Bahrain: Drop dangerous amendments to the press law targeting online expression

Skyline International for Human Rights (SIHR) strongly urges Bahrain’s Shura Council to reject the recent amendments to Decree-Law No. 47/2002 (Law on Press, Printing, and Publishing), approved by the House of Representatives on May 8, 2025. While the government frames these revisions as regulatory reforms aimed at overseeing digital platforms and online media, they in fact entrench new forms of censorship and control over online expression, threaten independent journalism and risk further shrinking civic space in the country.

Jailing journalists—or just rebranded punishment?

One of the government’s most publicized claims is the removal of jail time for journalists. In reality, this shift replaces prison sentences with crippling fines of up to 50,000 Bahraini Dinars (approx. USD 133,000)—an amount likely to bankrupt many independent journalists or smaller media outlets.

Worse still, journalists and media workers remain vulnerable to criminal prosecution under other repressive laws, including the Penal Code, Anti-Terrorism Law, and Cybercrime Law. These laws continue to be used to imprison those who voice dissent or publish critical content online. This dual legal regime—fines under one law, prison under others—grants authorities broad power to arbitrarily target individuals based on their perceived political stance or the content of their reporting.

For example, Article 134 of the Penal Code allows for up to 10 years in prison for “spreading false news” deemed damaging to Bahrain’s reputation, and Article 168 criminalizes publishing news that could “cause panic,” both of which have been applied arbitrarily to silence critical voices.

Licensing provisions: A new front for online censorship

The amendments also seek to impose a mandatory licensing regime for all “electronic media”—defined in Article 3 to include “any activity that provides news, information, or programs to the general audience or subscribers via digital means.” This broad language captures not only formal media outlets but also bloggers, podcasters, social media users, and even foreign media platforms operating online in Bahrain.

While Article 67 of the draft law states that prior censorship is prohibited, the licensing system effectively gives the Ministry of Information the power to delay, deny, or revoke licenses, allowing it to suppress unfavorable reporting and restrict access to independent information. This poses a serious threat to editorial independence and fuels fear and self-censorship among journalists and online creators.

A long history of crackdowns on press freedom and online speech

These proposed amendments cannot be viewed in isolation; they build on a long-standing pattern of repression against journalists, bloggers, and online activists in Bahrain. According to the 2024 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index, Bahrain ranks 173rd out of 180 countries, making it one of the most repressive in the MENA region, with journalists facing routine detention and mistreatment.

Among those imprisoned are photojournalist Ahmed Humaidan, sentenced to 10 years for covering protests, and blogger Abduljalil Al-Singace, serving a life sentence since 2011. More recently, the Bahrain Press Association recorded 14 arrests or interrogations and 8 legal cases against media figures in just the first half of 2023, following 17 such cases in 2022. 

High-profile figures like Ebrahim Sharif were repeatedly detained in 2023 and 2024 for social media posts critical of the government. Others have been jailed for discussing religion, criticizing officials, or posting allegedly “immoral” content. This continued crackdown on digital speech highlights how the proposed legal amendments risk further institutionalizing censorship under the pretext of regulation.

Incompatible with international standards

Bahrain’s draft amendments fall short of its obligations under international human rights law, particularly Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which the country is a party. These obligations require that any restrictions on freedom of expression be lawful, necessary, proportionate, and subject to judicial oversight.

The law’s vague and discretionary provisions reflect concerns raised in the 2018 Joint Declaration on Media Independence and Diversity in the Digital Age, issued by UN special rapporteurs on freedom of expression. The declaration affirms that states must “refrain from engaging in indirect forms of censorship, such as the abuse of controls over newsprint, radio frequencies or infrastructure used to disseminate media content,” and emphasizes the need to safeguard the role of “independent and sustainable public service media.”

For Bahrain to move toward real press freedom, it must reform its entire legal framework—not just amend isolated laws. This includes repealing or revising all statutes that criminalize speech or subject it to disproportionate penalties. Any legislative reform must be carried out transparently, with the active participation of journalists, human rights experts, civil society, and media professionals.

We call on the Shura Council to reject the proposed amendments in their current form and ensure that any future media regulations uphold Bahrain’s obligations under international human rights law.