Brief Arrest Of Three Journalists On The Arrival Of A British Torturer
Preventing Journalist From Event Scenes
Bahrain – July 24, 2007
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BHRO) is concerned for the continuance of harassment of journalists when covering various issues that are considered “sensitive” by the Bahrain authorities.
Brief Arrest Of Three Journalists On The Arrival Of A British Torturer
Preventing Journalist From Event Scenes
Bahrain – July 24, 2007
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BHRO) is concerned for the continuance of harassment of journalists when covering various issues that are considered “sensitive” by the Bahrain authorities.
Zainab Abdul-Nabi, 24 years, a female reporter for Al-Alam Stalite TV channel, told BCHR that she and two other journalists from Al-Ayam daily newspaper, were arrested at the arrival-hall at Bahrain international Air-port at 7:30 pm. on July 22, 2007.
“A police officer approached me, Batool Al-Sayyed and Ali Majeed asking for the reason whey we were at airport. We replied that we do not need a reason to be in a public place, however, we told him that we are journalists and that we came to report on the reason why the airport area is under heavy security measures at that evening” Miss Abdul-nabi told BCHR. “The police officer took us to the Airport police Station where we were questioned by deferent police officers asking mainly if our presence is to cover a protest at the airport related to the arrival of Lut. Ian Henderson” she added. The three Journalist were released at the same day but only after phone-calls and intervention by a high officials at ministry of Interior.
Worth noting that Lut. Ian Henderson, British, is the former head of the Bahrain security police who is accused of torture and gross human rights violations during the period from 1966-2000. His case is under investigation by the British Scotland-yard while the Bahrain Authorities has granted him the Bahrain nationality and immunity protecting him from judicial persecution by several thousands of victims of extra judicial killing, torture and forcible exile. (Attached is a link to a documentary by BBC: The Butcher of Bahrain: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8207296200885546643&q=ian+henderson
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights consider the brief arrest of the three journalist as yet another act of violation of freedom of the press in Bahrain. It is an act of harassment and to make an example to prevent the press form covering any protest activities in order to control the role of the press. In previous events, Journalists were beaten and cameras were broken or confiscated. In Malkia, a village where protests took place last month, the special security police ordered Bill Law, a well known British BBC journalist, to leave the area:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/6908274.stm.
The BCHR calls upon all concerned to do what ever convenient to hold the relevant Bahraini authorities responsible and to secure free work of the press and the safety and integrity of journalists in accordance with international standards.