The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its deep concern for the arrest of prominent human rights defenders because of their participation in peaceful protests on the occasion of the first anniversary of the protests.

They were participating in a march towards the Pearl Roundabout in Manama city, exercising their right to peaceful assembly to this symbolic Roundabout, which was the centre of last year protests.

Mr.Naji Fateel : is a board member of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) and blogger who has been active in reporting human rights violations in Bahrain.He used his account on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/najialifateel) for dissemination of human rights information. He was previously detained between Dec 2007 and April 2009, and has been reportedly tortured. His house was stormed in search for him several times last year following the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. He was suffering from damage to his spine and was supposed to travel abroad to get medical treatment.

Mr.Hasan Al-Jaber: is a prominent human rights blogger who is regarded as a reliable source for Bahrain news. He used his account on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/HasanAljaber) for dissemination of human rights information. He used to report from protests, posting first-hand testimonies of human rights violations to the media and also contributed to support non-violence strategies in cooperation with the BYSHR.

Ms.Zainab Al-Khawaja: is a prominent human rights defender and blogger.She used his account on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/angryarabiya) for dissemination of human rights information.Ms.Al-Khawaja was previously arrested for participating in a public protest on 15 December 2011.She reported being beaten during her December arrest.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) demands the immediate release of human rights activists and Bahrain is considered the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders, journalists and bloggers.

Peaceful protests
By BASMA MOHAMMED, Posted on » Sunday, May 31, 2009

AN initiative that claims to train young Bahrainis how to stage peaceful protests is due to resume next month – after five of its six trainers were released from prison.

It was launched by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) in 2007, but stopped when five trainers were rounded up in connection with an alleged terrorist plot.

The men were among 35 suspects arrested for allegedly plotting to bomb targets during celebrations to mark National Day last December.

However, society president and Non-Violent Centre founder Mohammed Al Maskati denied that they were planning terrorist attacks and claimed they were targeted for non-criminal activities.

(more…)

Press Release

Bahrain: Reopening a Center for Training on Non-Violent Strategies

30 May 2009

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights said today that it will reopen its center “Non-violent Youth”, and which the BYSHR established in 2007 with the help of activists in the civil committees and institutions.

The BYSHR indicated that the Center will train youth on non-violent strategies, and that the Society had suspended the activities of the Center due to the arrest of the members working in it.

Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati, president of the BYSHR, said, “The Non-Violent Center is the only youth center in the region which specializes in training youth on carrying out non-violent strategies and which play a role in securing the principals of human rights in the society and achieving democracy and liberty”.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

Centre offers to train cops on new ways to tackle protests
Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter

Rights advocates have stepped in to train policemen on non-violence strategies and human rights principles.
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) has offered proposals to train policemen as part of its campaign for non-violence.
“We have conducted two workshops in the past where we discussed human rights principle with the officers. This time we want to discuss our non-violence strategies with them,” said society President Mohammed Al Maskati.
BYSHR has established a centre, the first of its kind in the Middle East, under the theme “Youth Against Violence”, to help prevent violent demonstrations.

(more…)

Panel discussion: Is there a crisis in Bahrain?

Organizing: Non-Violent Youth Center(Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights).

Time: Saturday-September 8, 2007

Participants:

Muhammad Ali – Secretary-General of the Islamic Action Society
A.hadi Alkhawaja – Executive Director, Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Hassan Mshimaa – Secretary-General of the Haaq movement

Non-Violent Youth Center (Bahrain Youth Society For Human Rights) was organized youth football matches over the issue of “non-violence and human rights” and participated with the youth in achieving the goals of human rights.

Goal: Non-violence
Sandeep Singh Grewal

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights will hold its second football match in Bilad Al Qadeem today in an effort to promote non-violence among youth.
The society has established a non-violence centre which is organising events in several villages.
“We have completed the first phase of our training programme by training about 150 youth in human rights principle. We have covered Sitra, Bani Jamra, Sanabis, Dumistan and Bilad Al Qadeem,” said society president Mohammed Al Maskati.

The strategies implemented by the centre include presenting bouquets to riot police before a protest and wearing common colour attires as a symbol of protest.
“The society held the first football match in Sitra. We will continue to hold matches in villages to keep the youth occupied. We distribute brochures to the people who attend the match and address gatherings during the match.

(more…)

Peaceful protests drive ‘a success’
By GEOFFREY BEW

AN initiative to train villagers in how to prevent violent clashes between police and demonstrators has received positive response despite recent clashes in Malkiya, say organisers. Around 80 men and women have taken part in a series of workshops offering human rights training and explaining non-violent strategies that can diffuse potential conflicts.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) has organised the initiative, understood to be the first of its kind in the Middle East.

Human rights activists have already trained young people during weekly workshops in Bani Jamra, Sanabis, Demistan, Bilad Al Qadeem and Sitra.

(more…)