Ten Years for Filming Reality: Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel Sentenced in Bahrain
Together for Justice strongly condemns the ten-year prison sentence issued by a Bahraini court against award-winning independent photojournalist Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel, in a case that reflects a broader pattern of targeting media work through the expansive use of security-related laws.
According to available information, Al-Kamel was arrested following a raid on his home in connection with visual materials he published, including footage documenting a residential fire, as well as other content deemed linked to regional developments. He now faces severe penalties based on charges that extend the scope of criminal liability to activities that fall within the core functions of journalism.
The proceedings raise serious concerns regarding due process and fair trial guarantees. Reports indicate violations of fundamental legal safeguards, including the presumption of innocence and the right to legal counsel during interrogation—both of which are essential components of any judicial system aligned with international standards.
At the heart of this case lies a troubling shift: the criminalisation of documentation itself. Recording and reporting on public events is not an exceptional act—it is the foundation of journalistic practice. When such activity is reframed as a security threat, the role of the journalist is fundamentally distorted, and the space for independent reporting is significantly diminished.
The severity of the sentence further highlights the disproportionate nature of the response. It signals a broader deterrent strategy that extends beyond the individual case, creating a chilling effect on journalists and photographers who may refrain from covering sensitive events for fear of prosecution.
Together for Justice emphasises that such practices are characteristic of repressive systems that seek to suppress facts rather than confront them. Instead of ensuring transparency and accountability, authorities resort to silencing those who document reality, thereby restricting the public’s right to access information.
From a legal standpoint, the use of broadly defined national security provisions to prosecute peaceful journalistic activity is incompatible with international standards on freedom of expression. Any restriction on media work must be clearly defined, strictly necessary, and proportionate—conditions that are not met in this case.
Accordingly, Together for Justice calls for the immediate annulment of the sentence against Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel, guarantees of a fair and transparent judicial process, and an end to the criminalisation of journalistic activity. The organisation also urges a review of legal frameworks that enable the misuse of security laws to restrict press freedom, and calls for the protection of journalists in the course of their work.
This case is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader trajectory that increasingly constrains the media environment—one that demands urgent attention to safeguard the fundamental right to freedom of expression.
