The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) takes note of the recently published U.S. Department of State’s 2024 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Bahrain—available at www.state.gov/reports/2024-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/bahrain—which documents persistent and serious human rights violations, including restrictions on freedom of expression, arbitrary detentions, repression of peaceful protests, discrimination, and concerns about due process and accountability.
While the Bahraini authorities have attempted to project a narrative of reform—particularly through high-profile initiatives such as mass pardons—the reality for many activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens remains one of repression, intimidation, and violation of fundamental rights. BCHR welcomes the continued attention of international actors such as the United States to the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain, but we emphasize that real change requires more than symbolic gestures.
Limited Reforms and the Issue of Prisoner Pardons
The report highlights the April 2024 royal pardon of more than 1,500 prisoners, an action presented by the authorities as a step toward reconciliation. While BCHR acknowledges the importance of releasing detainees, it is essential to recognize that these pardons remain selective, temporary, and often politically motivated.
Prominent political prisoners and human rights defenders—including Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja BCHR Founder, Abduljalil Al-Singace, and Hassan Mushaima—remain unjustly imprisoned, denied proper medical care, and subjected to degrading conditions. Furthermore, many of those released during pardons continue to face harassment, restrictions on movement, and the threat of re-arrest. Genuine commitment to reform requires not symbolic releases, but the unconditional freedom of all prisoners of conscience and the repeal of repressive laws that criminalize peaceful dissent.
Freedom of Expression Under Attack
The U.S. report underscores the continued criminalization of free speech in Bahrain. Activists, journalists, and social media users are routinely investigated, detained, or prosecuted for criticizing the government or expressing solidarity with prisoners of conscience.
The widespread surveillance of online spaces fosters a culture of self-censorship, while independent media outlets remain silenced following the closure of Al-Wasat in 2017. Without a free press and the ability of citizens to express themselves without fear, Bahrain cannot claim to be on a path toward meaningful reform.
Arbitrary Detention and Torture
The report also references arbitrary arrests and violations of due process, concerns that BCHR has long documented. Security forces continue to rely on coerced confessions, prolonged pre-trial detentions, and unfair trials in politically motivated cases.
The use of torture and ill-treatment in detention facilities remains a pressing concern, particularly in cases involving political detainees. Prisoners are often denied adequate medical care, subjected to solitary confinement, and prevented from contacting their families. These practices not only violate international human rights law but also reflect a deliberate strategy of silencing dissent through fear and intimidation.
Religious Discrimination and Suppression of Peaceful Assembly
The U.S. report draws attention to ongoing discrimination against Bahrain’s majority Shia population, particularly through the targeting of religious figures, the restriction of Ashura commemorations, and the continued closure of Diraz’s Friday prayers.
Peaceful assembly remains heavily curtailed, with protests quickly dispersed and participants threatened with arrest. Even minor acts of solidarity—such as raising banners, sharing religious flyers, or posting online—are met with criminal charges. This ongoing criminalization of peaceful protest demonstrates Bahrain’s unwillingness to uphold its obligations under international law.
Death Penalty and Judicial Abuses
BCHR is particularly alarmed by the report’s references to the use of the death penalty in cases where convictions are based on confessions obtained under torture. This practice not only contravenes fair trial standards but also underscores the structural flaws in Bahrain’s judiciary, which is neither independent nor impartial in cases involving political dissent.
We reiterate our call for an immediate moratorium on the death penalty and for comprehensive judicial reform that guarantees accountability, transparency, and compliance with international standards.
Migrant Workers and Human Trafficking
The report also documents ongoing abuses against migrant workers, who remain highly vulnerable to exploitation through contract substitution, passport confiscation, and forced labor. Despite reforms on paper, enforcement remains weak, and many migrant workers are left without meaningful access to justice or protection.
As Bahrain continues to rely on migrant labor, the government must prioritize protecting workers’ rights by fully implementing anti-trafficking laws, strengthening labor inspections, and ensuring that victims are given safe reporting channels and adequate support.
BCHR’s Position
The 2024 report confirms what Bahraini human rights defenders and organizations have consistently documented: Bahrain continues to operate under a system that prioritizes political control and repression over human rights, accountability, and democratic reform.
High-profile gestures such as prisoner releases cannot mask the structural reality of repression. Real reform requires:
- Immediate release of all prisoners of conscience, including prominent activists, human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition leaders.
- Repeal of repressive laws used to silence dissent, including those criminalizing peaceful assembly and online expression.
- Independent investigations into torture and ill-treatment, with accountability for perpetrators.
- An end to religious discrimination and respect for the right to peaceful assembly and worship.
- A moratorium on the death penalty, with steps toward abolition.
- Effective protection for migrant workers, with enforcement of labor rights and anti-trafficking measures.
- Reopening civic space, including lifting bans on independent media and civil society organizations.
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights urges the international community—particularly allies such as the United States and the European Union—to move beyond documentation and rhetoric and to adopt concrete measures that press Bahrain to meet its international obligations.
The 2024 U.S. State Department report is a reminder that Bahrain’s human rights crisis is far from resolved. Sustained international pressure, coupled with the resilience of Bahraini civil society, remains essential to securing justice and accountability for the people of Bahrain.