Recent reports from the Bahraini Journalists Association shed light on the ongoing violations of journalists’ and activists’ rights in Bahrain over the past year, with approximately 53 violations documented.
Under the title “Bahrain 2023: A History of Pursuit and a Dead End,” the reports revealed a total of 1864 violations of media freedoms and the right to expression since the start of protests in February 2011 until the end of 2023.
According to the reports, violations during the past year ranged from interrogations and arrests to judicial proceedings and cases of mistreatment, in addition to other violations.
Charges against individuals during interrogations or trials varied, including broadcasting materials conflicting with civil peace requisites, disseminating inappropriate statements about official institutions, broadcasting false news during wartime, among other charges.
While the report indicates some changes in government policies, it emphasizes the continuation of a strict and repressive security approach towards journalists, bloggers, and opinion holders, calling for a change in these policies and an end to arbitrary interrogations and arrests.
The Bahraini Journalists Association also reiterated its call for the immediate release of all detainees without conditions and urged the opening up of space for opposition media, advocating for an end to the authorities’ monopoly over various forms of media.
source: lualuatv