BPA condemns the on-going reprisal against journalists in Bahrain

محروم.كوم · #1 10-10-2011, 02:40 AM

09-10-11 11:30 PM

Left to right: Noor Aqeel and Basima AlQassab

LONDON, October 08, 2011 – Bahrain Press Association "BPA", the London-based association concerned with defending Bahrain media and press people, announced today its condemnation over the Bahraini regime on-going reprisal taking the forms of detention, dismissal, and unfair prosecution against scores of journalists, bloggers, and photographers amid the 14 February democracy protests which were brutally crushed following the king's declaration of martial law on March 15 with troops from neighboring Gulf states pouring into the island.

Journalist Basima Al Qassab was summoned to appear before the civil court over a media statement she made to the BBC Channel. Ms. Al Qassab was dismissed from her job on June 8, 2011 after appearing before a disciplinary council amid that statement which represents a clear violation to the freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Bahrain. In the trial, Ms. Al Qassab will be charged with allegations like inciting anti-government hatred and participation in illegal gatherings to face jail terms ranging from one to five years.

Ms. Noor Aqeel, a journalist of Al Ahed Newspaper, is still held since September 23 after being captured along with a group of other women in the City Center shopping mall in Manama.

Despite the assertion made by the Bahraini regime that there are no Bahraini women kept in police custody as per the democracy protests, Ms. Aqeel is still behind bars. It is worth mentioning that Bahrain Youth Society awarded Ms. Aqeel a journalism medal.

Since mid February, political unrest has been running high all over the country. Press people of all specialties covering the democracy protests reported to have been repressed by non-stop violations and assaults. France 24 and Radio Monte Carlo correspondent Nazeeha Saeed was summoned to the southern governorate police station and was severely tortured, an incident later acknowledged by the Bahraini interior ministry. As a result, the ministry set up an inquiry panel to look into the violation following critical statements by international organizations. Not surprisingly, until today no outcome has been announced pertaining to such incident.

Likewise, many female journalists were summoned to police stations. While in police custody, most of them were reportedly abused and forced to ink fabricated confessions with charges like trying to overthrow the monarchy in order to put pressure on them. Needless to say, many press people were arbitrarily sacked from their jobs in both public and private media shops.

The BPA condemns the on-going repression against media people and call on the authorities to ensure the unconditional and immediate release of journalist Noor Aqeel and stop all legal proceedings, which lack the semblance of due process of law, against media people.

For more information, please contact:
Bahrain Press Association
UK ? +447821135441
US ? +12403869925
Email: [email protected]

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