This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011 [1].
After Bahrain's police “Slap” video went viral [2] the Minister of Interior issued a statement in which he asked that “anyone who films such an event should report it immediately [3]” to the authorities. Two days later, and in contrast with such statements, many were shocked at the news of the arrest of a photojournalist.
The European-Bahraini Organisation for Human Rights tweeted:
@EBOHumanRights [5]: Arrested and still missing youth photographer Ahmed Humaidan from Bahrain City Center Mall yesterday late night.
Photojournalist Ahmed AlFardan added:
@AhmedAlFardan2 [6]: More than 15 undercover police arrested humaidan from Bahrain city center #freehumaidan #freebhphotographer #sitrapic.twitter.com/pSeM9YgJ
Sayed Hassan wrote:
@WLEXT [7]: Sad Day for Photagraphers & Journos in #Bahrain, Award winning Citizen Photo Journalist #FreeHumaidan arrested yesterday pic.twitter.com/c4ak9VFH
Kuwaiti writer and human rights activist Hadeel Buqrais tweeted:
بعد افلات قتلة المصور أحمد اسماعيل يتم استهداف المصور احمد حميدان في البحرين بإعتقاله
@HadeeLBuQrais [9]: After the killers of photojournalist Ahmed Ismail evaded justice photojournalist Ahmed Humaidan is targeted and arrested.
Ahmed Ismail is a videographer who was killed [10] in Salambad last year while filming a protest. He was shot from a civilian car.
The Doha Centre for Media Freedom issued a statement [11] which said:
The Doha Centre for Media Freedom is joining the quest for information with the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights which calls for the immediate release of Humaidan.
…
Humaidan has won more than 140 international awards in photojournalism, and he is considered the second most Arab photographer to win awards in photography competitions.
Zainab Hashemi added:
دائماً يخافون ممن ينشر عنفهم و تعنجهم لذا إختطفوه ، غداً ستصفق سميرة رجب و تقول كعادتها : لدينا حرية في الصحافة في البحرین
@ZainaBHashemi [12]: They are always afraid of anyone who publishes their violence and arrogance that's why they arrested him. Tomorrow Sameera Rajab [minister of State for Information Affairs] will say as usual: we have press freedom in Bahrain
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011 [1].