IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT – BAHRAIN
15 October 2007
Internet censorship continues as authorities block website of popular civic organization
SOURCE: Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Manama
(BCHR/IFEX) – BCHR has learned that the Bahraini authorities have taken
measures to block access by people in Bahrain to the website of the HAQ
movement ( http://www.haaq.org ).
The HAQ Movement for Liberties and Democracy is a popular civic
IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
_______________________________________________________________
ALERT – BAHRAIN
15 October 2007
Internet censorship continues as authorities block website of popular civic organization
SOURCE: Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Manama
(BCHR/IFEX) – BCHR has learned that the Bahraini authorities have taken
measures to block access by people in Bahrain to the website of the HAQ
movement ( http://www.haaq.org ).
The HAQ Movement for Liberties and Democracy is a popular civic
organization, established in November 2005, calling for respect for rights
and democratization in Bahrain. HAQ and other popular organisations are not
registered under the national Civic Organizations Law number 21 of 1989 and
the Political Societies Law number 26 of 2005. These laws are believed to
have been legislated to impose a legal leash on civic organizations, a
suspicion substantiated by the day-to-day practices of the authorities.
They are also are considered to be in violation of well-known international
human rights covenants and charters. Nonetheless, because HAQ, like many
other popular organizations, is not registered under these laws, the
authorities consider it to be illegal, and therefore a target for
censorship and repression.
Such acts of Internet censorship by the Bahraini authorities are common.
Earlier in 2007, BCHR was aware of over 26 blocked websites, local and
international. These blockages were mainly in reaction to online reporting
about political scandals in Bahrain, especially what was locally dubbed the
“Bandergate report” about the misappropriation of public lands,
administrative and financial corruption, discrimination and favoritism.
Blocked sites included:
1. Six forums belonging to some villages in Bahrain (
http://www.juffair.com/vb , http://www.tubli.net , http://www.karzakan.com
, http://alduraz.net/xforum , http://www.eskanaali.com ,
http://www.shahrakkan.org );
2. Four general forums ( http://www.bahrainonline.org ,
http://www.montadayat.org , http://www.ahraralbahrain.com ,
http://www.wattani.net );
3. Two sites of civic organizations and popular committees (
http://www.bhteachers.org/phpBB2/ , http://www.shaheedbh.com );
4. The sites of two political organisations and movements (
http://www.vob.org and http://www.aldemokrati.org );
5. The sites of two human rights organizations (
http://www.bahrainrights.org , http://www.hrinfo.net );
6. The sites of two religious groups (Copts, Arab Christians:
http://www.freecopts.net , http://www.arabchurch.com );
7. One Kurdish nationalist sites ( http://www.kurdtimes.com );
8. One secular site ( http://www.ladeeni.net );
9. Two electronic newspapers ( http://www.alsaheefa.net ,
http://www.rezgar.net );
10. Two news and advertising sites ( http://www.Albawaba.com ,
http://www.annaqed.com );
11. One humour site ( http://www.bahraintimes.org);
12. One blog ( http://www.Mahood.tv ).
Censorship of these sites was made on the basis of the notorious Press
Decree Code No. 47 of 2002. Over 14 Bahraini journalists have been
interrogated, prosecuted, or taken to trial based on this law.
These actions of the Bahraini authorities violate the right to freedom of
expression, as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the Bahraini authorities:
– requesting they respect human rights, and the right to freedom of
expression in particular
– calling upon them to stop blocking websites
– asking them to use only legal means, in compliance with the international
charters and covenants, when dealing with civil organizations
– urging them to amend Press Decree Code No. 47 so that it conforms to
international human rights standards
APPEALS TO:
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, King of Bahrain
Mr. Jehad Bu-Kamal, Minister of Information
Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1 721 1363
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information contact Nabeel Rajab, Vice-President, BCHR, Manama,
Bahrain, tel: +973 3963 3399 / 3940 0720, fax: +973 1779 5170, e-mail:
nabeel.rajab@bahrainrights.org, info@bahrainrights.org, Internet:
http://www.bahrainrights.org
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of BCHR.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit BCHR.
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