The human rights situation in Bahrain has reached a critical point, with continued and escalating repression of fundamental freedoms. Authorities have systematically targeted freedoms of assembly, expression, and opinion, while silencing independent voices and escalating attacks against human rights defenders. Key aspects of this worsening crisis include:
Denial of Freedom of Assembly, Expression, and Opinion
The right to peaceful assembly, enshrined in international human rights conventions, is routinely violated in Bahrain. Protests are met with excessive force, arrests, and intimidation. Citizens face significant risks for voicing dissenting opinions, including arrests, harsh prison sentences, and public defamation campaigns. The repression extends to social media, where individuals are criminalized for posts critical of the government.
Repression of Independent Media
The independent press has been systematically dismantled, leaving Bahrain without any platforms for free and open journalism. Media outlets critical of the regime have been shut down, and journalists face harassment, imprisonment, and exile. The last simi independent newspaper Alwasat was forced to be closes since 2017.
This state of affairs ensures that public discourse is tightly controlled, with no room for alternative perspectives or accountability.
Targeting Human Rights Defenders
Human rights defenders continue to bear the brunt of state repression. These individuals, who advocate for the rights and freedoms of others, are subjected to arbitrary detention, travel bans, harassment, and defamation campaigns. Many prominent defenders are imprisoned like Abdul Hadi Alkhawaja who is jailed since 2011 or others who are forced to exile or forced into silence, stifling efforts to highlight abuses and push for reform.
Religious Discrimination and Denial of Worship
The Bahraini government has intensified its targeting of Shi’a Muslims, denying communities their right to Friday prayers and closing religious spaces in specific areas. This pattern of religious discrimination is not only a violation of freedom of religion but also a tool of systemic marginalization aimed at silencing a significant portion of the population.
Arbitrary Arrests of Protesters and Opposition Figures
Peaceful protesters, opposition leaders, and citizens critical of the government are regularly detained. The case of Fadhel Abbas, arrested for a tweet expressing dissent this November 2024 , is emblematic of the broader crackdown on free speech. This pattern of repression demonstrates the government’s zero-tolerance policy for dissent, even in its mildest forms.
Continued Arrest and Abuse of Children
The targeting of children is a particularly disturbing aspect of Bahrain’s human rights violations. Children as young as 11 or 12 have been arrested during protests or for allegedly engaging in anti-government activities. These actions not only violate international laws protecting children but also traumatize families and communities, fostering a climate of fear and resentment.
Broader Impacts of Repression
The sustained repression in Bahrain has created an environment where fear, surveillance, and censorship dominate daily life. Activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens live under constant threat, unable to express themselves or advocate for change without risking severe consequences. The denial of fundamental freedoms has further alienated the population, deepening divisions and mistrust between the people and the government.
Call to Action
The situation in Bahrain demands urgent attention from the international community. Countries and organizations committed to human rights must pressure Bahrain to:
Respect and protect freedoms of expression, assembly, and opinion.
Release all prisoners of conscience, including activists, journalists, and opposition leaders.
End the targeting of human rights defenders and children.
Cease discriminatory practices against religious communities.
Restore an independent press and allow the free flow of information.
These measures are critical to addressing the root causes of Bahrain’s human rights crisis and paving the way for a more just and equitable society. Silence or inaction in the face of these abuses only emboldens further violations, leaving countless individuals without hope for justice or dignity.