Bahrain's Embargoed Status: Understanding The Restrictions

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is a small island country in West Asia situated on the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by a Sunni king, whose family holds the main political and military posts. The country has a population of around 1.4 million people and is known for its pearl fisheries, which were considered the best in the world until the 19th century.

In terms of its economic and political relationships, Bahrain has established bilateral relations with 190 countries worldwide and is a member of several international organisations, including the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. It has a close relationship with the United States, which has a naval base in the country, and participated in the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.

Regarding human rights, Bahrain has faced criticism for its treatment of dissidents, political opposition figures, and its majority Shia Muslim population. The country experienced widespread protests in 2011, which were inspired by the Arab Spring and led by the Shia majority against the Sunni rulers. Since then, the monarchy has been accused of systematically eliminating political rights and civil liberties.

So, is Bahrain an embargoed country? While there may be some restrictions on activities and sanctions in place, Bahrain does not appear on the list of countries that are currently subject to comprehensive embargoes prohibiting most exports/imports and other transactions.

Bahrain's Sunni-Shia divide

Bahrain is not on the list of countries subject to comprehensive embargoes. However, the country has experienced political and social turmoil due to its Sunni-Shia divide.

Bahrain, an island country in West Asia, has a long history of Sunni-Shia tension. While Bahrainis have lived together peacefully for centuries, with intermarriages between the two groups being common, the country's ruling class has often been dominated by one sect, creating divisions and inequality.

Bahrain is a small but strategic island nation in the Persian Gulf, just off the Saudi Gulf Coast. It has a population of around 1.5 million people, with an estimated 62% being Shia and 38% Sunni Muslims. The country is ruled by a semi-constitutional monarchy, with the Al Khalifa royal family at its head. This royal family is Sunni Muslim and has been criticised for violating the human rights of Shia Muslims, who make up the majority of the population.

The Sunni-Shia divide in Bahrain has led to political and social tensions, with the Shia majority often facing discrimination and being treated as second-class citizens. Shia Muslims have protested against this treatment and demanded democratic rights and equal representation. These protests, particularly those that occurred during the Arab Spring in 2011, were met with a harsh response from the government, which was backed by Saudi and Emirati forces. Shia protesters were imprisoned, tortured, and even killed, and the government played the religion card to divide the movement.

Despite the tensions, there are some areas of consensus between Sunnis and Shias in Bahrain. Polling suggests that both groups generally support coexistence and cooperation, and they share similar views on the importance of good ties with Washington and promoting Palestinian-Israeli peace. However, they sharply diverge in their attitudes towards Iran and its policies in the region. While a majority of Shia Bahrainis view Iran's policies favourably, almost none of the Sunnis share this sentiment.

The Sunni-Shia divide in Bahrain has deep historical roots. Bahrain was the first Gulf emirate to adopt Shia Islam in the 9th century CE, and both sects coexisted for centuries. However, in 1783, the Sunni Al Khalifa clan became the monarchs of Bahrain, creating a dynamic where a Sunni monarchy ruled over a Shia majority population. This divide was further exacerbated by the influence of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which encouraged Shia Bahrainis to protest their monarchy and embrace the idea of religious clerics also holding political power.

In recent years, there have been efforts to bridge the Sunni-Shia divide in Bahrain. The death of Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, the world's longest-serving prime minister, in 2020, and the appointment of his nephew, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, as his successor, raised hopes for reconciliation. Prince Salman, who is first in line to the throne, has been seen as a potential bridge between the Sunnis and Shias. However, despite these efforts, Sunnis and Shias in Bahrain remain as far apart as ever, with the underlying tensions and discrimination persisting.

The country's media and internet censorship

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is deemed ''Not Free' in terms of Net Freedom and Press Freedom by Freedom House, scoring 28/100 on the Freedom of the Net Index. Reporters Without Borders ranked Bahrain 162nd out of 180 countries in the 2016 World Press Freedom Index.

Internet Censorship

Bahrain has the second-highest internet penetration rate in the Middle East at 98.6%. The government has attempted to curtail the digital sphere, and internet freedom remains restricted. The Bahraini Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has ordered all telecommunications companies to record customers' phone calls, emails, and website visits for up to three years. The country has also made extensive acquisitions of spyware over the last decade, particularly for use against dissidents.

The government works to manipulate and control online information. Since the 2011 pro-democracy protests, in which online media played a significant role, censorship has been heavy-handed. Political content is widely blocked, and numerous websites continue to be blocked. Social media users have been arrested and jailed, and the level of self-censorship and state surveillance remains high.

Media Censorship

The Kingdom of Bahrain's constitution outlines freedoms of expression, press, and telecommunications in Articles 23–26. However, journalists argue that these clauses are open-ended and can be arbitrarily interpreted by Bahraini officials. In practice, these rights are not always upheld.

Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy led by the Khalifa royal family, which has been criticised for its censorship of information and repression of its people. It has become notorious for jailing journalists. Since 2011, there has been a surge of uprisings and demonstrations against the current regime, which have been met with increased repression and harsher censorship measures for dissidents.

Matters pertaining to human rights are heavily censored, and the promotion of hatred, gambling, or pornography is banned from websites and media sources. All major newspaper outlets within Bahrain are heavily influenced by the government, except for Al-Wasat, whose building headquarters was attacked by a crowd of pro-government supporters.

Bahrain's media and internet censorship is extensive, with the government employing various tactics to control the flow of information. This includes blocking websites, removing content, and intimidating and arresting journalists and activists. As a result, self-censorship is prevalent among citizens and journalists, who fear the consequences of expressing their opinions.

The discovery of oil in Bahrain

Bahrain is not on the list of countries that are currently embargoed. However, here is some information about the discovery of oil in the country.

The First Oil Well

The First Oil Well in Bahrain, located below Jebel Dukhan, was discovered and operated by the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), which was established in 1929 in Canada by the Standard Oil Company of California. On October 16, 1931, oil first spurted from this well, and on June 2, 1932, it began to blow heads of oil. The initial oil flow rate was 9,600 barrels per day, and by the 1970s, the well was producing 70,000 barrels per day.

Impact on the Economy

The discovery of oil had a significant impact on Bahrain's economy. Oil exports became a major source of revenue for the government, accounting for over 70% of government income since 2007. Bahrain receives its oil revenues from two fields: the onshore Bahrain field and the offshore Abu Safah field, shared with Saudi Arabia. In recent years, Bahrain has made significant oil and gas discoveries, including an estimated 80 billion barrels of tight oil and 10-20 trillion cubic feet of onshore gas reserves.

Diversification Efforts

Despite the success of oil and gas, Bahrain has also focused on economic diversification. The government is targeting manufacturing sectors such as plastics, fiberglass, chemicals, petrochemicals, and food processing. Additionally, Bahrain is investing in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology to deploy across its industrial sectors.

Historical Context

The country's civil unrest and protests

Bahrain's civil unrest and protests have a long history, dating back to the early 2000s. In 2002, Bahrain was declared a semi-constitutional monarchy, and the following year, the country experienced protests demanding restrictions on British influence. This led to the arrest and exile of the protest leaders.

In 2006, Bahrain witnessed sectarian clashes and protests calling for an elected popular assembly and the removal of Charles Belgrave, who served as an adviser to the ruler. The National Union Committee, a group of reformists, played a significant role in these demonstrations.

However, the most significant unrest occurred in 2011, inspired by the regional Arab Spring. Tens of thousands of demonstrators, mainly from the Shia majority, marched against the ruling Sunni Muslim Al Khalifa royal family, accusing them of discrimination and tight control over power. The protests began on February 14, 2011, with an "Anti-government 'Day of Rage'" that resulted in the death of one protester. The next day, another person died during clashes between police and mourners at the protester's funeral.

On February 17, Bahraini police stormed the Pearl Roundabout, the focal point of the protests, to clear activists camped there. This resulted in the deaths of at least seven people. The Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, initially responded by calling for a national dialogue. However, the situation escalated further, with clashes breaking out between minority Sunni and majority Shi'ite Muslims.

As the protests continued, the ruling family requested military assistance from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Bahrain declared martial law and cracked down on protesters, imposing a curfew and banning public gatherings. Despite the government's attempts to quell the demonstrations, protests and clashes continued throughout 2011, with authorities using teargas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters.

The Bahraini government's response to the 2011 protests was heavily criticised by international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry confirmed the excessive use of force by security forces and the torture of detainees.

The aftermath of the 2011 protests saw a crackdown on opposition groups, with the al-Wefaq party being closed down and its leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, imprisoned and later given a life sentence. The Wa'ad party, another major opposition group, was also banned, and its leader, Ebrahim Sharif, served a prison sentence.

In the years following the 2011 uprising, Bahrain continued to face criticism for its human rights record, with reports of routine torture in prisons and the persecution of dissidents. The authorities have been accused of systematically targeting critics, including political activists, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and Shi'a clerics.

The Bahraini government's allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have been criticised for their reluctance to address the country's human rights issues and their continued support for the Bahraini government, including through arms sales.

Bahrain's relationship with the US

Bahrain and the United States have been allies since Bahrain's independence in 1971 and have maintained close relations with shared economic and geopolitical interests. The United States established diplomatic relations with Bahrain in 1971 following its independence from the United Kingdom. The US embassy in Manama was opened in September 1971, and the country's first resident ambassador was sent in 1974. The Bahraini embassy in Washington, D.C., opened in 1977.

Bahrain has been the location of a US naval base since 1947, when it was still a British colony. The United States designated Bahrain a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2002. Bahrain plays a key role in the region's security architecture and is a vital US partner in defence initiatives. Bahrain hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command, and participates in US-led military coalitions, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Bahrain's security forces have supported the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, providing perimeter security at a military base.

In 2004, the US and Bahrain signed a free trade agreement, which was implemented in 2006. This agreement reduced certain barriers to trade between the two countries. In 2021, US-Bahrain two-way trade exceeded $2 billion, up from $1.5 billion in 2020. The primary US exports to Bahrain include aircraft, machinery, and motor vehicles. The leading US imports from Bahrain include aluminium, oil, textiles, and plastics. In 2019, the United States accounted for 12.4% of Bahrain's non-oil exports.

In 2023, the United States and Bahrain signed a strategic security and economic agreement to expand defence and intelligence collaboration between the two countries. In January 2024, Bahrain, the US, and other Western countries took part in missile strikes in Yemen.

Frequently asked questions