23 April 2013

As the world’s attention shifts away from Bahrain, the authorities have sharply intensified the crackdown on ordinary citizens. The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) are both seriously concerned for the well being of Nafeesa Al-Asfoor (pictured above, left) and Rayhana Al-Mosawi (pictured above, right) who were arrested on April 22nd after peacefully protesting at the F1 race with t-shirts and slogans that support the freedom of imprisoned human rights activist Zainab Al-Khawaja and imprisoned photographer Ahmed Humaidan. The husband to Rayhana Al-Mosawi was also arrested and interrogated, but has been released. Both women have been charged under the terrorism law for attempting to detonate a bomb at the F1 race, according to the defendants’ lawyers. Both activists stand accused of:

(1) joining an illegal group aimed at disrupting the provisions of the Constitution, terrorism was among the means used to achieve or execute the objectives;
(2) awareness of a terrorist schema without informing the authorities.

The official Ministry of Interior statement about the arrest states that:
“On the second day of the Grand Prix, police assigned to the BIC gate stopped two girls who were acting suspiciously. After searching them it was found that one of them was carrying a pillow stuffed under her dress. The girl told police she was testing the security procedures as part of a recce for a terrorist act. The girls were referred to the Public Prosecutor.”(Link to the MOI statement: http://www.policemc.gov.bh/news_details.aspx?type=1&articleId=14173)

The BCHR and the BYSHR believes that the decision to charge these women as terrorists under such outrageous charges is intended to send a clear message to other peaceful protesters that there will be severe consequences for speaking up for human rights. Their initial detention period will be for sixty days.
The BCHR has received reports that the women were forced to provide names of other individuals, and implicate them in illegal activities. The BCHR has documented a pattern of behavior by the authorities to use torture to extract false confession from human rights activists and pro-democracy protesters.

On the same day that the Bahraini authorities imprisoned these women on trumped-up charges, the U.N. Office of the Special Rapporteur on Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment announced that they would again delay their visit to Bahrain at the request of the Bahraini authorities. The Special Rapporteur, Professor Juan Mendez, was also denied access in March of 2012 when he was last scheduled to visit the country.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights demands that:

1. The immediate release of Nafeesa Al-Asfoor and Rayhana Al-Mosawi, and the dropping of all trumped-up charges against them.
2. The Special Rapportour on Torture be allowed to visit the country and speak with the dozens of prisoners and ordinary citizens who have reportedly been tortured by the authorities.

Further details about the case ( Click Here)

Photos taken morning 18 August 2012

Women’s prison Administration-Isa Town Police Station- has refused to give vaccinations against the disease “hepatitis” to prisoners of conscience.

Prisoners of Conscience:

1-Leila Kadhim – 47 years old
2-Fatima Alnaniyon – 16 years old
3-Khadija Hubail – 17 years old
4-Zainab Dehim – 20 years old
5-Ibtisam Aziz Dehim – 35 years old
6-Munira Dehim – 39 years old
7-Huda Dehim – 40 years old
8-Zainab Salman – 40 years old
9-Aqeela Almqabi – 24 years old
10-Fatima Al-Jishi – 21 years old
11-Fadheela Almabark – 37 years old

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) considers medical negligence as physical and psychological punishment of prisoners of conscience.

The BYSHR demanding the Bahraini authorities to provide emergency medical care to prisoners of conscience.

Every Monday at 9:30 pm, Bahrain TV (the governmental channel) presents a program entitled “Dialogue with Saeed Al-Hamad”. The program focuses on presenting confessions of prisoners sentenced by the Military Court, or individuals that have spoken to the media during the protests in Bahrain since the 14th of February. The program also targets prominent human rights activists due to their work in exposing the human rights violations and political opposition figures.

Mr.Saeed Al-Hamad is a (pro-government) journalist in the Al-Ayam newspaper; his articles target political opposition figures and human rights activists.

On the 13th of June 2011, the presenter of the program (Mr.Al-Hamad) accused prominent human rights activists of incitement, sabotage, and being unprofessional and sectarian, when he pointed accusations towards Mr.Nabeel Rajab “Head of Bahrain Centre for Human Rights” and Mr.Mohammed Al-Maskati “Head of Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights”; Al-Hamad incited the authorities and public against them.

Mr.Al-Maskati (Left) and Mr.Rajab (Right)

On the 20th of June 2011, the presenter of the program (Mr.Al-Hamad) presented confessions of prisoners sentenced by the Military Court, where the prisoners apologized and confessed that they have done actions against the government and law, which included the following:

1.Ms.Ayat Al-Qormozi while apologizing regarding the poem she has written and recited at the Pearl Roundabout during the protests (She was sentenced to one years imprisonment). Ref: http://byshr.org/?p=594

2.Mr.Mahmood Abdelsaheb, a photographer and a member of a political opposition party, where he confessed that he has fabricated photographs and sent them to TV channels.

Abdelsaheb’s lawyer stated to the BYSHR that, “Mahmood had denied all accusations during the trail”.

Information received by the BYSHR indicated that Mr.Mahmood’s confessions were filmed three days prior to their appearance in the program (after being sentenced for 3 years and 6 month imprisonment).

The BYSHR believes that Mr.Mahmood and Ms.Ayaat were subjected to ill-treatment in order to publish the confessions.

On related matter, A man died in custody confession on television that he had killed two policemen.

On the 28th of April 2011 , Bahrain T.V showed the “confessions” of the accused who killed two police men and who were sentenced. One of the those, the first to be shown making a confession, is Mr. Ali Isa Saqer, who had died in custody on the 9th of April, 2011.. The Ministry of Interior had alleged that Mr. Saqer had died after resisting security officials while in detention but the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights(BYSHR) had viewed photos that show clear marks on his back, stomach and other parts of his body that seem to be signs of mistreatment.Ref: http://byshr.org/?p=396

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) demands the immediate and independent investigation in the torture allegations, and demands from the Special Rapporteur on torture and the working group on arbitrary detention to urgently intervene.

Photo: Before entering the UN building

URGENT ACTION REQUEST:

Fear for Safety and Well Being of Activists

After a 3 hour sit in at the United Nations office in Bahrain today, Ms. Zaynab Alkhawaja (better known as Angryarabiya on twitter, daughter of Abdulhadi Alkhawaja Prominent Human Rights activist) Ms. Sausan Jawad (daughter of detained activist Mr. Parwees Jawad) and Ms.Asma Darwish (on her 12th day of hunger strike protesting the detention of her brother) were forcibly removed by Bahraini police and arrested.

According to the Bahraini Ministry of Interior, this was done at the request of the UNDP officials. The three ladies have been transferred to a police station and according to a tweet by the MOI: “Legal procedures were taken today against three ladies refused to leave the UN office after receiving complaint from the office’s officials”

The three ladies had staged a sit-in to protest the arrest and detention of their family members and had submitted a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban ki Moon asking that the UN take action.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) finds this a very dangerous precedence and is alarmed at the fact that the UNDP would take such action knowing well the situation of detainees in detention and the mistreatment that have been taken place in addition to the fact that this violates UN protocol. The BYSHR hold the UNDP and its officials responsible for the well being of the three aforementioned activists and calls for urgent action to ensure their safety.

Letter to UN Secretary General: http://byshr.org/wp-content/letter-to-UN.pdf

BYSHR Report: http://byshr.org/?p=602

Today ( 12 June 2011 ), National Safety court ( Military court) issued its ruling against Ms.Ayat Alqurmozi.

Ms. Alqurmozi was sentenced to one year imprisonment.

Charges: taking part in illegal protests and disrupting public security and Inciting publicly towards the hatred of the regime.

Ms.Ayat Alqurmozi – a 20 years old poet and student at the Faculty of Teachers, was arrested on Wednesday, March 30th 2011.

She was reading political poem- criticized government policy- in the Pearl Roundabout.

According to information obtained by the BYSHR, That there are allegations of ill-treatment in custody.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses it is deep concern at the sentencing active woman due to freedom of speech . BYSHR calls for the Special Rapporteur of freedom of opinion and expression to take urgent actions.

Ms. AlKhawaja (Left) and Ms. Alqurmozi (Right)

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its deep concern about targeting Ms. AlKhawaja and Ms. Alqurmozi.

Ms.Ayat Alqurmozi – a 20 years old poet and student at the Faculty of Teachers, was arrested on Wednesday, March 30th 2011.

She was reading political poem- criticized government policy- in the Pearl Roundabout. ( Ref:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8-qOerX3xI )

According to information obtained by the BYSHR, That there are allegations of ill-treatment in custody and she was not informed by police about the trial.

Today ( 2 June, 2011), The first hearing session for Ms. Alqurmozi before a military court (National Safety court).

Ms. Zaynab Alkhawaja – a 27 years old Cyber Activist, better known as Angryarabiya on twitter.

Ms. AlKhawaja, inspired the recent mass hunger strike in Bahrain after going on hunger strike in support of her detained father and prominent human rights activist Abdulhadi Alkhawaja (former MENA Coordinator with Frontline Defenders and former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights). Ms. Alkhawaja continued her strike for a period of 8 days until she was pressured to end the strike by international human rights organization.

Ms. Alkhawaja had previously written an open letter to President Obama calling for the US to take responsibility for what is happening in Bahrain and holding him responsible should anything happen to her father ( http://angryarabiya.blogspot.com ). Ms. Alkhawaja’s twitter account was very active after the February 14th unrest and has over 11 thousand followers. She was subjected to many threats and a smear campaign by pro-government tweeters.

Today ( 2 June, 2011), Ms. Alkhawaja will attend the interrogation in the police station at 6 pm.

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.

(more…)

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.”

Bahrain: Safia’s hunger strike led her to hospital
The Ministry of Housing refuses to provide her a residence while she is dying.

Manama, 18 July 2007

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is highly concerned by the developments of the case of Safia Ahmed Ali, 36, from Al-Deer “Al-Muharraq” village. The Bahraini citizen is still calling upon the Ministry of Housing to provide her and her daughter Mariam, 10 years-old, with an adequate house. For this goal, she launched a hunger strike on Tuesday 17 July 2007 at 9:00 a.m.

“I am tired of continuous striking near the Ministry of Housing. I did not receive any positive response from ministry officials up till now. So, I decided to launch a hunger strike until I have a response,” Safia told BYSHR.

BYSHR representatives visited Safia on the first day of hunger strike. She seemed pale and severely tired because of the strike. The representatives also noticed that civil security vehicles were intensively spread all over strike venue.

(more…)