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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Petition organized by :Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights-BYSHR and Children’s Rights Information Network- CRIN

Dear friends, members and non members,
Please have moments to read and sign the following petition to the “Bahraini Authorities” about a detained minor:

HERE PETITION

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The Bahrain Youth Human Rights Society (BYHRS) also remained unsuccessful in legally registering as a civil society organization. The society first applied for registration in 2005. According to supporters of the group, authorities told them that the society failed to meet one of the requirements of the 1989 associations act because some of its members were under 18 years of age. Members of the society also speculate that government officials are enforcing the 1989 law to the letter because of ties between BYHRS and the now-dissolved BCHR.

On November 27, the president of the BYHRS, Mohammed Al-Maskati, appeared before a lower criminal court judge to answer charges of “operating an unregistered association” under the terms of the 1989 associations act. Al-Maskati asserted that the act was inconsistent with Bahrain’s international commitments as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The judge adjourned the trial until January 2008, and Al-Maskati was not taken into custody. The BYHRS remained active at year’s end.

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Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2007
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
March 11, 2008

Bahrain is a monarchy with a population of approximately 725,000, approximately 430,000 of whom are citizens, according to official figures. King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa is the head of state and all branches of government. The king appoints a cabinet of ministers, half of whom are members of the Al‑Khalifa royal family. The 2002 constitution reinstated a legislative body with one elected chamber, the Council of Deputies, and one appointed chamber, the Shura Council. All political societies participated in the November and December 2006 parliamentary and municipal elections. Trained local observers did not report significant problems during the elections, although there were allegations that the government manipulated general poll center vote counts in some cases and gerrymandered political districts. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces.

Citizens did not have the right to change their government. The government restricted civil liberties, including freedoms of press, speech, assembly, association, and some religious practices. Although citizens were not able to form political parties, the law authorized registered political societies to run candidates and participate in other political activities. The judiciary lacked independence, and corruption was a problem. Domestic violence against women and children was common, as was discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, sect, and ethnicity. Trafficking in persons and restrictions on the rights of expatriate workers remained problems. The Shi’a majority population was routinely discriminated against.

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Web law ‘threat to Arab media’
By REBECCA TORR

A NEW law to control websites and radio broadcasting in the region has been attacked by Bahrain human rights organisations under a regional campaign. Thirty-four groups, including three from Bahrain, have rejected the law stating that it is against human rights because it imposes restrictions on freedom of expression.

They add that the law is not even legitimate because it has not received the approval of parliament and legislative authorities.

The new law was signed by Information Ministers of Arab countries, including Bahrain, on February 12.

It contains 12 articles that aim to organise, broadcasting and re-broadcasting, and receive broadcasts in the Arab region.

Its goal is to pay respect to freedom of expression and spread culture through space transmission.

But human rights groups say the law is actually against freedom of expression and its main aim is to silence opponents of Arab governments who criticise their policies.

One of the organisations is the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, which is calling on the government to reject the law.

“This is not good for the Arab region. It will control media and the media must have the freedom to talk and not be controlled by the Arab governments,” society president Mohammed Al Maskati told the GDN.

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Tear gas hits girl, expectant mother

Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter

A 10-year-old girl and an expectant mother from Sitra were rushed to hospital after they inhaled tear gas the anti-riot police used to disperse an unauthorised rally last week, families claimed yesterday.
Fatima Hassan Mohammed Sitrawi, 10, was admitted unconscious at the accident and emergency department of the Salmaniya Medical Complex by her family, while Jehad, sister of municipal councillor Sadiq Rabea, was admitted to the SMC on the same day after she experienced difficulty in breathing. She is into the fourth month of pregnancy.
According to human rights activists and both families, the rally for the release of the detainees arrested last December, was not permitted by the Ministry of Interior.
The families claimed that the police had used excessive tear gas.
Fatima’s father, Hassan Mohammed Sitrawi, said she had gone to a nearby cold store to buy juice when the demonstrators went unruly. “She and other siblings brought foodstuff from the store and we left them with relatives. I received a call five minutes later that Fatima was unconscious.”
She was first rushed to the Sitra Health Centre where doctors performed a CPR and then shifted her to the SMC.
Sitrawi also claimed that several residents came out of homes as the police dispersed the protesters.
He threatened to sue the ministry for his daugther’s condition and said he was waiting for a medical report and would send it to hospitals abroad.
Fahmi Abdulsaheb Ahmed from Al Amal Islamic Society said they were following up Fatima’s case and would help Sitrawi file a case against the ministry. “It was not the girl’s fault. She woke up on Sunday and had no clues as to what happened. She fell unconscious because of the tear gas.”
Sadiq Rabea said, “We were scared about my sister Jehad and baby. She could not breathe because of the tear gas. I took her to the SMC where she was treated and later discharged.”
Moments after they returned home, Rabea said, Jehad called him and said she wanted to go to hospital again. “This was because of the intense smell in the area which affected my sister’s health. She is admitted at the SMC and her condition has improved a bit.”
Fatima and Jehad are expected to be discharged soon.
Mohammed Al Maskati from the Bahrain Youth Society of Human Rights alleged that the tear gas had affected many women and children. “We have written to the ministry on the use of tear gas to disperse gatherings. The police should adopt other ways to do it.”

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