(ANHRI/IFEX) – 1 February 2012 – Today, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) denounced the Bahraini authorities for restricting freedom of expression and media freedoms. In its session on 30 January, the Bahraini Cassation Court upheld the ruling of the military court in the case of activist Fadeelah Mubarak, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for participating in peaceful protests and listening to anti-regime songs. In addition, media professional Waheed Alballoushy is also on trial today in the lower criminal court. Female journalist Reem Khalifa will stand trial tomorrow, 2 February.

30 January 2012

The Bahraini authorities must release the first woman activist to be convicted over her involvement in last year's pro-reform demonstrations, Amnesty International said today after a court rejected her appeal and upheld her prison sentence.

Fadhila Mubarak's 18-month prison sentence for protesting and listening to "revolutionary" music was today upheld by the Court of Cassation in the capital, Manama.

30 Jan 2012

On 29 January 2012 human rights defender Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and 13 other prisoners, including prisoners of conscience and human rights defender Abduljalil Al Singace, started an open-ended hunger strike to protest against the arbitrary arrest of peaceful protesters and continued human rights violations in Bahrain.

The striking prisoners are held in Jaw Prison and are serving prison sentences, some of which are life sentences, handed down after grossly unfair trials.

29 Jan 2012

Recently, Bahrain was elected as the Vice-President of the UNESCO International Bureau of Education (IBE) (bna.bh/portal/en/news/490966) regardless of the human rights violations committed by the Bahraini government and Ministry of Education towards members of the educational sector, which includes students of all levels, teachers and professors. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) condemns the UNESCO's act of turning a blind eye towards the human rights and educational violations in Bahrain, especially as one of its main roles is to protect and nurture individual human rights. This act does not contribute in any way to the respect for human rights in Bahrain, but expresses support for the regime which did not stop targeting educators and students with arrests, unfair trials, and suspension from work for merely exercising the right to freedom of expression. BCHR demands freezing of Bahrain membership in the UNESCO IBE until it takes measurable steps to stop all the violations in the education sector.

29 Jan 2012

Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls for an urgent intervention from the international community to put an end to the continues violations of human rights, including but not limited to, the continued detention of hundreds of political detainees in appalling conditions, despite the acknowledgment of the BICI report that confirmed that they were subject to arrests and torture on the back of practicing illegitimate rights to freedom of expression and assembly. The international community’s silence over the Bahraini regime’s continuous crimes is leading the people of Bahrain to take desperate measures risking their own lives.

14 activists who were detained since last March have announced their intention to start a hunger strike starting today January 29th, 2012 for one week until February 4th, 2012 in protest to the continued suppression of the people of Bahrain

25 Jan 2012

“This year’s index sees many changes in the rankings, changes that reflect a year that was incredibly rich in developments, especially in the Arab world,” Reporters Without Borders said today as it released its 10th annual press freedom index. “Many media paid dearly for their coverage of democratic aspirations or opposition movements. Control of news and information continued to tempt governments and to be a question of survival for totalitarian and repressive regimes. The past year also highlighted the leading role played by netizens in producing and disseminating news.

24 January 2012

(ANHRI/Index on Censorship/WiPC/IFEX) - 24 January 2012 – Tunis/London – A report from a six-member mission of international organisations to Bahrain last November called out Bahraini authorities for failing to deliver on promises of reform, despite a highly-touted commission of inquiry which made numerous recommendations. Rights violations continue on a daily basis, and people are still jailed on long sentences, including prominent human rights activists jailed for life. Yet the world has not been paying attention to this forgotten country during a year of turmoil in the region.

14 Jan 2012

Last July, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights documented more than 248 violations affecting personnel in military services within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Department of Defence, the two entities that are headed by members of the Bahraini Royal Family. Until this day those violations are ongoing. Bahraini authorities have killed, arrested, and discharged hundreds of military personnel, many of whom while currently released, are awaiting appeals courts that may send them back to imprisonment. This is a testimony from a military officer, who was arrested previously, describing some of the violations that military personnel have endured.

Athletes are still taken to prison for exercising legitimate rights

11 Jan 2012

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights condemns the continuing arrests and unfair trials against hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain due to their exercise of legitimate rights like freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. This includes Bahraini car racing champion Mohammed AlKhunaizi, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment just a few days after the confirmation of the placement of Bahrain in the Formula One race calendar for 2012.

An artwork with a poem by Mahmood from his prison cell

Charges related to freedom of expression dropped on the media, on reality detainees still in jail

Last Update 10 Jan 2012

While Bahrain has been selected to be the Arab Capital of Culture for 2012, talented and creative Bahraini individuals who have contributed to the enrichment of Bahraini culture are being subjected to torture and imprisoned for exercising their basic right to freedom of expression. Mahmood Abdulsaheb is a Bahraini writer, photographer, painter and a member of many regional and international organizations concerned with Arabian Horses. He has been detained since March 15 2011, and sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment which has decreased to 3.5 years after an appeal. The accusations against him are of participating in illegal assemblies and fabricating and disseminating photos of injuries.