bahrain: Continued intimidation in recent months. On July 7, harassment of journalists al-Shrooqi, who is also employed by the Posted on 2011/07/17 Ministry of Education, was summoned for http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/ http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/ interrogation at a school by the director node/15539 node/4396 of private education, the journalist l to r, Khalid Ibrahim, Senator Averil said. For three and a half hours, she was Power, Professor Eoin O’Brien Dsc, MD, 16 July 2011 aggressively questioned about an alleged FRCP(Lond), FRCP(Edin) and Professor The Bahrain Center for Human Rights allegiance to Shia citizens and about Damian McCormack Mch, FRCS Orth. condemns the continued harassment of her writings for the daily Al-Wasat, the Following a press briefing organised by the journalists in Bahrain. Journalist Reem journalist said. Irish delegation of medical, political and Khalifa was recently harassed, insulted, Thousands of Bahrainis have been human rights figures at the end of their visit and had her privacy violated by pro- demonstrating since February, calling to Bahrain on 14 July 2011 the journalist government members while attending a for increased political rights and an end Ms Reem Khalifa was surrounded by pro- press conference in Manama on 14 July to discrimination against the Shias, who Government protesters and abused and 2011. constitute the majority of the population harassed. The protesters then called the Journalist Reem Khalifa has been are politically underrepresented. police and claimed one of their number had increasingly targeted after speaking Aside from the campaign of harassment been struck on the jaw. Eye witnesses to the openly at a press conference[1] of the and intimidation against these critical encounter have testified that no person was Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheik Khalid bin journalists, since the uprising began, struck and that it was Ms Reem Khalifa who Ahmed Al-Khalifa on 17 Feb 2011. Khalifa CPJ has documented dozens of cases was the victim of harassment and that she said in front of local and international of journalist detentions in Bahrain; the then walked away from the confrontation in media attending the conference that death in custody of two journalists; the hotel lobby. what happened in Bahrain, referring to lengthy prison terms for critical bloggers; Further Information the attack on peaceful protestors at 3am the shutdown of the country’s premier The Irish delegation press briefing had been on 17 Feb 2011, was a massacre and independent daily; arbitrary deportations; disrupted by a small group of women who called on the King of Bahrain to intervene government-sponsored billboards and shouted repeatedly. Delegation members and put an end to the crisis. Amid her advertisements to smear journalists and were interviewed by a number of journalists emotional speech, she said that she was activists; and a large number of physical including Reem Khalifa at the end of the “shivering” because of what happened. assaults against reporters. briefing. When Reem Khalifa went to exit The FM tried to silence her as she spoke through the lobby of the Ramada Palace and her intervention was removed from Hotel she was surrounded by a small the playback on the State TV. The UAE group of women who shouted abuse at Foreign Minister and Secretary General her, seemingly because she had been of the Gulf Cooperation Council also undertaking her legitimate journalistic attended the conference. activity and interviewing members of the Since then, Reem Khalifa has been delegation. continuously targeted by pro-government ------supporters, particularly in social media, and received a death threat by telephone. She had to close her original twitter account (@reemkhalifa17) in February. The latest harassment directed at her took place on 14 July 2011 while she was attending the Irish delegation to Bahrain press conference around 7.30 pm at the Ramada Palace Hotel, Manama, Bahrain. Ten to 15 pro-government

Bahrain Press Association 53 First Report on Press People 54 doctors and reporters for the state-run meast/07/14/bahrain.irish.delegation/ will kill humiliation and assassinate misery al-Khalifas with a senior position in the media interrupted the Irish delegation [3]https://twitter.com/#!/MazenMahdi/ / Don’t you hear their cries, don’t you hear Bahraini security service. as they were briefing the press. The press status/91563720412631041 their screams?” Ayat al-Qarmezi was forced “I was taken many times to her office for conference was abruptly brought to a https://twitter.com/#!/MazenMahdi/ to turn herself over to the authorities on fresh beatings,” Ms Gormezi said. “She halt when a pro-government group of status/91610583274749953 30 March and was sentenced on 12 June would say, ‘You should be proud of the al- men and women[2] interrupted with https://twitter.com/#!/HussainMJawad/ by Bahrain’s National Safety Court of First Khalifas. They are not going to leave this objections. The group provoked Reem status/91800049809489920 Instance – a military court – to one year country. It is their country.’ “ Khalifa by forcing a confrontational http://bahrainmirror.com/article. in prison for taking part in illegal protests, The guards explained that it wasnot her encounter with the journalist, encircling php?id=1411&cid=74 disrupting public security and inciting regular job, but she had volunteered her and using abusive language, such [4]http://bahrainmirror.no-ip.org/article. hatred towards the regime. Ayat alleges to take part in questioning political as, “you are the shivering and weeping php?id=1397&cid=73 she was beaten and tortured with electric detainees. lady,” in reference to her intervention at ------shocks while she was imprisoned and Ms Gormezi was detained on 30 March the 17th Feb conference. One woman held in solitary confinement for the first at her parents’ house after spending two started filming Khalifa, and continued to Amnesty 15 days of her detention. weeks in hiding when the government, do so despite calls from her to stop. When Amnesty International: Amnesty International considered Ayat a backed by a Saudi-led force, started a Khalifa tried to to turn off the camera prisoner of conscience and called for her brutal crackdown on pro-democracy phone, the woman claimed to be hit. Bahrain: Further information: immediate and unconditional release and protests in mid-March. She had been Because the situation was heated, Khalifa Bahraini poet released for charges against her to be dropped. targeted by the authorities after she read left the hotel. ------out a poem at a rally in February which According to witnesses[3] , the woman, 15 July 2011 contained the lines: “We are the people who was laughing when Khalifa left the http://amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ Independent who will kill humiliation and assassinate MDE11/039/2011/ en/ a540f86e- hotel, claimed that she was hurt and Independent: Poet jailed in misery. We are the people who will punched in the jaw by Khalifa. She was b40a- 411c- 91d4- ebed74a507b3/ destroy injustice.” encouraged to convert laughter into mde110392011en.html protests claims she was beaten Addressing King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa weeping, and then called the TV crew A Bahraini poet sentenced in June for by Bahraini royal directly, she said of the Bahraini people: to record an interview of her giving an reading a poem was released on 13 July . “Don’t you hear their cries? Don’t you hear account of what happened. However, there are reportedly conditions Ayat al-Gormezi says she was their screams?” As she finished speaking The BCHR has learnt that the woman has attached to her release and Amnesty I tortured while in jail for reciting the crowd roared: “Down with Hamad!” filed a case against Reem Khalifa accusing nternational is calling on the authorities a poem at a pro-democracy Subjected to nine days of torture after her of physical and verbal assault. Khalifa to remove any that have been imposed , protest. Patrick Cockburn reports her detention, Ms Gormezi described has also filed a case against the woman to annul her conviction and to clarify her how she was beaten across the face with for verbal assault and for assault on her current legal status. 18 July 2011 electric cables, kept in a tiny, freezing cell personal privacy through persistent Ayat al-Qarmezi, a poet and university http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ and forced to clean lavatories with her filming of her and publishing the video student at the Faculty of Teachers in world/middle-east/poet-jailed-in- bare hands. All the while, she was beaten on the internet without permission. Bahrain, sentenced to one year in prison protests-claims-she-was-beaten-by- on the head and the body until she lost The Bahrain Press Association (London) for reading a poem, was released on 13 bahraini-royal-2315431.html consciousness. “Many of the guards were has issued a statement [4] to condemn July. Shortly after her release Amnesty A female member of the al-Khalifa royal Yemenis and Jordanians,” she said. The the continuation of the regime’s International talked to her lawyer and family in Bahrain has been accused recruitment of members of the Bahraini provocative practices against journalists family, who said that Ayat was well and of repeatedly beating the 20-year-old security forces from foreign Sunni states to hamper their work of professionalism happy to be free. However, her release is student poet Ayat al-Gormezi when she is one of the grievances of Bahrain’s Shia and impartiality.” It also said that “what reportedly conditional on not travelling was in prison accused of reciting a poem majority, which says it is excluded from happened with Reem Khalifa is a repeat outside Bahrain or speaking to the at a pro-democracy protest rally criticising such jobs. of previous incidents where the state media about her detention. The Military the monarchy. In a phone interview after her release, Ms deliberately sabotaged many press Prosecutor said that her release was at the In an interview with The Independent, Gormezi said she does not regret reading conferences.” request of the lawyer. The family received Ms Gormezi, who became a symbol of her poem in Pearl Square, the centre of t+PVSOBMJTUT
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July, but without providing any further to blindfold her, “I was able to see a woman attack on the King or the Prime Minister harassment and restrictions by Bahrain information on Ayat’s current legal status. of about 40 in civilian clothes who was but I was just expressing what the people authorities In February, while attending a pro-reform beating me on the head with a baton”. Ms want. I have written poetry since I was [1]http://www.youtube.com/ rally in Manama, Ayat al-Qarmezi read Gormezi later described her interrogator a child, but not about politics. I did not watch?v=gKNVlVpnUoQ out one of her poems, which she said was to prison guards, who, she said, promptly think it was dangerous at the time. I was [2]http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/ addressed to the King of Bahrain. Its lyrics named the woman as being one of the just expressing my opinion.” include the lines “We are the people who

Bahrain Press Association 55 First Report on Press People 56

After the crackdown on protesters properly married (the accusation stems Aljazeera Sending a message in Bahrain started in mid-March, the from the Shia institution of temporary On March 30, 20-year-old Ayat al-Qarmezi tall monument in Pearl Square was marriage and is often used as an insult by Arrests force Bahrain›s writers was arrested weeks after reading a poem demolished and even the Bahraini coin Sunnis). at Pearl Roundabout, the epicenter of showing it was withdrawn. Anybody “When they did ask me about the poem, into exile the protest movement. In her poem, supporting the protests was in danger they kept saying: ‘Who asked you to Journalists say they have been al-Qarmezi read the words: «We are of detention and torture. Ms Gormezi’s write it? Who paid you to write it?’” Ms the people who kill humiliation and family sent her to stay with relatives, Gormezi said. They insisted she must have targets of government repression assassinate misery. We are the people who which she “did not want to do. But after been ordered to do so by Shia leaders in since pro-democracy protests will destroy the foundation of injustice.» two weeks the security forces threatened Bahrain or was a member of a political began earlier this year. Al-Qarmezi also criticised the nation›s my family and I had to give myself up. As group, which she denies. monarchy and led chants condemning I was taken away in a car, my family were The interrogators also kept saying she by: Matthew Cassel sectarianism calling Sunnis and Shias told to pick me up at a police station the must owe allegiance to Iran. An obsessive 15 Jul 2011 «brothers». After her arrest, Amnesty following day, so they thought it was not belief that Shia demands for equal rights http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/ International said that freedom of speech serious”. in Bahrain must be orchestrated by Tehran features/2011/07/2011715122752588509. and assembly was «brutally denied to Her mistreatment started immediately. has long been a central feature of Sunni html ordinary Bahrainis». She said: “There were four men and one conspiracy theorists. “They kept asking On April 2, blogger Zakariya Rashid al- woman in the car, all wearing balaclavas. me: ‘Why are you loyal to Iran? Why are Writer Ali al-Jallawi says he was lucky to end Ashiri was arrested for spreading «false They beat me and shouted ‘you are going you not loyal to your own country?’” Ms up in exile and not in prison after leaving his news» and «inciting hatred.» After a few to be sexually assaulted! This is the last Gormezi said. “I said it was nothing to do native Bahrain in April. days in prison al-Ashiri died, authorities day of your life!’” They also made anti-Shia with Iran. I am a Bahraini and I was only Speaking by phone to Al Jazeera from a UK claimed that the cause was complications remarks. “I was terrified of being sexually trying to express what the people want.” border agency detention facility outside related to sickle cell anemia. assaulted or raped, but not of being After nine days in the interrogation centre, London, al-Jallawi, a published novelist On April 5, Karim Fakhrawi, a publisher, beaten.” Ms Gormezi was taken to a second prison and poet, said he would rather leave his board member of the independent The vehicle she was in, escorted by the in Isa town in Bahrain. For a week she was country than go to prison again. In 1993, daily al-Wasat and friend of al-Jallawi, army and police, did not immediately in solitary confinement and was given al-Jallawi was arrested and imprisoned for was arrested and died days later under go to the interrogation centre but drove medication so the signs of her beatings six months at the age of 17 for a poem he similar circumstances while in detention. around Bahrain. Another woman, whom were less visible. She was then taken to wrote criticising the monarchy. In 1995, he Authorities claimed his death was the Ms Gormezi said was a member of the a more general prison where physical was again arrested and served three years result of kidney failure. teachers’ organisation, was arrested and mistreatment stopped and there were for campaigning for civil and political rights However, relatives and human rights put in the boot of the car. Eventually, four other women. “After 16 days they in Bahrain, he said. advocates in Bahrain presented images it reached the interrogation centre, let me talk to my family,” she said. “It was «To get arrested for a third time is too showing bruises on the bodies of both which evidently doubled as a prison. Ms meant to be for three minutes but they let much,» said al-Jallawi. «I have a ten-year-old Fakhrawi and al-Ashiri, and accused Gormezi said the beatings never stopped: me talk for 10. Once they took me back to son who I want to spend time with. It›s too authorities of killing the men in detention. “Once they told me to open my mouth the first interrogation centre to record a much to spend more time in jail.» Al-Jallawi said about his friend›s death: and spat in it.” The first night she was put video apologising to the King.” Bahriaini writers - journalists, academics, «They want to send a message to anyone in a tiny cell. “It smelled awful and I could International protests and ensuing bad novelists, poets, bloggers, and others - have who tried to be against them: ‹we will kill not sleep because of the screams of a publicity for the Bahraini monarchy led been targets of state repression since pro- you. Go f**k off and shut up.›» man being tortured in the next cell.” to her treatment improving, according democracy protests began in February. The Bahrain government didn›t respond The second night she was placed in to her family. Ms Gormezi was brought The Sunni monarchy, a close ally of the US to Al Jazeera›s questions regarding its another cell with the two vents for air before a court on 12 June and sentenced and Saudi Arabia, has accused the mostly treatment of journalists. conditioning producing freezing air. She to one year in prison, a shorter sentence Shia protesters of being sectarian and trying Chasing the ‹wanted› was taken out for regular beatings. “I than her family had feared. Last week to spread Iranian influence in the country. Since the protests began, pro- was very frightened,” she said. “But I did she was called to an office in the prison Shias in Bahrain, who make up a majority government groups posted the names not think they would kill me because and told she was to be released on the of the population, are excluded from and pictures of individuals «wanted» by every time I lost consciousness from the condition that she should not take part in most high-level political positions and the the state on various websites. Many were beatings, they called a doctor.” other protests. security forces. called «traitors,» and accused of «inciting Surprisingly, for the first four or five days, ------After one month of protests, the violence» and «promoting sectarianism». the interrogators did not ask Ms Gormezi government declared martial law on March Many of those who didn›t turn about reading out her poem in Pearl 15 and invited troops from Saudi Arabia and themselves into authorities went into Square. They abused the Shia in general, the United Arab Emirates to help quell the hiding. «Wanted» men left their wives saying they were “bastards” and not demonstrations. and children to seek refuge, and others

Bahrain Press Association 57 First Report on Press People 58

stayed at home waiting for the inevitable respect your rights as a human,» al-Jallawi The release comes as the government is PEN INTERNATIONAL middle-of-the-night police raid to take said. «It›s not justice here but it›s the law, trying to engage the dialogue with some them. even if they kill people or separate them of the opposition. Groups and individuals BAHRAIN: poet and writer Al-Jallawi, who like al-Qarmezi was from their families.» who were part of the protest have guilty of reciting a poem at the Pearl One day later, the British government criticised dialogue attempts, demanding arrested; fears for safety. Roundabout, went into hiding with the deported al-Jallawi to Germany, where greater representation and the release of 7 June 2011 start of emergency law. After seeing he now waits in limbo as authorities there hundreds still in prison. http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/go/ «wanted» images of himself online, decide his fate. For al-Wadi, any dialogue between the news/bahrain-poet-and-writer-arrested- followed by a visit by security forces to his Halting journalism government and opposition groups fears-for-safety parents› home, he decided it was time to With many now outside Bahrain, writers «can›t be successful without critical and leave Bahrain. and journalists are organising themselves independent voices» being heard in the The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) Unable to flee by land - the causeway, with the hope of one day returning home. nation›s media. of PEN International is deeply concerned the only land exit, had been closed since On July 9, a group of exiled journalists Too soon to return about the arrests of poet and student Saudi troops entered over it - al-Jallawi met in London to form the Bahrain Press Some of the journalists who left Bahrain Ayat Al-Gormezi (f) and writer and and others could leave only from the Association to counter the government›s during the crackdown have since received journalist Abbas Al- Murshid who have airport. To his surprise, Al-Jallawi and at attacks on the media. invitations from the government to been held since 30 March and 15 May least seven other writers who he knows Co-founder and general secretary Nada return, al-Wadi said. However, most feel 2011 respectively. They are believed to were all able to leave. al-Wadi told Al Jazeera, «We felt the need it›s unsafe to return. be detained for their peaceful dissident The writers began their trip into exile by [as journalists] to unite ourselves ... our If the exiled writers were to go back then activities and have reportedly been traveling through Arab countries where main purpose is to speak on behalf of «they›ll tell the true story, and I don›t tortured in detention. PEN calls for their they didn›t need visas to visit. Eventually, journalists inside and outside Bahrain and know if [everyone in] Bahrain is ready to immediate and unconditional release and many ended up buying plane tickets to spread the word about what›s happening know what happened,» she said. seeks urgent guarantees of their safety. It destinations that transferred in London, to them.» Al-Jallawi said that something similar reminds the Bahraini authorities of their where they could go to airport authorities Al-Wadi, a journalist who had reported for happened in the 1990s when exiled obligations to protect the right to freedom and declare themselves political refugees the daily USA Today and other publications dissidents were invited back to the of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 seeking asylum. London has long been during the protests, was detained in April country, many of whom accepted the of the International Covenant on Civil and home to a community of exiled Bahrainis, and released only after signing a paper invitation have now been imprisoned Political Rights, to which Bahrain is a state all dissidents forced to leave the country saying that she would not write on or during the recent protests. party. over past decades. engage in any political activities. Before he would accept an invitation According to PEN›s information, Ayat Al- The asylum process worked for most. But Al-Wadi said that, «when detaining to return home, al-Jallawi wants the Gormezi, 20, was arrested on 30 March al-Jallawi, who had a visa to Germany journalists the authorities didn›t treat government to address the demands of 2011 after reading a poem at a pro- to attend a writers› conference, was them as journalists, [they were treated] as demonstrators and offer equal rights to democracy rally in Pearl Square in which detained by the UK border agency. protesters». Journalists were detained and all Bahrainis. she criticised the ruling family and asked Speaking to Al Jazeera on Tuesday, al- tortured, she said, and writers have either Until then, al-Jallawi said: «It›s like a house for transparency. She was forced to turn Jallawi said, «Unlike Bahrain, here it›s by had to stop practicing their profession or that›s going to fall, and you say to me, herself in when masked police threatened law. They insult you by law, deport you by leave the country. ‹come live in the house you will be safe.› to kill her brothers unless she did so. law, detain you by law. They take all your On Thursday, rights groups in Bahrain said I›m not going to trust you. Fix that house She has not been seen since her arrest, human rights by law.» that around 200 detainees were released and then ask me to come and I will come although her mother spoke to her once «I didn›t expect any of this. I thought I from prison, among them the poet Ayat with pleasure!». by telephone and Ayat said that she had came to a country where they would al-Qarmezi who remains under house ------been forced to sign a false confession. respect me as a writer, where the police arrest.

Bahrain Press Association 59 First Report on Press People 60

Her mother has since been told that her have responded with excessive force, daughter has been in a military hospital using tear gas and live bullets to disperse after being tortured. demonstrators. Dozens of civilians have Al-Gormezi appeared on 2 June 2011 reportedly been killed and many more before a military tribunal in Manama on wounded. The Bahraini government charges of «insulting the king, taking declared a State of Emergency on 15 part in banned gatherings, and spreading March 2011 and brought in troops from false information.» The trial has been neighbouring Gulf countries including adjourned until 12 June 2011, when a Saudi Arabia to help suppress dissent. The verdict is expected to be delivered. She is State of Emergency was lifted on 3 June the first woman to go on trial following the 2011 but the detainees arrested under unrest and it is feared she will face a heavy that law are still in detention. prison term if convicted. An exerpt of Ayat al-Gormezi›s poem follows, translated from the Arabic by Ghias Aljundi:

We do not like to live in a palace And we are not after power We are the people who Break down humiliation And discard oppression With peace as our tool We are people who Do not want others to be living in the Dark Ages

Abbas Al-Murshid, a well-known Bahraini writer and researcher, and a frequent contributor to the Bahraini daily Al-Waqt as well as numerous online publications. He has written about Bahrain›s social unrest, corruption, institutional discrimination and other topics considered sensitive by the government. He was summoned on 15 May 2011 to appear at Al-Naeim police station for interrogation and has not been seen since. No charges have yet been made against Al-Murshid. On 16 May 2011, he called his family to tell them that he had been placed under arrest and then the line was disconnected. Al- Murshid has been previously arrested on several occasions in relation to his writing and many of his books have been banned in Bahrain. At the end of January 2009, Al-Murshid was hit above his eye with a rubber bullet in a targeted attack and as a result he had to be admitted to hospital. Background Protests led by Bahrain›s majority Shia community against the government›s policies have been underway since mid- February 2011. The Bahraini security forces First Report on Press People 62