Report exposes Bahraini abuses

Six international human rights groups published an online report documenting the ongoing violations of human rights in Bahrain, despite assurances of reform by the government. The report, called "Justice Denied in Bahrain: Freedom of Expression and Assembly Curtailed," was led and compiled by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), Front Line Defenders, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), Index on Censorship, International Media Support (IMS) and the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International and it aimed to go more in-depth in the country's issues than previous investigations did. On November 23 of last year the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) published a report following a royal order by Bahraini monarch and erstwhile ruler King Hamad. However, the investigation led by the six human rights groups reports that very little has changed in the country and that torture and general violation of human rights is still occurring every day. ‘Justice Denied in Bahrain’ provides a 27-page-long report outlining nine different types of violations by the authorities, including detention and persecution of campaigners; digital media censorship; the arrest, murder and harassment of journalists and firing and arrests of teachers. The report said: "the reality on the ground in Bahrain remains unchanged". It also made 11 recommendations, including calls to end the harassment, imprisonment and prosecution of Bahraini citizens for what essentially amount to persecution of free expression and legitimate human rights work.