Bahrain Mirror: In a speech delivered on the World Press Freedom Day which is celebrated on May 3rd, the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said: "We are proud that our country did not witness the imprisonment of any journalist," which international reports refute.

"We are proud that our country did not witness the shutting down of any press institution due to the practice of the constitutional right of freedom of expression," he added.

Bahrain has arrested dozens of journalists, bloggers and photographers since 2011 within a widespread campaign it launched against those who call for putting an end to ruling Al Khalifa family's monopoly over power.

The London-based Bahrain Press Association stated in its annual report that it documented a total of 288 violations during 2015 in comparison to 255 violations in 2011. Meanwhile, the violations of freedom of opinion and expression decreased throughout the other years to less than the half.

For its part, Reporters without Borders, concerned in freedom of press in the world, said that it classified Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Yemen and Syria among the worst Arab countries for freedom of press for 2015.  

Arabic Version