As 2024 end, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses deep concern over the continued and systematic violations of human rights in Bahrain. Despite the release of some political prisoners, the country continues to witness a troubling decline in fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of assembly, expression, press, and religion. Bahraini authorities persist in their policies of discrimination against women, arbitrary detention of children, and the closure of civic space, while also maintaining pressure on human rights defenders.
Discrimination Against Women
Despite Bahraini women consistently excelling in education, outnumbering and outperforming men in school and university graduations, they face systemic discrimination in the labor market. Women are rarely seen in senior leadership positions in both the public and private sectors, where they remain significantly underrepresented in decision-making roles.
This disparity contradicts the principle of equal opportunity and reflects deep-rooted discrimination that prevents women from accessing their full rights as guaranteed under international human rights law.
Furthermore, Bahraini women are still denied the right to pass their nationality to their children, unlike Bahraini men. Children born to Bahraini mothers and foreign fathers face obstacles in accessing education, healthcare, and other essential services. This policy constitutes a blatant form of gender-based discrimination and violates Bahrain’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which calls for gender equality in all aspects of life, including nationality rights.
Nedal Al Salman, President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, emphasized:
“Despite Bahraini women excelling in education and graduating in larger numbers than men, they continue to face exclusion from leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. This must change. Women deserve equal access to decision-making roles. We also renew our call for the Bahraini government to grant women the right to pass their nationality to their children — a fundamental human right that should not be denied.”
Shrinking Civic Space
In 2024, Bahrain’s civic space continued to shrink, with severe restrictions imposed on civil society organizations and human rights defenders. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) face harassment, obstacles to registration, and restrictions on their ability to operate freely. This policy aims to silence independent voices and limit accountability for human rights violations.
This hostile environment isolates Bahrain from international human rights mechanisms and leaves human rights defenders vulnerable to repression. Many face travel bans, interrogations, and prosecutions, hindering their ability to raise awareness about human rights violations on the international stage.
Crackdown on Peaceful Assembly and Freedom of Expression
The Bahraini authorities continue to suppress peaceful protests and deny citizens their right to peaceful assembly. In 2024, protests were met with excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests, and violence against protesters. BCHR documents montly peaceful protests suppression Bahrain: Last November, BCHR Documented 17 arrests and 19 peaceful protest – BCHR July to September 2024: Bahrain Center for Human Rights Documents 153 Arrests, Including 21 Children – BCHR
While some political prisoners were released, the authorities launched a new wave of arrests targeting protesters, human rights activists, and online bloggers Bahrain: release of 457 prisoners welcomed by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) – BCHR.
These actions highlight Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to silence dissent and criminalize peaceful expression. Social media users have also been targeted for criticizing the government, with several facing prosecution for exercising their basic right to free speech Bahrain: Activits Ebrahim Sharif arrested over social media posts – BCHR .
Violations of Press Freedom
Press freedom in Bahrain remains severely restricted. The government maintains tight control over the media, censoring critical reporting and banning independent journalists from covering protests or reporting on human rights violations.
Journalists and bloggers face harassment, prosecution, and intimidation, often forcing them into self-censorship to avoid reprisal. This state of fear and control over the media landscape leaves Bahraini society without access to unbiased news and information Writing in Chains: The Deteriorating State of Press Freedom in Bahrain – BCHR .
Discrimination Against Shi’a Citizens
Bahrain continues its policy of sectarian discrimination against its Shi’a citizens. Throughout 2024, authorities imposed restrictions on Friday prayers in Diraz, a predominantly Shi’a village, and summoned several Shi’a clerics for interrogation during the annual Ashura commemorations. Authorities also removed religious symbols and banners from public spaces, further intensifying sectarian repression.
These actions are part of a wider strategy to marginalize the Shi’a community and restrict their religious freedoms. This pattern of targeting Shi’a citizens violates Bahrain’s commitments under international human rights treaties, which protect the right to religious freedom and prohibit religious discrimination عاشوراء 2024: استدعاءات واعتقالات بالجملة واعتداءات على الشعائر في 11 منطقة – مركز البحرين لحقوق الإنسان .
Arbitrary Detention of Children
Despite international criticism, Bahrain continues to arrest and detain children on charges related to their participation in peaceful protests. Throughout 2024, Bahraini authorities detained children as young as 15 years old, subjecting them to unsafe detention conditions and denying them education and psychological support.
The detention of children violates Bahrain’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which calls for the protection of children’s rights to education, development, and a safe environment. This alarming trend demands urgent international attention and intervention The Government of Bahrain is still Detaining Children: 15-Year-Old (Ali Hussain Ali Nasser Matrook) – BCHR Children Behind Bars – BCHR .
The Plight of Political Prisoners
While Bahrain released a limited number of prisoners in 2024, it continued to arbitrarily arrest and detain activists, protesters, and human rights defenders. Despite international calls for his release, prominent human rights defender and founder of BCHR, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, remains imprisoned for nearly 5,000 days.
Al-Khawaja, who has been subjected to severe medical neglect, is at risk of life-threatening health complications. BCHR renews its demand for the immediate release of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and all other political prisoners Release Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja: A Call for Justice on Bahrain’s National Day – BCHR.
BCHR’s Recommendations
In light of the ongoing violations in Bahrain, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the Bahraini government to take the following steps:
- Release Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and all political prisoners – Bahrain must immediately release all those detained for exercising their right to free expression and peaceful assembly.
- End arbitrary detention of children – Children should not be subjected to arrest, detention, or prosecution for participating in peaceful protests.
- End discrimination against women – Women should have the right to pass their nationality to their children, and gender equality should be enforced in both the public and private sectors to ensure women’s access to leadership roles.
- End sectarian discrimination – The government must allow Friday prayers in Diraz without interference and protect the religious freedoms of Shi’a citizens.
- Open civic space – Civil society organizations and human rights defenders must be allowed to operate freely, without fear of harassment, surveillance, or retaliation.
- Protect freedom of expression and assembly – All citizens must be guaranteed the right to peacefully protest and freely express their views without risk of arrest or prosecution.
Call to the International Community
BCHR calls on the international community, including the United Nations, European Union, and foreign governments, to hold the Bahraini government accountable for its ongoing human rights violations. Specifically, BCHR urges the international community to press for:
- The immediate and unconditional release of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and all political prisoners.
- An end to discrimination against women, including the right for women to pass their nationality to their children.
- Accountability for violations against Shi’a citizens, and protection of their right to religious freedom.
Nedal Al Salman, Director of BCHR, stated:
“It is deeply troubling that, despite Bahraini women excelling in education, they continue to be sidelined from leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. Women’s rights are not a luxury but a basic human right. We demand that Bahrain address this discrimination and allow Bahraini women to pass their nationality to their children. We also call for the immediate release of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who has spent nearly 5,000 days behind bars for his peaceful activism. True reform requires action, not rhetoric.”
Conclusion
As 2025 started, BCHR reiterates its call for the Bahraini government to take meaningful action to improve its human rights record. Releasing political prisoners, ending gender discrimination, and restoring civic space are essential steps toward reform. Without tangible measures to address these systemic issues, Bahrain will continue to face mounting pressure from the international community.
BCHR remains committed to defending human rights in Bahrain and will continue to amplify the voices of the oppressed. Real change will only come when the rights and dignity of all people in Bahrain are respected and protected.