BFHR: Among them is a football player… The Bahraini authorities arrest four citizens for inciting hatred against the regime The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR) said that the arbitrary arrest of four citizens from North Sahla, including a football player, by the Bahraini authorities on charges of inciting hatred against the regime, was monitored, and called for their immediate release. The BFHR pointed out that the Bahraini authorities had previously targeted 147 athletes during the past years for malicious reasons related to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. "On Sunday, September 19, the security authorities in Hamad Town Police Station (Roundabout 17) summoned, via a phone call, three citizens: football player of the first team of Al-Ittihad Club, Kumail Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Khabbaz (22 years old), Sayed Mustafa Faisal Ali Abdunnabi Al-Talbi (19 years old), Hussein Ali Hudairi (21 years old),” the BFHR said, adding that “On Monday, September 20, Abbas Muhammad Ali Hassan Kadhem (22 years old) was summoned by the same authorities.” The BFHR pointed out that the security authorities took the three detainees (Al-Khabbaz, Al-Talbi, and Al-Hudairi) to their houses in order to search and take photos of the houses, late at night after interrogating them, and then returned them to detention. "The security authorities interrogated the four citizens, without the presence of a lawyer, on charges of inciting hatred against the regime, then the Public Prosecution detained them for a week pending investigation," the BFHR further said. The BFHR pointed out that some of the most prominent articles used to restrict freedom of expression in the Bahraini Penal Code are the following: (160), (173), (214), (215), (216), including Article (165) which stipulates that “A prison sentence shall be passed against any person who expressly incites others to develop hatred or hostility towards the system of government.” These articles are adapted in the arbitrary interpretation of the charges for the purpose of using them in court. The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights September 21, 2021 |