Joint Statement on the Arrest Campaign and Human Rights Violations in Bahrain in Connection with the War in the Middle East

The human rights organizations signing this statement express their deep concern over the wide arrest campaign witnessed in the Kingdom of Bahrain in connection with the military escalation in the region between the United States, Israel, and Iran, and the missile strikes that followed, which hit numerousareas in the Gulf, including Bahrain.

According to field monitoring documented by the human rights organizations, the Bahraini authorities have arrested at least 189 people, including minors and women, since hostilities began. The charges against those arrested vary. Some were arrested for publishing images of the bombing, others were accused of leaking this information and images to external parties, as well as charges related to filming missile and drone impacts, and/or publishing those clips on social media. Others have beenarrested for participating in marches or expressing political opinions connected to the ongoing events in the region, including condemning the assassination of the Supreme Religious Leader in Iran, Sayed Ali Khamenei, and attempts to stage a sit-in in front of the American embassy in Bahrain. Individuals who had been evacuated from Iran were also arrested upon their return at the airport and land crossings in Bahrain.

The arrest of numerous individuals for filming public events or expressing political opinions constitutes a serious violation of the basic rights guaranteed under international law, foremost among them freedom of expression and freedom of information. Filming public events, including attacks and explosions, cannot in itself be considered a criminal act unless it is accompanied by evidence and a clear intent to harm security or public safety, especially since Bahrain did not issue any circular explicitly stating that the country is currently in a time of war, nor did it specify to citizens and residents what is permitted and prohibited in order to avoid legal violations.

In addition, publishing the images and names of the detainees or making public accusations against them through Bahraini media outlets and social media platforms, without any evidence, and before presenting them before the judiciary, constitutes a clear violation of the principle of the presumption of innocence, and exposes the detainees to defamation and social condemnation before any judicial ruling is issued. This conduct, in which the Ministry of Interior engages in defamation and asserts certainty regarding the detainees’ involvement in the charges brought against them, violates the Bahraini Constitution and the principle of guaranteeing a fair trial.

The human rights organizations signing this statement express deep concern over official statements made by Bahrain’s Public Prosecution and Ministry of Interior in linking the above-mentioned charges to treason against the nation and calling for the imposition of harsh punishments, including the death penalty, which is internationally condemned. In a statement made by the Public Prosecution, it suggested revoking the nationality of Bahrainis, claiming they have committed: “…treason against the nation that embraced them, in which they lived, carried its nationality, and fed from its resources.” ThePublic Prosecution demanded the “imposition of the maximum punishment” on the accused persons. It is regrettable that the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecution continue todisregard the right to nationality, known as the “right to have rights”. Revocation of nationality risks being instrumentalised as a tool of repression in light of these political tensions and wartime period. This is a recurring security pattern in Bahrain, where authorities exploit a crisis in the Kingdom and engage inrepression, arrests, and tighten their grip over political and civil society

Once again, Bahrain is using its vague definition of terrorism forprosecution. Over the past decade, the Bahraini authorities have persistently used it broadly to criminalise peaceful activities, including expressing opinions and participating in peaceful gatherings. Referring to these incidents to prosecution for terrorism reflects the continuation of a securitised approach to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of peaceful assembly.

It is worth noting that Bahrain has yet to declare a state of war or a state of emergency. It has not published any circularsregarding what activities were prohibited before arresting individuals. Even in cases of emergency or armed conflict, the state remains obliged to uphold the minimum non-derogablerights, foremost among them being the right to a fair trial, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and the right of access to information.

These arrests coincide with a rise in hate speech against Shiite citizens, to the point where directives were issued by high security authorities to civil society institutions and sports clubs requiring them to issue condemnatory statements against Iran for targeting certain sites in Bahrain. Some charitable associations were surprised when they saw these statements, which were apparently circulated by the National Communication Center. This conduct contradicts the principle of the independence of civil society institutions and the right to freedom of expression. It even contradicts the circulars, laws, and ministerial procedures that prohibit charitable and sports institutions from engaging in any political activity or public affairs issues.

The Head of the Cybercrime Prosecution at the Public Prosecution Zahra Mrad, stated that Bahraini law does not distinguish between the writer of the content and the publisher of said content and holds them equally responsible. However, from a human rights perspective, the problem has been and remains the misinterpretation of Bahraini law and the absence of clear standards that determine what content violates the law and what does not, because cybercrime convictions always rely on interpretations of what is in the intention of the publisher or writer and do not rely on the text of the content itself as to whether it is actually in violation or not. Likewise, cybercrime relies on vague and broad laws that allow it to criminalise any content and classify it as a threat to civil peace or a weakening of the State’s morale. Indeed, the silence of cybercrime authorities regarding documented hate speech, which exceeded two hundred pieces of content against Shiite citizens, with statements that questioned their loyalty, demanded their expulsion, and the revocation of their nationalities, revealssystematic double standards and the failure of this institution to apply Bahraini law equally and proportionately. It currently risks becoming a body that uses the law as a tool of repression and political persecution on the one hand, and to protect those who spread hate speech in Bahrain on the other hand.

It was hoped that the Bahraini government would act with greater rationality when managing domestic and international crises, and it was expected that it would protect human rights and strengthen the values of equal citizenship during this difficult time for the Kingdom. The human rights bodies urge the Bahraini government to work to guarantee the rights of citizens, distance itself from hate speech, and strengthen national unity during this critical period. In addition, it is should:

Signatory organizations

Salam for Democracy and Human Rights
Bahrain Forum for Human Rights
Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights
Al-Amal Center for Human Rights and Justice
Yemeni Center for Human Rights
Insan Organization for Rights and Freedoms