3 May 2005
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) followed up with great concern the approval of the Cabinet on the draft law criminating the publication of names or pictures of suspected criminals by the local media or providing the international media with information before the issuance of the final verdict on the suspect.
3 May 2005
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) followed up with great concern the approval of the Cabinet on the draft law criminating the publication of names or pictures of suspected criminals by the local media or providing the international media with information before the issuance of the final verdict on the suspect.
A few years back, the BCHR objected over the government’s manner in publishing the names or pictures of those arrested for political or security reasons, accusing them of vandalism or harming stability before imposing charges or transferring them to the courts. This was considered as clear violation of their rights, and contradictory to the principle that the accused is innocent until proven guilty. Journalists, members of parliament and the civil society protested against this matter.
Nevertheless, the BCHR is worried that the new law aims not at protecting the interests of the suspects but instead a way to prevent the families of the suspects, lawyers and human rights activists from benefiting from the local or foreign media to reveal any violations. Especially since some of the clauses of the state security law are still valid, and the authority continues to use other laws that restrict and punish practices of basic freedoms, such as freedom of press, expression and gathering. Additionally, the executive power continues to control the public prosecution and judiciary, in particular in cases of freedom of opinion and of activists whom the government considers as its opponents.
The cabinet’s decision stipulates legislation of the new law by amending clause no. 5 of chapter 246 of the penal code, issued by decree by-law no.15 for 1976. The draft law has been submitted to the Shura and Representatives Councils. Both Councils have failed over the past three years in amending articles of the state security law of the penal code or any other laws that violate freedoms.
The Center calls on the authorities, and the Shura and Representative Councils to be transparent in publishing details of draft laws, specially those related to freedoms and human rights. The Center demands actual activation of criminating the government for publishing the names or pictures of suspects before the issuance of the judicial verdict, but not preventing those acting to protect the rights of the detainee or defendant from using the media.
