No Haven for Citizen Journalists in Bahrain · Global Voices
Mohamed Hassan

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
After Bahrain's police “Slap” video went viral the Minister of Interior issued a statement in which he asked that “anyone who films such an event should report it immediately” to the authorities. Two days later, and in contrast with such statements, many were shocked at the news of the arrest of a photojournalist.
Picture of Photojournalist Ahmed Humaidan and his membership is photographic society of America published by @ahmedalfardan1
The European-Bahraini Organisation for Human Rights tweeted:
@EBOHumanRights: Arrested and still missing youth photographer Ahmed Humaidan from Bahrain City Center Mall yesterday late night.
Photojournalist Ahmed AlFardan added:
@AhmedAlFardan2: More than 15 undercover police arrested humaidan from Bahrain city center #freehumaidan #freebhphotographer #sitrapic.twitter.com/pSeM9YgJ
Sayed Hassan wrote:
@WLEXT: Sad Day for Photagraphers & Journos in #Bahrain, Award winning Citizen Photo Journalist #FreeHumaidan arrested yesterday pic.twitter.com/c4ak9VFH
Picture of Ahmed Humaidan with several award winning photos that he toke and some awards he received
Kuwaiti writer and human rights activist Hadeel Buqrais tweeted:
بعد افلات قتلة المصور أحمد اسماعيل يتم استهداف المصور احمد حميدان في البحرين بإعتقاله
@HadeeLBuQrais: After the killers of photojournalist Ahmed Ismail evaded justice photojournalist Ahmed Humaidan is targeted and arrested.
Ahmed Ismail is a videographer who was killed in Salambad last year while filming a protest. He was shot from a civilian car.
The Doha Centre for Media Freedom issued a statement which said:
The Doha Centre for Media Freedom is joining the quest for information with the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights which calls for the immediate release of Humaidan.
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Humaidan has won more than 140 international awards in photojournalism, and he is considered the second most Arab photographer to win awards in photography competitions.
Zainab Hashemi added:
دائماً يخافون ممن ينشر عنفهم و تعنجهم لذا إختطفوه ، غداً ستصفق سميرة رجب و تقول كعادتها : لدينا حرية في الصحافة في البحرین
@ZainaBHashemi: They are always afraid of anyone who publishes their violence and arrogance that's why they arrested him. Tomorrow Sameera Rajab [minister of State for Information Affairs] will say as usual: we have press freedom in Bahrain
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.