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Bahrain sentences photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel to 10 years in prison

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Bahrain sentences photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel to 10 years in prison

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Washington, D.C., April 28, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled by the ten-year prison sentence handed down to Bahraini photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel after reportedly posting a video of the aftermath of an Iranian attack on the Gulf nation. 

 The photojournalist was convicted on charges including allegedly promoting content deemed supportive of Iran during the war, filming and sharing images of sensitive infrastructure during a conflict, and unlawfully publishing defense-related material, according to a Bahraini rights defender who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

“Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel’s ten-year sentence and confiscation of his equipment for documenting events during a time of regional conflict underscores how Bahraini authorities are criminalizing routine journalistic activity under the guise of national security,” said Regional Director Sara Qudah.  “Authorities must immediately release Al-Kamel and ensure that vague wartime restrictions are not used to silence independent reporting.”

Al-Kamel, a freelance photojournalist who has been arrested several times in the past, was arrested on March 1, 2026, following a raid on his home by plainclothes officers. Prior to his arrest, he posted a video showing a high-rise building on fire in the Seef district and called for prayers for Bahrain. The video was later deleted, according to Middle East Eye (MEE).

His arrest comes amid a broader wave of detentions and restrictions on expression in Bahrain and across the Gulf.

On March 4, Bahrain’s Defense Force banned the filming, photographing, or sharing of any military operations, movements, or sites, as well as related content on social media, citing national security concerns. It warned that violations could lead to legal action.

Sayed Alwadaei, director of the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, told MEE that Al-Kamel “didn’t post footage of a military facility” and was detained hours after sharing the video while documenting the scene nearby.

Al-Kamel also posted condolences on Instagram following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during reported U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

CPJ emailed the Bahraini embassy in Washington, D.C., but did not receive a response at the time of publication.



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