JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 25, 2015
Join our WhatsApp channel
DUBAI: A Bahraini court has jailed for 10 years a freelance photographer who covered demonstrations and revoked his citizenship after convicting him of "terrorism," Reporters Without Borders said Tuesday.
A criminal court convicted Sayed al-Mousawi Sunday of having given mobile phone SIM cards to "terrorist" demonstrators and taking photos of protests, RSF said in a statement. Bahrain frequently uses the term "terrorists" to refer to mostly-Shiite protesters who still take to the streets in villages and clash with police after the kingdom's Sunni authorities crushed a month-long uprising in 2011.
"The threats and intimidation campaigns against professional journalists and citizen journalists have just one aim – to use 'terrorism' as a pretext for suppressing all criticism of an authoritarian regime," said Alexandra El Khazen, RSF's Middle East head.
Mousawi was arrested "without a warrant" on February 10 last year in the Shiite town of Diraz, said RSF, adding that authorities had confiscated his camera and other electronic devices.
"It is outrageous that a journalist has been treated like a terrorist," said RSF.
"Arbitrary arrests of peaceful dissidents, systematic torture and impunity have turned Bahrain into a dangerous country for those who speak out," the Paris-based media watchdog said.
It condemned Mousawi's "arbitrary detention" and urged authorities to overturn the conviction which is still subject to appeal.
Scores of Shiites have been rounded up, tried and sentenced to prison following the uprising.
The strategic kingdom, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, has also revoked the citizenships of many, drawing condemnation from international rights groups.
According to RSF, a total of eight journalists and five citizen-journalists are currently detained in Bahrain. - AFP
March 20, 2025: The FIA has arrested journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick over his YouTube content, sparking concerns over press freedom. His family and media organizations demand transparency and his immediate release.
March 20, 2025: A Pakistani delegation, including journalists and filmmakers, secretly visited Israel, sparking controversy. The visit, facilitated by Israeli NGO Sharaka, aimed to promote cultural diplomacy. Read more on this developing story.
March 20, 2025: Amnesty International calls for an investigation into the enforced disappearance of journalist Ahmad Noorani’s brothers, condemning it as an attack on press freedom and human rights.
March 19, 2025: Islamabad Police deny raiding journalist Ahmad Noorani’s residence as his family files a complaint about the alleged abduction of his brothers. Noorani, residing in the US, claims his family was targeted due to his reporting.
March 19, 2025: The reported abduction of investigative journalist Ahmed Noorani's brothers marks a disturbing escalation in Pakistan's press freedom crisis, following his exposé on military leadership privileges.
March 16, 2025: Senior analyst Imtiaz Gul joins the growing list of journalists and commentators banned from Pakistani television, raising fresh concerns about declining press freedom in the country.
March 14, 2025: Explore how exiled Pakistani journalists are leveraging digital platforms to deliver independent analysis and fill critical information gaps that state-controlled media leaves behind, transforming the country's media landscape from abroad.
March 07, 2025: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has questioned the delay in the Arshad Sharif murder investigation, as the government seeks additional time to finalize a mutual legal assistance agreement with Kenya.
March 19, 2025 Apply for the NYU Stern Climate Economics Journalism Fellowship to deepen your understanding of climate economics and its impact on global finance. Applications close on April 20, 2025.
March 16, 2025 The Trump administration has ordered furloughs at U.S.-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, raising concerns about press freedom and government control over media funding.
March 15, 2025 Explore the dynamic relationship between athletes and sports journalists, examining the challenges, ethical dilemmas, and mutual benefits that shape the sports media landscape.
March 14, 2025 The National Press Foundation is offering a fully funded journalism training workshop in Singapore from June 22 to 25. The workshop will cover sustainable global trade, investment, politics, and more. Apply by April 6.
March 14, 2025 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urges Maharashtra authorities to ensure their AI-driven media monitoring plan does not undermine press freedom. The initiative, which classifies news as positive or negative, raises concerns over government overreach and self-censorship.