The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR) issues this 2016 report with the beginning of 2017, the year in which Bahrain’s human rights situation will be discussed within the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Bahrain’s human rights record has become more burdensome than before, with the security crackdown on the Bahraini opposition and the prosecutions of political and rights activists, journalists and photographers for practicing their activities, which are directly related to their work and to the right to express their opinions. In addition, protesters are being prosecuted and the law is being used to punish them within unfair procedures and trials, and violations are continuing and escalating. This report observes the most important 2016 human rights events, which indicate the continuation of human rights violations in Bahrain. It also reviews the violations represented in the following: • Violation of religious freedoms • Arbitrary detention • Torture • Enforced disappearance • Deprivation of nationality • Banning gatherings • Targeting civil society organizations • Unfair prosecutions
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