Bahrain's Human Rights Activists: Voices Of Change And Courage

Bahrain's human rights record has been described as dismal by Human Rights Watch, with the country's treatment of its native Shia Muslim population, and its use of torture and forced disappearances, coming under particular scrutiny.

One of the country's most prominent human rights defenders is Nabeel Rajab, who was sentenced to five years in prison for criticising Saudi Arabia's air strikes in Yemen and accusing Bahrain's prison authorities of torture. He was also serving a two-year sentence for a news interview in which he said Bahrain tortured political prisoners.

Another human rights activist, Ebtisam al-Sayegh, was subjected to physical, verbal, and sexual abuse by NSA officers in May 2017. She was charged with supporting terrorist activities under the country's anti-terrorism law.

The Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) is the country's main human rights group. It was set up in 2002 following political reforms by the Bahraini government to allow the functioning of independent human rights groups. However, in 2010 the government dissolved the BHRS's board of directors, leaving the group's future in doubt.

The Bahraini government's treatment of Nabeel Rajab, a prominent human rights activist

Nabeel Rajab is a prominent human rights activist and president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. He has been at the forefront of the fight for civil liberties in Bahrain since the 1990s uprising and has been repeatedly targeted by the Bahraini government for his activism.

Rajab's treatment at the hands of the Bahraini government has been widely criticised by human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, as well as by the international community. He has been subjected to physical intimidation, arrest, detention, and travel bans as a result of his work.

In 2011, during the Arab Spring, Rajab led several protests, frequently clashing with political authorities and public security forces. He has criticised not only the Bahraini government's human rights record but also the stance of Bahrain's allies, including the United States. His activism has led to multiple incarcerations.

In 2012, he was detained and sentenced to three months in prison for a Twitter post deemed insulting to Bahrainis. While still detained, he received an additional three-year prison sentence on charges related to his protest activities, later reduced to two years upon appeal. After being released in 2014, he was re-arrested for criticising the government on Twitter and was released on bail pending trial in 2015.

In February 2018, the High Criminal Court of Bahrain sentenced Rajab to five years in prison for statements critical of the Bahraini government, including allegations of mistreatment and torture while imprisoned in 2015. He was released from prison in June 2020.

Rajab's treatment by the Bahraini government has been characterised as a violation of his right to free expression and assembly, which is protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Bahrain ratified in 2006. His imprisonment has been described as arbitrary detention by human rights organisations.

In addition to the physical intimidation, arrest, and detention, Rajab has also faced travel bans and restrictions on his ability to earn a living. The authorities have imposed bans preventing him from engaging in new business ventures, and he has also been subjected to financial repercussions, such as the confiscation of his personal electronic devices by the police.

The targeting of Shia Muslims by the Bahraini government

Shia Muslims in Bahrain have faced persecution and human rights abuses at the hands of the Bahraini government. While Shia Muslims make up the majority of the country's Muslim population, the Sunni royal family, Al Khalifa, governs the country. This has led to tensions and allegations of discrimination against Shia Muslims in various sectors, including politics, security forces, and the justice system.

One prominent example of the Bahraini government's targeting of Shia Muslims is the crackdown on protesters during the 2011 Arab Spring. The government's response to the protests resulted in further human rights complaints, including the destruction of dozens of long-standing Shia mosques and the use of torture and forced disappearances. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry was established to assess the incidents, and its report confirmed the use of physical and psychological abuse on detainees. However, the report was criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability.

In addition to the destruction of Shia mosques, the Bahraini government has also targeted Shia clerics and activists. For example, in 2015, Shia cleric and former MP Sheikh Hassan Isa was arrested on false charges, and in 2016, Ayatullah Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of Al Wefaq, was stripped of his nationality, leading to protests. The government has also prevented Shia Muslims from performing Friday prayers in the Imam al-Sadiq mosque in al-Duraz, the country's foremost Shia place of worship.

The Bahraini government has been accused of practicing a form of "sectarian apartheid" by discriminating against Shia Muslims in various aspects of society. According to reports, Shia Muslims face restrictions in accessing top government jobs, serving in the police or military, and residing in certain areas. There are also concerns about the government's systematic efforts to diminish the Shia majority by promoting the immigration of Sunni Muslims and granting them citizenship.

International organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have repeatedly criticized Bahrain's human rights record and called for an end to the discrimination and persecution of Shia Muslims. Despite some efforts to improve the situation, reports indicate that human rights violations against Shia Muslims in Bahrain persist.

The Bahraini government's use of torture and ill-treatment

The Bahraini government has been accused of using torture and ill-treatment by multiple human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Torture and forced disappearances are said to be common in Bahrain, with the government also marginalising the native Shia Muslim population.

In 2011, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry was established to assess the incidents that occurred during the period of unrest in February and March 2011 and their consequences. The report confirmed that there were some incidents of physical and psychological abuse of detainees. However, the report was criticised for not disclosing the names of individual perpetrators and for only holding accountable those who actively carried out the human rights violations.

In 2020, Human Rights Watch claimed that "torture is a regular part of the legal process in Bahrain". This was further supported by a 2011 report by the same organisation, which found that between 2007 and 2009, the government regularly practiced torture and ill-treatment when interrogating security suspects. Despite government denials, there has been no evidence of criminal investigations, nor have any disciplinary measures been imposed on the alleged perpetrators.

In 2021, Human Rights Watch and Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy released a joint report stating that Bahraini courts routinely violated defendants' rights to fair trials. The report also highlighted the use of torture to coerce confessions, with cases of forced confessions, electric shocks, beatings, and attempted rape.

In July 2021, the non-governmental organisation IFEX called upon the Bahraini government to release Dr. Abduljalil AlSingace, a prominent Bahraini human rights defender and academic who went on a hunger strike to protest against the degrading and punitive treatment he had been receiving from Jau Prison authorities.

In August 2021, it was revealed that the UK government had been using taxpayers' money to fund a Bahraini government institution accused of "whitewashing" the torture and rape of women's rights activists. The two activists who were allegedly sexually assaulted by the Bahraini authorities condemned the British government for their involvement.

In March 2023, Ebrahim Al-Mannai was arrested for his social media activity, which included urging the Bahraini government to reform its parliament. This incident further highlights the Bahraini government's suppression of freedom of expression and dissent.

The Bahraini government's treatment of migrant workers

The treatment of migrant workers in Bahrain has been a significant concern for human rights activists and organisations. Nabeel Rajab, a prominent Bahraini human rights activist and president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of migrant workers in the country. He was one of the founders of the first migrant workers' protection committee in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Migrant Workers Protection Group, established in 2003.

In 2007, the Bahraini Parliament passed a law banning unmarried migrant workers from living in residential areas. This decision was criticised by human rights organisations, including the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, as discriminatory and promoting negative racist attitudes towards migrant workers. Despite this, the Bahraini government has continued to implement policies that restrict the rights and freedoms of migrant workers.

In 2017, Bahrain introduced a unified standard contract for domestic workers, which outlines the nature of the job, rest hours, and days off. However, this contract does not include provisions for a minimum wage or limits on working hours. Additionally, migrant workers often face issues such as dismissal, reduced or unpaid wages, and evictions from their accommodation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, migrant workers in Bahrain were disproportionately affected. While the government provided salary support for citizens working in the private sector, migrant workers, who comprise most of the country's workforce, were excluded from these benefits. They also faced challenges such as reduced or unpaid wages and difficulties in accessing healthcare and social services.

In recent years, there have been some positive developments. In 2017, Bahrain included irregular migrants in its COVID-19 vaccination program, recognising their right to health and access to essential services. Additionally, in 2019, King Hamad reinstated the citizenship of 551 individuals, and courts restored the nationality of another 147 individuals, addressing the issue of arbitrary citizenship revocations.

Overall, while there have been some improvements, the Bahraini government's treatment of migrant workers remains a concern. The lack of labour protections, inadequate living and working conditions, and limited access to healthcare and social services continue to impact the lives of migrant workers in the country.

The Bahraini government's response to the 2011 pro-democracy protests

The 2011 pro-democracy protests in Bahrain, also known as the Bahraini uprising, were met with a violent response from the Bahraini government. Here is an overview of the government's actions during this period:

February 2011

The protests began on 14 February 2011, with thousands of people, mainly from the Shia majority, demanding governmental reform in what was called a "Day of Rage". The protests were inspired by similar upheavals in Tunisia and Egypt. One protester was killed, and the next day, police clashed with mourners at the protester's funeral, resulting in another death.

February 17, 2011 ("Bloody Thursday")

On 17 February, security forces launched a pre-dawn raid on the Pearl Roundabout, the focal point of the protests, to clear activists camped out there. This resulted in the deaths of four protesters and injuries to over 300 people. Manama was subsequently placed under lockdown, with armed soldiers and tanks taking up positions in the city.

February 25, 2011

Three cabinet ministers were fired, apparently to pacify the protesters.

March 2011

Clashes broke out between minority Sunnis and majority Shias, marking the first direct confrontation between the two communities since the large-scale protests began. On 14 March, around 1,000 Saudi troops, along with 500 troops from the United Arab Emirates, were deployed to Bahrain at the ruling family's request to protect government facilities. The Bahraini government then declared martial law and imposed a curfew across most parts of Manama, banning all public gatherings. Government forces used tanks and machine guns to forcibly empty the Pearl Roundabout and occupied Salmaniyah Hospital, another rallying point for protesters. They also arrested protest leaders.

April 2011

The Crown Prince expressed his commitment to reform but warned of "no leniency" for those trying to divide Bahrain.

May 2011

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa called for talks on reform involving all parties without preconditions.

June 2011

On 1 June, the state of emergency was lifted, and the government permitted opposition groups to hold rallies, which remained peaceful. However, clashes with security forces regularly broke out when protesters demonstrated in Shia villages. Smaller weekly protests took place throughout the summer, and courts sentenced many activists to prison.

July 2011

National Dialogue talks began between the opposition and pro-government groups, but the main Shia opposition group, al-Wefaq, pulled out, feeling that their views were not being taken seriously.

August 2011

Al-Wefaq boycotted the parliamentary by-elections, which resulted in a low voter turnout as the Shia majority largely boycotted the polls in protest against the crackdown.

September 2011

The government accused scores of people of militancy in mass trials, which rights activists claimed included mostly peaceful opposition members.

November 2011

An independent commission convened by the king concluded that government forces had used "excessive force" and torture to control the protest movement, sparking large and violent protests.

April 2012

Protests erupted again when the Formula One Grand Prix took place despite the government crackdown.

June 2012

The government arrested a prominent activist, later sentencing him to three years in jail for his dissent.

September 2012

Seven protestors received life sentences for organizing opposition to the government.

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