Bahrain: A New Wave of Arrests Justified By The Uncovering A “Terror Plot”

Broadcasting “Confessions” on Government TV-Cannel before Legal Charging or Trial

Defaming Campaign against Activists and Leading Human Rights Defenders

Detention of Human Rights Defender Abdul-Redha Al-Saffar

January 2, 2009

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights(BYSHR) expresses its deep concerns on the well being and safety of more than 14 Bahraini nationals who have been detained by the National Security Apparatus since December 15th, 2008, in relation to the alleged uncover of a “terror plot”. The BCHR is concerned of the use of such events in the ongoing campaign against activists and human rights defenders .

Read the rest of this entry »

Share This

Report to : Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights

Full Report-EN

Full Report-AR

Introduction

The Kingdom of Bahrain signed on the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 13 February 1992, and it acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict on 21 September 2002.

The Bahraini government presented its first and second reports in the year 1994 in regards to the measures the country is taking towards the Convention on the Child, and in the year 2002, the Bahraini government presented a report on its international obligations on the rights of the child in the committee’s meeting number “796”.

According to the Bahraini constitution issued in the year 2002, article “37” states that treaties sanctioned by the State have the force of law.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share This

Statement by Lord Avebury on the refusal of visa to Mr al-Maskati, President of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, to attend a seminar on human rights and democracy in Bahrain, helf under my chairmanship in the House of Lords on Thursday December 18.

On December 14 I learned that Mr al-Maskati had been told more than once by the British Consulate in Manama that his application for a visa to attend and speak at the seminar being held under my chairmanship at the House of Lords on December 18 was still being processed, and since there were only a few days left for him to make his travel arrangements I emailed a senior official in the Consulate as follows:

May I please ask for your help with the application for a visa by Mr Mohammed al-Masqati of Bahrain Youth for Human Rights, who is an invited speaker at a seminar on Bahrain that I’m chairing in the Moses Room, House of Lords, on Thursday? He has attended the Consulate but has been told that his application is still under consideration, and I’m getting anxious, as tomorrow is the last working day in Manama before our seminar.

If you would kindly email me in the morning, I hope to say that the visa is being granted, it would be helpful.

On receiving an automatic ‘Out of office’ reply saying the official would be away until December 29 and giving an alternate email address, I forwarded the original email to the suggested address with a covering note as follows:

I had an ‘out of office’ reply to this email, and since the matter is indeed urgent, I would be grateful if you would email me in the morning.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share This

MANAMA: Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights president Mohammed Al Maskati has been unable to obtain a visa to visit the UK because his application did not fulfil technical requirements within British immigration rules. He was scheduled to give a presentation in London on Thursday at the invitation of Lord Eric Avebury.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=238130&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31275

Share This

Due to his Participation in a Human Rights Symposium in the British House of Lords:

The British Embassy in Bahrain prevents a human rights activist from getting a visa

Manama, Oslo – 18 December 2008

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights -BYSHR and the Arab-Euro Center for Human Rights and International Law-AECHR express their deep concern regarding the measures the British embassy in Bahrain took in delaying the procedures of obtaining a visa for entering the British lands for Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati – president of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights – in order to participate in a symposium held by Lord Eric Avebury – member of the British House of Lords [ ] – regarding human rights issues in Bahrain. Mr. Avebury had extended an invitation to Mr. Al-Maskati to participate with a paper on human rights issues in Bahrain on 18 December 2008 at the headquarters of the British House of Lords in London.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share This

Sign Your Letter

Mohamed Al-Maskati is a renowned young human rights activist in Bahrain who founded the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) in 2005.

For over two years, BYSHR operated peacefully and without hassle. Suddenly, in September 2007, the Bahraini Ministry of Social Affairs charged Maskati with running an “unlicensed association.” Maskati’s trial is set for November 6th. He faces up to six months in jail and a fine of 500 BD (over $1,300).

Bahrain is a signatory to international charters which guarantee freedom of association. As Maskati’s trial approaches, there is growing fear a guilty verdict will open the door for a crackdown on Bahraini human rights activists and NGOs. Protect Maskati and support human rights advocacy in Bahrain by sending the following letter (which you can edit).

Fill out the form below to e-mail a letter to:

Nasser Bin Muhammad Al-Balushi, Bahrain’s Ambassador to the United States
Joseph Barghout, Human Rights Officer, US State Department
J. Adam Ereli, United States Ambassador to Bahrain
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights
Bahraini Minister of Social Affairs

Share This

Bahrain Youth Society human rights organizes in the June 26, 2008 a national campaign against torture in Bahrain occasion of World Day for the Victims of Torture in coordination with a number of international human rights organizations.

And continue the campaign chose a name General (all against Torture) full year containing many of solidarity activities with torture victims from around the growing allegations of torture in prisons in Bahrain, which vary between actors campaign contributions from electronic sites, forums and blogs to inform people about torture And Support of Victims of Torture and provide protection to them through the media to expose practices that take place in prisons and many training courses on the Convention against Torture ratified by the Kingdom of Bahrain, and networking with civil society institutions and competent legislative institution.

The campaign aims to pass a law that bans torture, and the definition of torture in the legal literature in Bahrain and the demand to stop torture in prisons and prosecute those responsible for torture, and expose the immoral practices in human rights violations.

For more information contact the campaign team: all.against.Torture@byshr.org

Share This

Sandeep Singh Grewal - AHN Middle East Correspondent

Manama, Bahrain (AHN) - Peace is the new formula for protestors in the Kingdom, one of the few liberal states in the Gulf Cooperation Council that encourages outspokenness.

And these days, protestors are saying it with flowers.

An example is the Nuwaidarat housing protest that has been going on for more than 100 days. It is the longest peaceful protest in the country. The residents of four villages-Asker, Ma’ameer, Nuwaidarat and Sanad-are demanding the government allocate 230 new housing units to them rather than to outsiders. The villagers are protesting in style, with a range of tactics from billiard or table tennis tournaments to film screenings and pony rides to spice up their protest.

“Every day someone is protesting. The villagers take turns to spend the night in our hut. We will continue our protest till the authorities hand over the keys of these new housing units. They belong to us and not to people who do not live here,” a protestor told AHN.

This protest without a pause gets even bigger during the weekends, with lawmakers invited to deliver speeches and express solidarity to the protesters.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share This

Bahrain: the Establishment of a Youth Human Rights Organization is a Charge Punishable by Law

Maskati under Threat of Prosecution Once Again

Manama- 6th June, 2008

BH000319

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights has, with regret, been following up on the Ministry of Justices decision, to inform, through an official notification, Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati, university student, 21 years, President if the BYSHR and a member of the Norwegian Defense International, that he is to be present as a criminal suspect for a court hearing before the 4th Lower Criminal Court on the 6th of November 2008. The charges are related to the working in a Society before it has been officially registered. The Ministry of Social Affairs is behind these allegations and should Mr. Al-Maskati be found guilty, he may be imprisoned for a period of no more than 6 months and/or a fine of 500 Bahraini Dinars.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share This

Bahrain Tribune - 13 April, 2008

Youth leaders have protested a government move to hand over the youth parliament project to the National Institute for Political Development saying this would politicise the youth movement.

“They are mixing youth issues with politics. It only shows that the General Organisation for Youth and Sports has failed to implement the project. So it is being transferred to a political institute,” Bahrain Youth Society president Hussain Oraibi told the Tribune yesterday.

Last month the authorities had announced that the institute would supervise the project.

Youth societies are upset that the project is yet to take off.
“A lot of time has been wasted on the project which is yet to start. I think civil societies should set up a committee which should have two government representatives to supervise the youth parliament,” Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights president Mohammed Al Maskati said.

The youth parliament will comprise 40 members and have four permanent committees similar to the Chamber of Deputies.

Eight youth will be appointed to handle the media. Candidates will have to undergo intensive training to enhance legislative skills before they contest for the youth parliament.

The project aims to educate youth on the democratic practices in Bahrain and their rights.

Candidates should be in the age group 14-18.
But youth societies want to raise the maximum age to 21. “The 14-18 age group includes mostly schoolchildren who are usually unaware of youth issues. The authorities should raise the age to 21,” Al Maskati said.

Oraibi agreed with Al Maskati and said the youth parliament elections should be held immediately in a transparent manner. “The 21 year age limit will ensure good participation,” he said.

The youth parliament will work in coordination with similar parliaments around the world.

Share This