Bahraini Media People Arrested and Detained (as of 2/11/2015)

Here is a list of journalists, photographers and social media people currently detained in Bahrain (as of 2 November 2015), based on what we found online. Given the vague information we have at the moment, every comment or feedback would be highly appreciated.

Journalists and Photographers

Ahmed Humaidan, an award-winning photojournalist, is serving a 10-year prison sentence for reporting and photographing the pro-democracy demonstrations in Sitra in 2012. He has been incarcerated since December 2012, accused of taking part in an attack on a police station.

Jaffar Marhoon, photographer, was arrested on 26 December 2013. On 24 February 2015, the court sentenced Jaffar to life in prison.

Hussain Hubail, a freelance photographer, was arrested before boarding an international flight to Dubai on 31 July 2013. On 28 April 2014, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison under charges that include “using social media networks to incite hatred on the government”, “calling on people to ignore the law” and “calling for illegal demonstrations”.

Qasim ZainalDeen, a freelance photographer who had filmed opposition protests, was arrested from his home on 2 August 2013 and sentenced in December the same year to three months in prison for illegal assembly. In January 2014, he was sentenced to an additional six months imprisonment for a further charge of illegal assembly and vandalism. On 25 February 2015, the court of appeal upheld Qasim’s sentence of three years in prison.

On 4 September 2014, three journalists, Hussam Suroor (17 years), Ahmed Zainaldeen (20 years) and Mustafa Rabea (19 years), were arrested after their houses in Duraz were raided by security forces. They were subjected to enforced disappearance for up to five days following arrest. On 30 September 2015, the three journalists were sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegal assembly and for causing an explosion in Duraz. Ahmed Zainaldeen is awaiting court ruling in a separate case.

On 28 June 2015, the political activist Fadhel Abbas was sentenced to 5 years in prison for a tweet in which he denounced the war in Yemen, as he was accused of “spreading false information that could harm the military operations of Bahrain and its allies” in Yemen.

In December 2014 the main Shia opposition leader in Bahrain, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been jailed for four years for inciting hatred, promoting disobedience and “insulting” public institutions. The charges relate to a series of statements by Sheikh Salman made in a public speech last year.

Bloggers and Internet Activists

Abduljalil al-Singace, a Bahraini engineer, blogger and human rights activist, was arrested in 2011, and sentenced to life imprisonment for pro-democracy activism during the Bahraini uprising.

Jaleela al-Sayed was arrested on 10 February 2015 after security forces raided her house. She was charged with misusing social media, inciting hatred against the government and insulting the king on the social media website Twitter. Jaleela is currently held at the Isa Town Women’s Prison.

Blogger and Internet activist Ali Al-Mearaj was arrested on 6 January 2014 accused of misusing information technology and insulting the King in his blog “Awal Pearl”. On 9 April 2014, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison. His next appeal hearing is on 1 December 2015.

Jassim Al-Nuaimi, an Internet activist, was apprehended from his own house by masked security men on 31 July 2013. Four days after his arrest, he was sent to prison under the charges of inciting anti-government hatred and posting messages on social media calling for illegal demonstrations. During a hearing he testified he was not present in the country and that he had already sold his computer by the time the alleged messages were posted. On 28 April 2014, the criminal court sentenced Jassim to five years in prison.

In October 2015, security forces raided the house of Ebrahim Karimi. He was taken to the Criminal Investigation Directorate. Security forces interrogated Ebrahim about posts on the Twitter handler “FreejKarimi”. The public prosecution charged Ebrahim with, among others, inciting hatred against the government, insulting the king and misuse of social media. In 2012, the Government of Bahrain had revoked the citizenship of Ebrahim through an administrative decision and the court ordered him later to deportation which he is appealing.  

In September 2015, security forces arrested two Internet activists, the owner of the Twitter handlers “BuKhamis” and “HajiAhmed”. The Ministry of Interior announced that it had arrested them because of posts on Twitter deemed insulting to the country’s martyrs in Yemen, after they posted tweets in which they denounced and criticized Bahrain’s participation in the military operation in Yemen.

In January 2015, the Bahraini authorities arrested nine Internet activists for their posts on Twitter deemed critical of the late Saudi King Abdulla Alsaud. These men are: Mohammed Saeed Al Adraj, Mohammed Ahmed Ali, Yousif Fadhel Salman, Abas Ali Ahmed, Kameel Ibrahim Yousif, and Hussain Mohammed Ahmed. The Ministry of Interior stated that these individuals were arrested for “misuse of social media” and that they could face an imprisonment term of up to two years or a fine of up to BHD200 according to article 215 of Bahrain’s Penal Code which punishes with these terms whoever “offends in public a foreign country or an international organization based in Bahrain or its president or representative. The same penalty shall apply to a person who offends such organization’s flag or official emblem”.

Citizenship Revocations

In January 2015, the Government of Bahrain revoked the citizenship of 72 Bahrainis, of whom the majority were activists, on grounds of damaging national security. The list included four journalists and bloggers. They are: the founder of BahrainOnline forum, Ali Abdel Imam; founder and chief editor of Bahrain Mirror, Ali al-Dairi; journalist Abbas Busafwan; and blogger Hussein Yousef. The authorities stated that their citizenship was revoked because of “acts resulted in harming the Kingdom’s interest”, thus the measures were implemented in part to “preserve security and stability and fight the danger of terrorist threats”. It is the largest number of Bahrainis to be stripped of their nationality since 2013. 

Ivory Coast TV presenter accused of being 'moderate'

Ivory Coast authorities charged TV presenter Hermann Aboa for moderating a TV talk show favourable to former president Gbagbo (22^nd July 2011).

The Radiodiffucion Television Ivorienne (RTI) presenter is currently being held at the local police camp.

A prosecutor read out a 3 page list of offences listing numerous anti-state crimes as well as accusations of incitement and racial hatred. T

he programme Aboa is accused of moderating was a broadcast following the build up to the elections which exclusively featured guests favouring the then-president, Gbagbo, who had previously controlled the station.

The CPJ calls for his immediate release and for all charges to be dropped.

Media deaths 2011

The World Association of Newspaper and News Publishers
counts 29 media deaths so far this year.

These are the published results:

MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA: 13

Bahrain (1)
April 12
Karim Fakhrawi, founder and board member, Al-Wasat daily

Egypt (1)
February 4
Ahmad Mohamed Mahmoud, reporter, Al-Ta'awun

Iraq (4)
February 24
Mohamed al-Hamdani, correspondent, Al-Itijah TV

March 29
Sabah al-Bazi, correspondent, Al-Arabiya, CNN, Reuters

March 29
Muammar Khadir Abdelwahad, reporter, Al-Ayn news agency

June 21
Salem Alwan Al-Gharabi, cameraman, Afaq TV

Libya (5)
March 13
Ali Hassan al-Jaber, cameraman, Al-Jazeera

March 19
Mohamed Al-Nabbous, online TV broadcaster, Libya Al-Hurra TV

April 5
Anton Hammerl, photojournalist

April 20
Chris Hondros, freelance photojournalist

April 20
Tim Hetherington, freelance photojournalist

Tunisia (1)
January 17
Lucas Mebrouk Dolega, photographer, European Press Photo Agency (EPA)

Yemen (1)
March 18
Jamal al-Sharaabi, photojournalist, Al-Masdar weekly

AFRICA: 2

Democratic Republic of Congo (1)
June 21
Kambale Musonia, radio journalist, Radio Communautaire de Lubero Sud

Sierra Leone (1)
June 12
Ibrahim Foday, reporter, The Exclusive

AMERICAS: 5

Honduras (1)
May 11
Hector Francisco Medina Polanco, TV host, Omega Visión

Mexico (3)
March 25
Luis Emanual Ruiz Carrillo, photographer, La Prensa daily

June 1
Noel López Olguín, columnist, La Verdad de Jáltipan daily

June 20
Miguel Ángel López Velasco, deputy director, NOTIVER daily

Peru (1)
May 5
Julio Castillo Narváez, radio host, Radio Ollantay

ASIA: 9

India (2)
January 23
Umesh Rajput, reporter, Nai Duniya daily

June 11
Jyotirmoy Dey, investigative reporter, Mid-Day daily

Pakistan (5)
January 13
Wali Khan Babar, reporter, Geo TV

May 10
Nasrullah Afridi, journalist, Mashriq daily

May 31
Syed Saleem Shahzad, bureau chief, Asia Times Online

June 11
Asfandyar Abid Naveed, reporter, Akhbar-i-Khyber daily

June 11
Shafiullah Khan, trainee reporter, The News Peshawar Daily

Philippines (1)
January 24
Gerardo "Gerry" Ortega, radio host, DWAR Radio

Vietnam (1)
January 30
Hoang Hung, investigative journalist, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper

LINK: http://www.wan-ifra.org/articles/2011/06/24/29-media-employees-killed-in-2011

Sudan ranks low in Global Press Freedom Rankings

Freedom House have recently published their Freedom of the Press 2011, Global Press Freedom Rankings and Sudan has ranked 168^th (out of 196) in the world in terms of press freedom, with Finland coming out on top.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/images/File/fop/2011/FOTP2011GlobalRegionalTables.pdf

This is unsurprising as only a few days ago (19 June), the Sudanese justice system decided to keep Abuzar Ali Al-Amin in jail.

Al-Amin, who is the deputy editor of opposition newspaper, Rai Al-Shaab, was arrested in May last year, charged two months later and given a five year sentence. This was then reduced to one year but days before his scheduled release, new charges were brought against him for which he may face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

The National Intelligence and Security Services of Sudan have issued several complaints and thus Al-Amin is now allegedly facing charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal offences, attacks on the state aimed at undermining the constitutional system, publishing false information and irresponsible editing and journalism.

Reporters without Borders, who first published the story, say that these charges constitute psychological torture and have been brought against him ‘in a manner that is as illegal as the previous proceedings’.

Revolution for Belarus?

Belsat journalists Andrey Fralu and Mikalay Dzychenya, and cameraman Alyaksandr Dzyanisau were issued prison sentences of ten days each, for their coverage of the peaceful silent protests in Belarus on Monday 4th July.

15 journalists in total were detained in the day, some of whom are still currently awaiting trial. Tear gas was used against cameramen in Minsk who tried to film the protests and in all, approximately 350 people were arrested. Other reporters were unable to be at the protests after having their visas withdrawn at the last minute.

The revolutions which have been taking place in Belarus began through social networking sites which were promptly blocked by the government. President Lukashenko said that the protests against his rule were an attempt to bring the country ‘to its knees’ and he would not allow that to happen.

Protests in Belarus are rare; the authoritarian rule of Mr Lukashenko has lead to many Western governments levying sanctions against the country. The protests consisted of clapping over President Lukashenko’s speech as he moved to address the Independence Day celebrators. Reuters reported that the first individual to do this was promptly led away by police. Others joined in and there were soon clashes between the protesters and the police.

Revolution has almost occurred in Belarus several times in recent history, notably after the President’s re-election but Lukashenko insists that he will remain in power and Belarus will not become the next ‘Arab Spring’ victim.

Moroccan journalist sentenced

Casablanca journalist, Richard Nini was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 100 dirhams (88 euros), June 9^th.

His trial was allegedly marked by judicial intransigence, repeated adjournments and a refusal to free him on bail.

The Al-Massae editor was tried on charges of disinformation and attacking state institutions and public figures, which the court claimed threatened the security of the state and its citizens.

The Press Freedom Organisation condemned the sentencing branding such acts as the 'marks of authoritarian regimes'. They said that no progress towards democracy would be possible without media freedom.

Nini’s lawyer called it a bad day for justice and civil liberties in Morocco and insisted that he would appeal the court’s ruling.

The article that prompted this response had criticised government corruption.

Media Deaths in Iraq

Head of satellite TV station, Taha Al-Alawi was murdered on 8^th April in Southern Baghdad. Gunmen opened fire on his car, killing him. Al-Alawi is the fifth journalist to die in Iraq this year.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recently (May 19^th) issued an Impunity Index which highlighted Iraq as three times worse than any other country in terms of journalist deaths. None of the 92 murders of journalists that have been committed in the last 10 years have been solved.

There is also a huge problem with libel. In the first five months of this year government officials brought forth 90 cases against journalist. In most democratic nations journalists cannot be accused of libel against the government.

According to the CPJ’s research, more journalists are murdered than die in all other circumstances combined, reporters and editors being the most targeted, followed closely by photographers. The Iraq News Network lost more than twice the number of reporters than the next worst hit organisation.

Bahrain correspondent tortured

France 24’s Bahrain correspondent Nazeeha Saeed was taken for questioning on 22^nd May and tortured after covering the pro-democracy protests.

She was verbally abused; mocked and insulted, then slapped, punched and kicked, before having a shoe thrust in her mouth, urine thrown in her face, being blindfolded and beaten. She was forced to crawl on all fours and ‘bray like a donkey’.

She was given no chance to answer questions and forced to sign documents she was not allowed to read.

She was then allowed to return home, though is still being treated for the physical and psychological side-effects.

This has received much international criticism, particularly from Reporters without Border, to whom she gave the interview. It is notoriously difficult to find women willing to speak about what occurs in Bahraini police interviews and Reporters without Borders has strongly urged authorities to investigate the matter further.

Dubai TV Editor forced to step down by Moroccan Minister

Dubai TV Editor, Omar Makhfi has recently (21 June) been forced to resign.

His brother, who was the correspondent to Morocco referred to the opposition protests that had been taking place on air.

He then called Morocco’s Information Minister for an interview, asking him about government perspective but instead of answering his questions, the Minister accused the journalist of supporting the planned 20^th February protests- he then demanded political accountability of the journalist.

The TV station reviewed the incident and concluded nothing unethical had been said.

The Minister then preceded to call the UAE embassy and demand the Mr Makhfi’s resignation over the matter.

The TV Editor was fired despite his governments assurance they had no personal criticism to make. He also received an apology from the station, although they played no part in his dismissal.

This story surprised many as it is not often that Ministers would use their influential role in this manner, particularly towards the citizens of another country.

Press Freedom and Oppression in Burma

On 3^rd May, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) marked World Press Freedom Day by launching a campaign to free 17 jailed video journalists serving long prison sentences (up to 27 years) within the country.

DVB is an independent media organisation committed to responsible journalism. Their safety is constantly being compromised and some of its journalists have been forced to flee the country, claiming refugee status in France. DVB itself has in fact been exiled.

The DVB, along with other international media organisations such as the BBC, RFA and VOA have never had permission to work freely inside the country and their reporters frequently come under attack.

Despite this 66% of Burmese people claim to listen to these radio stations almost every day and claim that they prefer the reporting by these broadcasters, viewing it as a more legitimate source of international news than the government controlled radio station.

More than 25 media representatives are currently behind bars in Burma, usually for their critical articles concerning government methods.

Earlier this year Maung Maung Zeya was sentenced to 13 years for leading a team of journalists into Burma, after his son was tortured into making the accusation.

Nat Soe, another DVB journalist was sentenced to 10 years on 8^th Feb. He was tried secretly in prison and found guilty of participating in a poster campaign to free Aung San Suu Kyi.

Journalist Kaung Myat Hlaing confessed to the crimes of which he was charged under torture and is now also serving time. This is the second time he has been convicted on the basis of confession under torture.

Yemeni Journalist kept in Prison after intervention from Obama

The Yemeni journalist, Abdul Elah Shaye has been kept in prison after a phone call from the American president to President Saleh of Yemen.

Abdul Elah Shaye had been sentenced to five years in prison in Januray 2011 after being accused of acting as media advisor for extremist cleric Anwar al Awlaki. Shaye and his co-defendant, his friend and colleague Sharif Kamal were arrested in the 16th and 17th of August in Sana'a. Shaye was held for 34 deays without access to either a lawyer or his family.

Shaye had aroused the ire of the Yemeni authorties when he reported that the bombing of Abayan, which killed 55 people, including a supposed 14 Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsular members had been carried out by the American military and not the Yemeni government, as was claimed in Yemen. Shaye was subsequently proved correct in December 2010 when a leaked diplomatic cable revealed that the bombing had in fact been carried out by the United States.

Shaye and Kamal's arrest drew the attention of reporters without borders who expressed concern fror the manner in which the two men were arrested.

Shaye, who works for the Sabah news agency in Yemen was granted a pardon by Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh on the 1st of February 2011, one of a number of concessions President Saleh granted to assuage political unrest in Yemen following recent turbulent events in the country.

Shaye however, has not been released from prison. The journalist was mentioned personally by President Obama in a phone call between the presidents of Yemen and the USA, in which President Obama expressed concern over the potential release of the journalist. This is due to the charges of which Shaye is accused.

Shaye had managed to interview Anwar al Awlaki in early 2009, in an interview that was subsequently picked up by Al Jazeera and NBC news in the United States. It is likely that the Yemeni authoities used this association to convict Shaye as he had repeatedly criticised Yemeni security policy. Shaye's sentence has caused an outcry among local journalists and the human rigthts group HOOD (The National Organisation for Defending Rights and Freedoms).

Yemen based journalist Iona Craig, wrote an informative piece on the inicident here.

To our Muslim brothers and sisters

On behalf of the ICF— and in our personal names— we want to tell our Muslim brothers and sisters that, while profoundly deploring all kind of violence, we understand fully their sorrow and anger after the publication of blasphemous cartoons in some Western newspapers. This has nothing to do with the right to inform. It is, out of the blue, a deliberate attempt to hurt and provoke. It is the expression of stupidity but also of a total lack of sensitivity for the feelings of others. We not only condemn those cartoons, we feel—and it is particularly the case of the Christians among us— that they are directed against us as well.

The ICF believes that the mission of the media is, on the one hand, to honestly and fully inform our audience, so that citizens can be the proper support of a living democracy, but also, on the other hand, to bring people together and to move from understanding to mutual understanding. The publication of those cartoons has nothing to do with this vision of the role and mission of the media.

These painful circumstances remind us however of two important facts:

1. The freedom of the press is not the freedom to offend and insult. As we know, my freedom itself ends where the freedom of others starts. As writes our friend Michael Smith, from Initiatives of Change, “Freedom of the press has to be balanced with the notion of responsibility for the impact that the media has on audiences’ sensitivities”. We are solidly in favour of the freedom of the press, but we cannot accept this freedom to be misused in an attempt to hurt the feeling and faith of our brothers and sisters. Freedom, and freedom of the press in particular, is indeed nothing without responsibility.
2. We urge our Muslim friends not to believe that those scandalous publications are expressing the animosity against them of “the West” or “the Christians”. Those who are making a mockery of the Muslim faith will do the same tomorrow against all other faiths. In fact they are attacking all faiths. This remind us that we, people of faith, of all faiths, we more than ever should be together. The XXI century will be saved if people to whom moral and spiritual values matter act together.

Let us take a positive lesson from these painful circumstances: indeed only if we people of faith stay together— with all people of good will on earth- we have a chance to break at last the vicious circle of violence and hatred, in which evil people of all sides will like to confine us.  We appeal to our Muslim brothers and sisters on these difficult days: be with us as we are with you!

Bernard Margueritte                                       William Porter

President                                                         Founder President