Bahrain Mirror: The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expressed concern over the authorities' arrest of Bahraini historical researcher Jassim Hussein Al-Abbas after a speech he delivered at a religious gathering on Bahrain's ancient history. 

The center confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, that "the Interior Ministry's statement regarding the arrest of the Al-Abbas was issued before he was presented to the Public Prosecution and without enabling him to obtain legal support."

"Jassim's arrest is a clear violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression stipulated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

The center called on the Bahraini authorities to "release researcher Al-Abbas and all prisoners of conscience, stop prosecuting and targeting individuals for expressing their opinions, guarantee the right of individuals to express their opinions, and amend laws that impose restrictions on this internationally guaranteed right."

In a research paper he presented during a religious event on October 2, 2023 in Ma'ameer marking the Prophet's birthday, Al-Abbas, owner of "Sanawat Al-Jareesh" blog, discussed researches he conducted on the ancient history of Bahrain and the relationship of the people of Bahrain with the Islamic religion and Shiism.

It is to note that this is not the first time the authorities summon or arrest him over his researches, as they previously arrested him in 2020 on charges of "spreading false information" about a historic mosque. 

Arabic Version