CAIRO: The Arabic Network of Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemned the government of Bahrain for its charging of journalist and activist, Reem Khalifa, with slander, libel, and physical abuse. “Bahrain must drop all charges against the journalist Reem Khalifa and stop the trial. The media, the international community, and all freedom of expression defenders should shed light on the attacks on freedom of expression in Bahrain and discontinue their shameful silence over the violations committed by the authorities,” stated the Cairo-based human rights organization in a press release on Monday. Pro-government supporters attacked Khalifa, a journalist for al-Wasat newspaper, after the conclusion of a press conference discussing the Bahraini medical team that detained and charged for treating injured anti-governement demonstrators in February. Khalifa filed a lawsuit against her attackers but the government ignored her litigation. According to ANHRI, the Bahraini government then converted Khalifa from the plaintiff to the defendant by fabricating charges against her that include slander, libel, and physical abuse. Khalifa faces up to two years in prison and a fine of 1000 Bahraini Dinars if she is convicted. The Bahraini government began a crackdown on independent media and opposition groups in light of the protests and demonstrations that swept the Gulf state during the Arab Spring earlier this year. BM
