The human rights situation in Bahrain has improved since Shaikh Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa, the son of the former ruler of Bahrain was sworn in power, in 1999. There are still, however, many restrictions on non-governmental bodies. In October, for example, the Bahraini authorities prohibited the establishment of a national independent human rights organisation. Government press control has declined as well, however, self-censorship continues.
Most journalists refrain from criticising the government and from covering human rights abuses.
If the Bahraini press does criticise government, then the government, under the 1974 States Security Law, can detain persons without charge or trial for up to three years. According to the Bahrain Freedom Movement, Al Shayji was dismissed because he refused to publish information concerning the creation of the Bahraini Journalists Society, which he publicly opposed. The information ministry created the Bahraini Journalists Society in an attempt to monitor and control the work of journalists. On 1 November, Baharini authorities arrested Jassim Hussain Ali. Ali, who holds a PhD in business administration and is a senior lecturer at Bahrain University, was arrested by the Security and Intelligence Service at his house in Hamad Town.