In Bahrain, Journalism Is a Crime · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

American journalist Anna Therese Day was arrested in Bahrain for covering protests to mark the fifth anniversary of Arab Spring-like protests which still continue. Photograph shared on social media after Day's arrest (Photo source: frontlinefreelance.org)
American award winning journalist Anna Therese Day was arrested in Bahrain, along with three of her crew members, also American, for covering protests to mark the country's fifth anniversary of Arab Spring-like protests, which still continue today.
She was deported on February 16, along with her crew, after spending a day in detention. The team was arrested during a demonstration in Sitra, and charged with taking part in an illegal protest and entering the country under a false pretext.
Bahrain routinely denies foreign journalists from entering the country (Bahrain Watch's Access Denied has a more detailed report here), along with NGO workers and rights activists — basically anyone who would criticise the country for its crackdown on protests, civil liberties, freedom of speech and human rights.
In a series of tweets, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior accuses Day and her crew of taking part in “illegal” protests:
القبض على أربعة أشخاص يحملون الجنسية الأمريكية إثر ضبط أحدهم ملثما خلال مشاركته مع عناصر تخريبية في سترة..يتبع
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) February 15, 2016
Four Americans have been arrested after one of them was caught with his face covered during his participation with rioters in Sitra
تم ضبط الآخرين بإحدى نقاط السيطرة الأمنية بذات المنطقة..يتبع
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) February 15, 2016
The rest were arrested at a police checkpoint in the same area
المذكورين دخلوا البلاد بتاريخ 11 و12 فبراير وقدموا معلومات مغلوطة للجهات المعنية حيث ادعوا بأنهم قد قدموا إلى البحرين بغرض السياحة..يتبع
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) February 15, 2016
Those arrested entered Bahrain on February 11 and 12 and presented wrong information to the concerned authorities claiming that they came to Bahrain for tourism
المقبوض عليهم زاولوا نشاط إعلامي دون تصريح بالإضافة لارتكابهم أعمالا مخالفة للقانون،وتم اتخاذ الإجراءات القانونيةوإحالة القضية للنيابةالعامة
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) February 15, 2016
Those arrested worked in media without a permit in addition to committing acts which break the law. Legal action has been taken against them and they have been referred to the public prosecutor.
Accusing journalists of breaking the law for covering news is not new to Bahrain. More recently, photojournalist Ahmed Al Fardan was sentenced to three months in prison for taking photographs of protests. He was charged with “intent” to protest.  Accusing journalists of taking part in protests was not lost on activists and friends who raised the alarm after Day's arrest.
On Twitter, journalist C. Robert Gibson appealed to his followers to make noise:
Bahrain detained my friend and colleague @ATDLive for the crime of journalism. Share this far and wide: https://t.co/bZbN5m5qXz #FreeAnnaDay
— C. Robert Gibson (@crgibs) February 16, 2016
Others, like Sally Kohn, called for Day's release under the hashtag #JournalismIsNotACrime:
Sad & angry to learn my friend @ATDLive arrested in Bahrain w/ her crew. @BahrainEmbDC #FreeAnna NOW! #JournalismIsNotACrime
— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) February 16, 2016
But journalism is a crime in Bahrain. Bahraini journalist Nazeeha Saeed would know. Not only was she tortured for doing her work, but her torturers were acquitted. Just like this.
Beaten,punched,kicked while blindfolded.Nazeeha's story of injustice 1 of many in #Bahrain: https://t.co/MgHKJCqwiD pic.twitter.com/ltdqybS5Xf
— Amnesty Bahrain (@aibahrain) February 15, 2016
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Bahrain is “one of the worst jailers of journalists in the Arab world”:
At least 6 other journalists are currently imprisoned in Bahrain in addition to the 4 Americans arrested today https://t.co/U0mNZD4X2k
— CPJ (@pressfreedom) February 15, 2016
The small island country of 1.3 million people (about half of whom are foreign workers) has been witnessing a brutal crackdown following a popular uprising, which began on 14 February 2011. Activists have been tortured, killed or imprisoned.
Amnesty International, a leading human rights watchdog, released several reports ahead of the 14 February anniversary bringing attention to the dangerous reality in Bahrain for dissidents. James Lynch, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, said:
Today in Bahrain, anyone who dares to criticize the authorities – whether a human rights defender or political activist – risks punishment […] Despite pledges from the authorities to prosecute security forces responsible for human rights violations in 2011, the Bahraini people are still waiting for justice. Institutions set up to protect human rights have not only failed to independently investigate or hold perpetrators to account, but now increasingly appear to be used to whitewash continuing abuses.
Five years on, demonstrations continue, but are smaller and quieter. Today, protesting, or rather “gathering”, is criminalized by law and villages are under day-and-night security watch.