Bahrain
Journalists take fire in Bahrain demonstrationsPosted Feb 23 2011
New York Times reporter Michael Slackman and video producer for The Times of London Sean Patrick Farrell were “shot at from a helicopter over Bahrain’s Pearl Roundabout as they were filming a reporter there, minutes after the army opened fire on protesters” on Feb. 18, according to The New York Times blogger Robert Mackey. See his blog for regular updates and videos.
Other reporters are also being attacked and threatened.
ABC News reporter Miguel Marquez “was attacked and beaten in Manama’s Pearl Square while talking on the phone with his editors and his camera was confiscated,” according to Reporters Without Borders.
The Committee to Protect Journalists also reported that “independent journalists are receiving threats via phone and text messages to stop reporting on the crackdown.”
At least 16 foreign journalists, including those from BBC, CNN, CBS and others, were detained and denied entry at the Bahrain International Airport in Manama, according to CPJ and Reporters Without Borders.
The government disrupted Internet service to hinder video sharing and coverage of protests. They blocked Bambuster accounts (which allows users to stream videos from mobile phones) and YouTube pages with videos similar to this, according to Reporters Without Borders. Twitter accounts have also been censored.