Bahrain

The Bahraini government has effectively silenced political opposition in the country through political isolation laws that effectively barred members of the political opposition from running in the 2022 parliamentary elections. Independent media has been banned since 2017. Twenty-six Bahrainis remain on death row following manifestly unfair trials, and six people have been sentenced to death since 2017. Authorities have arrested, prosecuted, and harassed rights defenders, journalists, and opposition leaders, including for their social media activity. Bahrain continues to deny access to independent rights monitors and the UN special rapporteur on torture.