Whitewashing the regime: Bahrain, press freedom paradise?
WAN IFRA – 2 April, 2012

Inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, the people of Bahrain took to the streets on 14 February, 2011 demanding change. More than a year after protests began on Pearl Roundabout, the epicentre of the Bahraini revolution, many argue that little has changed for the better. For the press, this sentiment is echoed most acutely.

A number of organisations have conducted missions and produced reports that investigate the state of freedom of expression in Bahrain, only to come up with one common result; things are getting worse. Journalists and human rights defenders have faced military trials, life imprisonment, torture, harassment, and in some cases even death whilst in the custody of the Bahraini authorities.

Despite this, Manama named itself the Capital of Arab Press for 2012 (it has been awarded the status of Capital of Arab Culture for 2012 by the Arab League as part of UNESCO’s cultural capitals programme), and recently hosted the Arab Youth Media Forum under the patronage of King Hamad Al-Khalifa. “This choice is the result of the freedom of the press enjoyed by Bahrain thanks to the reform project of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as well as IAA attraction of Arab and international media institutions to operate from Bahrain,” said Information Affairs Authority President Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa in an interview with the state-run Bahrain News Agency (BNA). Shaikh Fawaz also pointed out that “the King has asserted on many occasions that no journalist will be imprisoned nor will any newspaper or media establishment be closed,” adding that “approving a modern press and publication law reflects HM the King’s full support to Bahrain’s press.” The choice seems incongruous at best given the numerous attacks against independent journalists documented throughout 2011 – and that are reportedly still on-going.

Newspapers in Bahrain are mostly state-controlled, with the exception of Al-Wasat whose staff have certainly paid the price for being the only opposition newspaper. On 12 April 2011, Al-Wasat founder Karim Fakhrawi died after spending a week in police custody. Bahrain’s official news agency published on its Twitter page the news that Fakhrawi died of kidney failure, however photographs later emerged online showing the body identified as Fakhrawi’s covered in extensive cuts and bruises. Mansoor Al-Jamri was forced to resign from his position as Editor-in-Chief after being found guilty by a Manama court on 8 November 2011 of publishing false news and “harming Bahrain’s image” along with Managing Editor Walid Noueihed, Local News Director Aqeel Mirza, and Senior Editor Ali Al-Sherify. The four men each had to pay a fine of 1,000 dinars (US$2,650). …more

Human rights defender enters Egypt after being threatened with deportation
Viral Chopra – 2 April, 2012

Maryam Al-Khawaja, Bahraini human rights defender has been allowed to enter Egypt after being held at Cairo international airport for several hours on her arrival early Monday morning. She had travelled to Cairo from Copenhagen via Warsaw to attend a human rights conference but Egyptian border authorities told her she had been blacklisted and would be deported back to her country. News of Maryam Al-Khawaja’s detention quickly spread around via Twitter. A number of prominent Egyptian activists and her acquaintances tried to make a contact to help her. Another Palestinian Blogger and human rights defender Majed AbuSalama was also held at the airport at the same time as Maryam Al-Khawaja, but he was immediately deported back to Gaza.

Maryam Al-Khawaja comes from a Bahraini family known for its political activities. She is the daughter of human rights activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who is currently serving a life sentence in a Bahraini prison for his role in the country’s uprising, and sister to prominent blogger Zainab Al-Khawaja, better known as @angryarabiya. While there are counter statements that it was in fact a name mix-up at the border, Al-Khawaja was tweeting live @maryamalkhawaja and claiming that she was in fact denied access, and describing her treatment.
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Lawyers appeal sentence for Bahrain hunger striker
2 April, 2012 – Associated Press – AJC

MANAMA, Bahrain — Lawyers for a Bahraini human rights activist who is on hunger strike and attorneys for 20 other opposition figures appealed their convictions on anti-state charges on Monday.

Activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is serving a life sentence for his role in last year’s uprising in the Gulf kingdom. Seven other prominent opposition leaders were also sentenced to life imprisonment. Another 12 received lengthy prison sentences in a special security court, which was set up after the country imposed martial law last March to quell political unrest.

Al-Khawaja was arrested in April during a government crackdown on protests staged by the country’s Shiite majority demanding greater rights from Sunni rulers.

His lawyer Mohammed al-Jaishi said that he and the attorneys for the other 20 leaders appealed their clients’ convictions and sentences during Monday’s session in Bahrain’s Court of Cassation.

The attorneys also asked a five-judge panel to free the prisoners on bail — a request the judges declined, al-Jaishi said.

Another hearing in the case was set for April 23.

The 21 activists were convicted by a special security court in June of participating in efforts to overthrow the ruling dynasty. Of those, seven had been tried in absentia.

Al-Khawaja has been on hunger strike for more than 50 days. He has been refusing food since Feb. 8.

Last week, Amnesty International urged Bahrain to free him because of fears he could die. …more

Bahrain protests flare against F1 after protester dies
02 April, 2012 – The Telegraph

Ahmed Ismael Abdulsamad was shot in the right thigh on Saturday as he filmed a protest in the Shia village of Salmabad that plainclothes security forces tried to break up with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Opposition groups blamed “militiamen” accompanying security forces fired live bullets at the protesters from a civilian car, hitting Abdulsamad.

Dozens of young protesters gathered in the village of Abu Saiba, west of Manama, and Tubli, south of the capital, according to postings by the Coalition of the Youth of the February 14th Revolution on Facebook.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the small gatherings and made some arrests, according to provided footage.

Activists have intensified their campaign to push Formula One to cancel the Bahrain round of the world championship, slated for April 20-22 at the Sakhir circuit, southwest of Manama.

The race was cancelled last year due to the unrest that gripped the Shiite-majority state after a mid-March brutal crackdown on protests demanding democratic reforms that would challenge the power of the Sunni Al-Khalifa ruling dynasty.

“We (object to) holding a sports race that belittles the sacrifices of our children and ignores our suffering and wounds,” said a statement read by a youth dressed in a white death shroud and a black hood, according to a video posted online.

“Do not tarnish the reputation of the respected auto sport with the blood of Bahrain victims.”

On Twitter, a whole campaign has been launched against the return of the Grand Prix to Bahrain.

“Stop, my blood is flowing” and “race over blood,” were two slogans posted by activists on Twitter, where hashtags like BloodyF1 and NoF1 generate scores of tweets.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has insisted that the outbreak of fresh violence will not affect this year’s grand prix.

Defending champion Sebastian Vettel and seven-time winner Michael Schumacher lately supported the return to Bahrain. …more