Ruled with an iron fist by the royal Khalifa family, Bahrain is notorious for jailing large numbers of journalists, especially photographers and cameramen. Fear that the regime could be overthrown has led to an increase in the persecution and censorship of dissidents in 2011, especially after the uprisings by the Shia opposition in the east of the country. Convicted on charges such as participating in demonstrations, property destruction, and supporting terrorism, journalists are given long jail terms and sometimes even life sentences. Many have been mistreated in detention and some have even been stripped of their citizenship. Since 2016, Bahraini journalists working for international media have had problems renewing their accreditation. For foreign journalists, getting a press visa to visit Bahrain is very complicated.