Contravention of Bahraini Constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights Bahraini authorities continue practice of defaming citizens

The Bahraini authorities have maintained, through the Ministry of Interior, a practice of defaming citizens by releasing their photos before the conclusion of their court proceedings. This is a clear contravention of Article 20(c) of the Constitution of Bahrain and Article 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is a practice that is tangibly creating an atmosphere of psychological fear for detainees and their families.

On 27 April 2015, the Bahraini authorities, through the Minister of Interior, issued a statement stating that they arrested “28 people, many from a terrorist background who have been sentenced to life sentences and nationality revocation in terrorism cases”.
Their pictures have been published on social media platforms and national newspapers.

SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights, after careful examination of the mechanisms of the judiciary and Ministry of Interior, witness testimonies, and reports by international human rights organisations, conclude that the Bahraini authorities maintain a politically-motivated system that seeks to dish out revengeful punishment.

SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights demands the halting of revengeful and politically-motivated pursuance of human rights activists and defenders, through the extraction of confessions by torture and defamation in the media. It is necessary to investigate those responsible for these contraventions of domestic laws and international treaties by the formation of a neutral international investigation commission, especially when considering that more than 3000 political prisoners, human rights activists, women and children have been punished and adversely effected.