Ruled with an iron hand by the Khalifa royal family, Bahrain is notorious for jailing many journalists. Fear that the regime could be overthrown 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 such charges 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.