Bahrain detains man that runs an Internet site that criticized the government
Bahrain, Politics, 3/2/2005

The Bahraini security forces detained a man who runs a site on the Internet viewed as criticizing the government and the ruling family.

Activists said on Monday that Ali Abdul Imam ( 27 year old) was arrested on Sunday because of allegations of provoking hatred against the government and disseminating false news that may endanger the state security. No comment was made by the government on this news The Bahraini lawyer Abdullah Hashem said that these accusations might reach 20 years imprisonment penalty.

The Reporters Without Borders organization, which is concerned with the freedom of the press, and has Paris as a headquarters called for the release of Abdul Imam. It said in a statement that jailing any persons because of his press work or because of broadcasting an article on the Internet is a matter which cannot be accepted under any condition.

"This incident demonstrates that the November 2002 press law is in urgent need of reform," the organization added. It said :Bahrainonline gives Internet-users the opportunity to post their comments on political, social and religious issues, and regularly posts messages that are very critical of the authorities. Like http://vob.org, the website of the Movement for the Liberation of Bahrain (MLB), it cannot be accessed from within the country. Abdul Imam also edits a weblog, http://abdulemam.blogspot.com, which promotes itself as providing "another perspective from Bahrain." A diplomat in Bahrain who requested anonymity said Abdulemam had not been imprisoned. "He is being held in custody for a maximum of two weeks, for the purposes of the investigation. If no charge is made against him he will soon be released," he said.

In November 2002, King Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa promulgated a press law that guaranteed the right to "express one's opinion and to disseminate it orally or in writing." However, offences "against the Islamic faith, the unity of the people and the person of the king" and "inciting division or sectarianism" are punishable by six months to five years in prison. While the government has on several occasions expressed its intention to amend the law, which had been highly criticised by the Bahrain independent journalists' union, it has so far failed to act on its promise.

In the same context 30 demonstrators gathered, with many of them placing plasters on their mouths in protest of the audition before the office of the Attorney General in order to show their support for the detainees.

The government of the Kingdom of Bahrain banned the site which is a forum used to display view points criticizing the government and the royal family.

Worthy mentioning that Bahrain made certain political reforms but the opposition led by the Shiite demanding more rights.

Previous Stories:
  Qatar- Bahraini committee discusses the implementation of the bridge, economic cooperation   (2/28/2005)
  Bahraini opposition societies convene conference over the constitution   (2/10/2005)
  Women demonstration in Bahrain demand the resignation of attorney general   (2/7/2005)

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