The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses deep concern over the wave of arrests that took place in Bahrain on 1 and 2 March, following the recent coordinated military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran. According to documentation collected by BCHR, at least 60 individuals were arrested, including children, in connection with peaceful protests and online expressions of opposition to the strikes.
The arrests reflect a troubling pattern of repression against individuals exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, rights that are protected under international human rights law and Bahrain’s own constitutional framework.
BCHR has documented that many of those arrested were detained either for participating in peaceful gatherings or for posting comments on social media platforms expressing criticism or concern about the regional escalation. Reports indicate that security forces conducted raids and arrests across several areas, targeting individuals who had publicly expressed their views about the military escalation and its implications for the region.
The organization is particularly alarmed by the arrest of minors, which raises serious concerns about the treatment of children and the continued targeting of young people in situations related to public expression and protest. International standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, emphasize that children must be protected from arbitrary detention and should never be criminalized for peacefully expressing their views.
The regional escalation between the United States, Israel, and Iran has generated widespread concern across the Middle East. In Bahrain, many citizens and residents expressed fear that the country and the region could be drawn into broader instability. Such concerns are legitimate public sentiments, and expressing them peacefully should not lead to arrest or intimidation.
Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are basic and universally recognized rights. These rights are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which protect the ability of individuals to express opinions, share information, and peacefully protest without fear of retaliation.
Criminalizing peaceful expression, including opinions shared online, undermines public trust and restricts civic space. In recent years, Bahrain has witnessed a steady narrowing of civic freedoms, including restrictions on peaceful gatherings, prosecutions linked to online speech, and limitations placed on independent media and civil society organizations.
The latest arrests appear to follow this pattern, where public reaction to regional political developments is treated as a security issue rather than as legitimate civic expression. Such an approach risks further escalating tensions within society and suppressing the ability of citizens to engage in meaningful public dialogue.
BCHR stresses that peaceful protest is not a crime. Citizens have the right to gather peacefully to express solidarity, opposition, or concern regarding international developments, especially when those developments directly affect regional stability and security.
Furthermore, the organization notes that using arrests to silence online expression represents a disproportionate response and contradicts international norms regarding digital rights and freedom of information. Social media platforms have become an important space for public debate, particularly in contexts where traditional media is limited. Punishing individuals for expressing their opinions online sends a dangerous message that even digital spaces are not safe for free expression.
BCHR calls on the Bahraini authorities to immediately release all individuals detained solely for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly or freedom of expression, including those arrested for social media posts or peaceful participation in demonstrations.
BCHR also urges authorities to respect the rights of children and ensure that minors are not subjected to detention or prosecution for peaceful activities. Child detainees should be released immediately and provided with appropriate protection and support.
In addition, BCHR calls on the international community, including governments and international human rights mechanisms, to closely monitor the situation and urge Bahrain to uphold its international human rights obligations.
The current regional tensions should not become a justification for suppressing civil liberties. Instead, governments should ensure that people are able to express their concerns peacefully and participate in public discourse without fear of arrest or intimidation.
Nedal Al-Salman, Director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, stated:
“Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are basic rights that must be protected at all times, especially during periods of regional tension and uncertainty. Arresting individuals—including children—for peaceful protest or for expressing their views online is deeply concerning and contradicts international human rights standards. Authorities must immediately release those detained for exercising these fundamental freedoms.”
BCHR reiterates that respect for human rights and civil liberties is essential for social stability and justice. Silencing voices through arrests and intimidation does not resolve tensions—it deepens them.
The organization will continue to monitor developments, document violations, and advocate for the protection of fundamental rights in Bahrain, including the right of individuals to express their opinions and assemble peacefully without fear of retaliation.