Five-year anniversary of the death of 22-year-old photojournalist Ahmed Ismail Hassan

Today, 31 March 2017, marks the five-year anniversary of the death of 22-year-old Ahmed Ismail Hassan. Hassan was a photojournalist in Bahrain who the government authorities killed during a protest in Salmabad, Bahrain. According to the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ), Hassan is one of three journalists killed in Bahrain since 2011. On 31 March[…]

Bahrain partially suspends Alwasat, only independent newspaper

17 January 2017 – Bahrain’s Ministry of Information Affairs (MIA) yesterday issued an order to suspend the only independent newspaper in the country, Alwasat, from using electronic media tools, effectively suspending its online presence. The order comes a day day after the execution of three torture victims and on the day the trial of journalist[…]

Qatar government blocks prominent news outlet, restricts press freedom

On 30 November, Qatar’s leading English independent news publication, Doha News, reported that its users in Qatar could not access its site online or on mobile phones. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) is deeply concerned by this alleged act of censorship by the Qatari government, which constitutes an assault on media[…]

44 NGOs to Government of Bahrain: Rights of Nazeeha Saeed and all journalists must be respected

We, the undersigned, express our deep concern with the Bahraini Public Prosecution’s decision to charge Nazeeha Saeed, correspondent for Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya and France24, with unlawfully working for international media. We consider this an undue reprisal against her as a journalist and call on Bahrain’s authorities to respect fully the right of journalists to practice[…]

NGOs: Bahrain’s New Expansive Press Regulations a Threat to Journalists

27 July 2016 – We in the Bahraini human rights community condemn the recently expanded press restrictions in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Decree 68/2016, issued by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Al Rumaihi, constrains what little press freedom remaining in the kingdom by increasing government oversight on the dissemination of electronic media and empowering the[…]