Censorship in Bahrain
Bahrain is considered not free in terms of net and press freedom. In 2016, the country ranked 162nd out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index. Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy led by the Khalifa family. Many groups say the government censors information and jails journalists.
The Constitution talks about freedom of expression and of the press in Articles 23–26. It says people can speak their opinions, and the press should be free, and that postal and telecommunication secrecy should be protected. But critics argue these rules are broad and can be used arbitrarily, and in practice these rights are often not respected.
Since 2011, during the Arab Spring protests, the regime has cracked down harder on dissent. Reports describe secret trials and harsh punishments for protesters, punishment of doctors and nurses who treated injured people, and the firing of many Shiite professionals. There have been arrests, beatings, and even the revocation of citizenship. Journalists and human rights activists have been targeted, and the only opposition newspaper has been forced to close.
Beyond political dissent, human rights topics are also restricted. Content that promotes hatred, gambling, or pornography is banned. Most big newspapers are government-controlled, with Al-Wasat standing out as a rare exception. Pro-government outlets are accused of spreading misinformation, and one watchdog group says there were numerous cases of false or misleading reporting between 2011 and 2014.
Self-censorship is common, with many papers avoiding political or controversial topics. The 2002 Press and Publication Law is viewed as repressive because it bans publications against the ruling regime or that could threaten public peace, with vague language that officials can interpret as they wish.
Internet control is strong. The Information Affairs Authority (IAA) requires websites to register, and ISPs are controlled to supposedly protect intellectual property. A 2009 Ministry of Culture and Information rule required blocking software on all ISPs. The IAA and other ministries can block sites based on Articles 19 and 20 of the press laws. Reporters Without Borders says more than 1,000 websites have been blocked, including human rights sites, blogs, forums, and social media.
Several journalists have been jailed, especially during the 2011 uprisings. Examples include photographer Ahmed Humaidan (sentenced to 10 years in 2014 for his coverage), Sayed Ahmed Al Mousawi (jail term upheld in 2014 for distributing SIM cards and photographing protests), and blogger Nabeel Rajab (arrested in 2016). International organizations continue to campaign for their release.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:43 (CET).