Publisher Reporters Without Borders
Country Bahrain
Publication Date 18 March 2010
Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Countries under surveillance 2010 - Bahrain, 18 March 2010, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4c21f66b28.html [accessed 24 June 2010]

Countries under surveillance 2010 - Bahrain

Bahrain is experiencing one of the region's highest Internet penetration rates. The democratization process has been losing momentum, which has had a negative impact on freedom of expression on the Web. The authorities have adopted the course of a massive filtering campaign, but the country's netizens are proving to be inventive when it comes to circumventing censorship and are mobilizing to defend their rights.

Posted on 2010/06/16

A de facto travel ban remains in place against human rights defender Mr Abdul-Redha Mohammed, who is being prevented from leaving Bahrain to meet his family in London.

BAHRAIN (Tier 2)

Bahrain is a destination country for men and women subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically forced labor and forced prostitution. Men and women from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Eritrea migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to work as domestic workers or as unskilled laborers in the construction and service industries. Some, however, face conditions of forced labor after arriving in Bahrain

and the Ambassador of Bahrain in Washington

The Ruling Regime in Bahrain Stabilizes itself as a Model for “Sectarian apartheid and Systematic Discrimination"

The Bahraini Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa

10 June 2010

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights is deeply concerned and disturbed by the fraud, distortion and stimulating hatred campaign led by the ruling regime abroad, especially in the United States of America. This campaign is led by the Bahraini embassy in Washington, and Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Bahraini Crown Prince, participated in the campaign which aimed at distorting and scorning the Shiite sect and its beliefs, accusing this vital segment and main component of the Bahraini community with ignorance and backwardness and loyalty to the outside.

Mr. Ghazi Al-Mirbati

13 June 2010

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its deep concern regarding the Gulf Air company's dismissal of the vice-president of its trade union Mr. Ghazi Al-Mirbati in May 2010, allegedly due to inciting the employees against the company, and leaking the company's private information to the press.

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

OPEN LETTER

Open letter in view of the EU-GCC Joint Co-operation Council

Paris-Brussels, 11 June 2010

On the eve of the EU-GCC Joint Co-operation Council to be held on the 14th of June 2010, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) calls upon the EU and GCC Ministers to put human rights at the centre of their relations in all fields and at all levels.

Mazen Mahdi, foreign correspondent
Last Updated: June 09. 2010 9:21PM UAE / June 9. 2010 5:21PM GMT

Protesters set fire to the road during a rally in Jid Hafs village on the outskirts of Manama. Demonstrations occur nearly every weekend. Mazen Mahdi / EPA

BAHRAIN

KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
Head of state: King Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Head of government: Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Death penalty: retentionist
Population: 0.8 million
Life expectancy: 75.6 years
Under-5 mortality (m/f): 13/13 per 1,000
Adult literacy: 88.8 per cent

The government took steps to promote human rights and to improve conditions for some migrant workers. However, it continued to penalize criticism of the royal family and failed to investigate allegations of torture in 2008. One person remained at risk of execution.

A WAN-IFRA review of the last six months of 2010, has reported that press freedom is under attack on every continent. On Middle East and North Africa the report mentioned that:

“Those in power throughout the Middle East and North Africa continue to resort to harassment, censorship, prosecution, fining and imprisonment of news media professionals in order to control information. Their hostility toward independent and opposition media has often proven to be ruthless.”

Bahrain Center for Human Rights has hosted a dinner in honor of the staff of the Middle East and North Africa division of the Human Rights Watch.

The impact of globalization on Bahraini people

The Bahrain’s economy is growing, along with per capita income. However, along with the increasing numbers of millionaires the middle class is shrinking and the lower class is becoming impoverished. There are increasing confrontations and tension between the impoverished groups and security forces. A strategy to shield society from the negative impacts of globalization is urgently needed.

To the left: Head of National Security Apparatus Shaikh Khalifa Bin Abduallah - To the right: Mr. Abdul-Redha Mohammed


6 June 2010

A 64-year-old Bahraini human rights defender with heart condition, Mr. Abdul-Redha Mohammed, was prevented from leaving Bahrain to London on June 1st, 2010 to rejoin his children. Mr. Abdul-Redha was told by immigration officers at Bahrain Airport that he is under no travel ban, but he will not be able to proceed to his flight pending his reporting to the National Security apparatus (NSA).