Bahrain Mirror: Amnesty International condemned in a statement the continuing government harassment of former Bahraini Member of Parliament Osama Muhana Al-Tamimi. The actions against Al-Tamimi come in a climate of escalated state intimidation aiming to quash free expression.

Amnesty said "In addition to official agencies' actions against Al-Tamimi - including multiple summonses and an attempt to confiscate his personal phone without a warrant - there have been a number of incidents targeting Al-Tamimi's businesses and personal safety in recent years which the government has failed to adequately investigate." It added "The broader context involves a series of recent statements by the highest officials, including the King, that criticism of government, especially on social media, will not be tolerated."

The organization expressed grave alarm at the government's renewed harassment of Osama Al-Tamimi and its failure to seriously address the threats to his personal safety, and roundly affirms his rights to liberty and security of person, and to freely leave the country if he wishes to do so.

It condemned the Bahraini government's strident new rhetorical campaign against freedom of expression, which has all but vanished in the country due to the state's clampdown in recent years, noting that "the aggressive moves to further suppress critical discussion on social media, in a context where people already fear prosecution for speaking candidly about national problems, will only exacerbate the repressive climate that pervades the country," especially with the recent claim by the UK government that Bahrain is undergoing an "unprecedented ... reform program".

Amnesty affirmed that in light of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office's decision to prioritize "defend[ing] media freedom" (including on social media), it is particularly incumbent on the UK government to use its leverage with Bahraini authorities to pressure them to end their repression and demand that they respect, protect, and fulfil the right to freedom of expression.

Arabic Version