Case History: Ahmed Radhi
On 7 July 2016, human rights defender Ahmed Radhi was prevented from travelling to Oman from Bahrain International Airport. He had not received any prior notification of the travel ban. Security officers refused to provide him with any reason and asked him to report to the Criminal Investigation Department for further explanations.
Ahmed Radhi is a Bahraini journalist and human rights defender advocating for press and media freedom and documenting human rights violations in Bahrain. He has reported on cases of prisoners of conscience and victims of torture and ill treatment. He writes for several national and international newspapers and media outlets including the international broadcaster Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya. He is actively engaged in social media, has been subjected to several acts of intimidation from Bahraini authorities.
On 7 July 2016, human rights defender Ahmed Radhi was prevented from travelling to Oman from Bahrain International Airport. He had not received any prior notification of the travel ban. Security officers refused to provide him with any reason and asked him to report to the Criminal Investigation Department for further explanations.
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Ahmed Radhi is a Bahraini journalist and human rights defender advocating for press and media freedom and documenting human rights violations in Bahrain. He has reported on cases of prisoners of conscience and victims of torture and ill treatment. He writes for several national and international newspapers and media outlets including the international broadcaster Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya. He is actively engaged in social media, has been subjected to several acts of intimidation from Bahraini authorities.
On 7 July, while heading to the Sultanate of Oman from Bahrain International Airport, airport authority officers informed Ahmed Radhi that a travel ban had been imposed on him. He was told that he was not allowed to leave the country at the time but no reason or any additional information were provided.
Ahmed Radhi has been targeted by Bahraini authorities before. In July 2014, he was banned from entering the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and was detained for fifteen hours in the Dubai International Airport, he was then deported to Bahrain. Previously in May 2012, security forces stormed Ahmed Radhi's house. He was subsequently detained for four months without a trial and was banned from travelling to Saudi Arabia for 10 years. During his detention, he was physically tortured and verbally assaulted by police officers. This detention was reportedly linked to a news report by the human rights defender criticising the 'Gulf Union' (the Gulf Cooperation Council) and its security consequences. In the year of 1995, he was detained without charge and tortured, which he believes was related to his human rights work.
The travel ban of Ahmed Radhi comes within the context of the shrinking space for civil society in Bahrain and the restriction of activities of human rights defenders. On 12 June 2016, Bahraini security forces prevented three human rights defenders, Mr Hussain Radhi, Ms Ebtisam Al-Saegh and Mr Ibrahim Al-Demistani from travelling to Geneva from Bahrain International Airport to attend the UNHRC and to participate in a side event on the situation of human rights in Bahrain. On 20 June, human rights defender Abdulnabi Al-Ekry was prevented from traveling following an order by the public prosecution, and on 29 June, journalist Nazeeha Saeed was prevented from travelling to Germany.
Front Line Defenders expresses concern for the travel ban imposed against Ahmed Radhi and believes that it is solely motivated by his peaceful and legitimate activities in the defence of human rights in Bahrain.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Bahrain to:
1. Immediately lift the travel ban on Ahmed Radhi;
2. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Bahrain are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
On 30 July 2014, Mr Ahmed Radhi was banned from entering the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and was detained for fifteen hours in the Dubai International Airport and was then deported to Bahrain.
Ahmed Radhi is a journalist and human rights defender. He advocates for press and media freedom and documents human rights violations. He is a member of the Bahrain Monitor for Human Rights and collaborates with several national and international newspapers and media outlets.
Upon his arrival in Dubai International Airport, where he had planned to spend the Eid vacation (a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide), Ahmed Radhi was informed by airport security in Dubai that his name was blacklisted for travel according to orders of official authority. This travel ban was reportedly issued as the human rights defender poses a threat to UAE national security. Ahmed Radhi was deported to Bahrain after fifteen hours' detention in the Dubai International Airport.
On 16 May 2012, Ahmed Radhi was detained for four months without a trial and was banned from travelling to Saudi Arabia for 10 years. This detention was reportedly linked to a news report developed by the human rights defender rejecting the 'Gulf Union' (the Gulf Cooperation Council) and its security implications. Ahmed Radhi was detained without charge and tortured in 1995, which was believed to be related to his human rights work.
The authorities in Bahrain and other Gulf countries make frequent use of travel bans as a means of hindering the work of human rights defenders. These travel bans have been issued pursuant to a security agreement signed by Gulf Cooperation Council states in Riyadh on 23 November 2013, which focuses on inter-state exchange of information and searching of those who violate the law.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Bahrain to:
- Immediately lift the travel ban on Mr Ahmed Radhi as it is believed that this measure has been taken against him solely on account of his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights;
- Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Bahrain are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
