Bahrain
Chapter 10 – Reporting Guide for Bahrain
|
Media Environment
The Bahraini constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the press, excluding opinions that undermine the fundamental beliefs of Islam or the “unity of the people” and those that promote “discord or sectarianism.” However, the Law of Press, Printing, and Publishing of 2002 is used to restrict free speech; Law 47/2002 includes 17 categories of offenses, three of which allow for prison sentences. Several articles in Bahrain’s Penal Code are also used to restrict freedom of expression in the country, including Article 216 of the Code, which criminalizes anyone who “offends” government institutions and authorities.
