Bahrain Mirror: The U.S. State Department, in its country report on human rights practices in Bahrain for the year 2023, affirmed that, "There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Bahrain during the year."

The report pointed out that "significant human rights issues included credible reports of: cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government, arbitrary arrest or detention," among a list of other human rights abuses.

The report further spoke of "serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; political prisoners or detainees; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, censorship, and enforcement or threat to enforce criminal libel laws to limit expression."

It also highlighted "serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental and civil society organizations," adding that there are reports of "restrictions on freedom of movement and residence within the territory of a state and on the right to leave the country, and inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections."

The U.S. State Department report also mentioned serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation, as well as serious government restrictions on or harassment of domestic and international human rights organizations.

Arabic Version