In the first half of 2025 alone, the Bahrain Press Association documented 37 violations against writers, activists, and online users, underscoring the Bahraini government’s sustained assault on freedom of expression in the country. At the center of this repression is Decree-Law No.47 of 2002, commonly known as the Press Law. From arrests to prosecutions, the law enables the government to silence dissent under the guise of defending public interest. Broad provisions like Articles 19 and 20 are routinely used to shut down media for content deemed offensive to the state or religion, while Articles 68 to 70 criminalize criticism of the monarchy and penalize speech under vague accusations of “disrupting public order.”

On 8 May 2025, rather than reforming its outdated legal framework and responding to repeated calls for a modern law that protects journalists and promotes press freedom, Bahrain’s Parliament approved a series of amendments to the Press Law that further entrench executive control over both traditional and digital media.

Although authorities have praised the recent amendments as progressive, mainly citing the abolishment of prison sentences for journalists, this narrative is misleading. Under the revised Press Law, journalists remain subject to fines of up to 50,000 Bahraini Dinars (approximately $133,000 USD), while the threat of imprisonment persists under other repressive laws like the Penal Code, the Anti-Terrorism Law, and the Cybercrime Law. These laws continue to criminalize speech and online activity deemed critical of the ruling regime. Prominent human rights defenders and bloggers, like Abduljalil al-Singace, have suffered the consequences. Al-Singace has been arbitrarily detained since 2011, sentenced to life in prison for his anti-government protests, and subjected to solitary confinement and torture.

Ultimately, this shift from imprisonment to fines under the Press Law is ineffective and superficial. With prison sentences still enforceable under other legislation, Bahraini authorities retain the ability to arbitrarily impose either, if not both, financial penalties and incarceration, based on the individual’s political profile.

Article 67 of the Press Law was also amended this year with the stated aim of limiting censorship. However, the mandatory licensing requirements integrated within the law continue to function as a de facto censorship mechanism, undermining any genuine reform. Under the Press Law, both Bahraini and foreign media are required to obtain licenses from the Ministry of Information, which is granted near-absolute authority to approve, deny, or revoke these licenses without judicial oversight. This extensive power allows the state to arbitrarily shut down websites and control digital discourse under ambiguous justifications such as “undermining the higher interests of the state.” By simply withholding or delaying licenses, authorities can suppress undesired content and influence editorial decisions.

Moreover, for the first time, the Press Law has been extended to cover “electronic media,” which broadly includes any activity that provides information to the general public via the internet. This expansion subjects a wide range of online content to mandatory licensing requirements, marking an alarming escalation in Bahrain’s crackdown on independent voices. The move is especially concerning in the context of Bahrain’s 2017 closure of the country’s last independent newspaper, Al-Wasat, which signaled the official end of a free press in the country. By imposing licensing restrictions on digital platforms, the government is eliminating what remains of internet freedom, where online spaces have traditionally served as alternative outlets for independent expression.

Bahrain’s Press Law, along with its recent amendments, blatantly contradict international human rights standards. The 2018 Joint Declaration by the United Nations’ special rapporteurs on freedom of expression emphasized the need for states to safeguard media independence and protect against indirect forms of censorship. Bahrain’s current legal and regulatory environment does the opposite, criminalizing dissent and tightening control over all forms of media. Any meaningful reform requires the transformation of Bahrain’s entire legal framework, not just its Press Law. Until then, promises of progress will remain insufficient in promoting true freedom of expression.

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This post was originally published on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.