03/07/2008 By Edward Burke

Bahrain’s top-down reforms, initiated by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in 2001, were a welcome respite for a population weary of the violence and state repression that characterised much of the preceding decade. King Hamad’s relatively benign treatment of CSOs and his tolerance for a wider degree of freedom of expression has won international praise, most effusively from the United States.

Just over a month after the Bahrain government said it would eliminate prison sentences for journalists and lift some bans on censored publications, it has done a massive U-turn. Authorities in the country are cracking down on opposition journalists, websites and even mosque leaders for apparently stirring up sectarian tensions and threatening national security, reports the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR).

Reporters Without Borders -Press release- 3 July 2008 - BAHRAIN

Press law amendments hailed but journalists still face jail and websites risk closure

Reporters Without Borders has welcomed some amendments to the press law in Bahrain but voiced concern about some remaining failings that leave journalists and publications exposed to risk.

UNITED
NATIONS
A
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/HRC/8/19
22 May 2008
Original: ENGLISH
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Eighth session
Agenda item 6
UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review
Bahrain ∗
∗ Previously issued under the document symbol A/HRC/WG.6/1/BRA/4; minor revisions
have been added under the authority of the secretariat of the Human Rights Council, on the basis of
editorial changes made by States through the ad referendum procedure. Annex is circulated as
received.
GE.08-13607
A/HRC/8/19
Page 2
-CONTENTS

April 7, 2008

The government has done little to institutionalize in law protection of basic rights in the aftermath of the important reforms decreed by the king, Shaikh Hamad bin `Isa Al Khalifa in 2001-02. New laws have been adopted containing provisions that undermine freedom of assembly, association and expression. The Human Rights Council, in its review of Bahrain�s human rights record, should assess this legislation and recommend steps to bring existing legislation, especially in the areas of freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and accountability for grave crimes such as torture, into compliance with international human rights standards.

Apr 3rd 2008 | MANAMA
From The Economist print edition

A put-upon majority feels done down—and is getting angry

THE monarchy of Bahrain regards itself as a beacon of democracy in the Middle East. It was the first in the Gulf to give all its citizens the vote, setting up a partially elected parliament, albeit with limited powers, in 2002. Yet in the past few months its officials concede that in an average week there have been more than two riots and five public protests.

Most of the unrest takes place outside the predominantly Sunni capital, Manama, in poorer, mostly Shia, villages. No official statistics are published but some villagers say that a third or even half of them have no jobs. Bahrainis are readier to work in menial jobs than their wealthier counterparts in Kuwait or the United Arab Emirates but cheap foreign workers depress wages. A typical foreign construction worker is housed in a labour camp, cannot bring his family to Bahrain and earns around $160 a month, which would barely support a Bahraini family with four or five children.

By Simon Henderson
March 24, 2008

UNITED
NATIONS
A
General Assembly
Distr.
LIMITED
A/HRC/WG.6/1/BHR/2
[date]
Original: ENGLISH
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review
First session
Geneva, 7-18 April 2008
ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION
25 February 2008
COMPILATION PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 15(B) OF
RESOLUTION 5/1 OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Bahrain

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL- Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review - Geneva, 7-18 April 2008

25 February 2008

Bahrain
This report is a summary of 12 stakeholders’ submissions1 to the universal periodic review. It follows the structure of the general guidelines adopted by the Human Rights Council. It does not contain any opinions, views or suggestions of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), nor any judgment or determination in relation to specific claims. Information included therein has been systematically referenced in endnotes and, to the extent possible, original text submitted has not been altered. Lack of information or focus on specific issues is due to the absence of submissions by stakeholders regarding these particular issues.
All submissions received are available on OHCHR website. The periodicity of the review for the first cycle being of four years, information reflected in this report mostly relates to events occurred after 1 January 2004.

UNITED
NATIONS
A
General Assembly Distr.
LIMITED
A/HRC/WG.6/1/BHR/3
[DATE]
Original: ENGLISH
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review
First session
Geneva, 7-18 April 2008
ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION
25 February 2008
SUMMARY PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 15 (C) OF
RESOLUTION 5/1 OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Bahrain
This report is a summary of 12 stakeholders’ submissions1 to the universal periodic review. It follows