Ahmed Radhi
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.
Following the eruption of protests in February 2011 against government corruption and discrimination of the Shi'a majority population, the situation for human rights defenders in Bahrain became even more dangerous and difficult. Faced with widespread protests and unrest, the authorities responded with harsh measures and a crackdown on protesters, civil society leaders, human rights defenders and pro democracy activists. Human rights defenders were tried in military courts, often charged with fabricated crimes, and given hugely disproportionate sentences. Furthermore many have been ill-treated and tortured in detention, have been held incommunicado and denied access to family and lawyers, while confessions made under duress have been admitted as evidence in court in contravention of international law.
