Twitter... a shortcut to Bahraini jails

الوفاق - 12/03/2013م - 4:03 م | عدد القراء: 20
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11th March 2013
Here in Bahrain, being active on Twitter or any social network makes the security forces on alert. They would raid house after midnight to arrest tweeps and interrogate them for long hours on their political views, and which they are then punished for.
Perhaps the mostly used social network in Bahrain is Twitter, and the easiest way to imprison Bahrainis over their political opinions.


On Monday, the regime forces raided a number of houses in early morning hours hunting tweeps of the widely used social network. A number of tweeps were arrested and taken to unknown destinations for interrogation.

Many Twitter users had been subjected to interrogation sessions in different police stations and had undergone unjust sham trials which are used to attack and retaliate from dissidents as confirmed by many NGOs human right reports as well as the BICI.

Previously, Bahraini courts had sentenced activists to jail because of their political opinions on Twitter. Amongst were 4 Bahrainis sentenced to jail and charged of offending the King on Twitter social network. The court also ruled to confiscate what was called the "tool of crime", a laptop and a smart phone that were used to tweet.

Security services have been mobilized to conduct what was called "searches and investigations" in the matter, ironically the security services were employed to attack the citizens rather than protect them. They track all dissident accounts on social networks and try to fabricate charges to be used against them for their pro-democracy stances and their demands of a democratic transition.

Many activists and opposition figures have been charged with fabricated charges either for revealing the regime's violations or for writing in political issues or issues related to freedom of expression.

The crackdown campaign, that targeted Twitter users, started back in April 2011-- during the emergency law when the regime perpetrated wide violations, arrests, killings, dismissals, abductions, targeting all opposition figures. The Public Prosecution interrogated Mr. Nabeel Rajab (a prominent human rights activist) because he posted photos that showed the brutality of the torture which led to the martyrdom of Ali Saqer inside detention.

Keeping a firm security fist, the regime in Bahrain has been desperately trying to impose more restrictions on Twitter because it is -among other social networks- widely used by Bahrainis. This, however, reflects the awareness of the people of Bahrain and their deep believe in their humanitarian and legal right to express their opinions and demand a democratic system through which they can realize democracy and bring an end to tyranny and oppression.