An Invitation to a Press Conference

Launch (Bahrain Network for Human
Rights- BNHR)

Location: Bahrain Society for Human Rights-BHRS

Time: 1:30 pm

Date: Thursday – 7 February 2013

Organizations:

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights-BYSHR, Bahrain Center for Human Rights-BCHR, Bahrain Human Rights Society-BHRS, Bahrain Rehabilitation and Anti-Violence Organization-BRAVO, European – Bahraini Organisation For Human Rights-EBOHR, and Hope Defenders.

For more information: Mr.Hassan Jaber – Network Coordinator 39992122
E-mail: hasan.aljaber@hotmail.com

Letter of invitation (Arabic – English)

Photo: Mrs. Rola Al-Saffar (Left) and Mr. Ibrahim Al-Demistani (Right)

December 27, 2012

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its great concern that the Court of Appeal upheld the sentence today against Mrs. Rola Al-Saffar – Head of Bahrain’s Nursing Society – and Mr. Ibrahim Al-Demistani – Secretary-general – who is serving a one month imprisonment sentence in a different case related to the protests of 14 February 2011.

Details show that the Court of First Instance issued a verdict against Mrs. Rola Al-Saffar and Mr. Al-Demistani in 2007 on the charge of “conducting the affairs of the Nursing Society despite being dismissed from it by the Ministry of Social Affairs, and refusing to hand over the funds to the temporary manager appointed by the Ministry”.

On 23 March 2007, the Bahraini Authorities decided to close down the Society after the Society attempted to hold an event in solidarity with Mr. Al-Demistani – who had been arrested for treating an injured person in a demonstration against the government – the head office was closed by using the security forces who surrounded the place and prevented the administration board and those standing in solidarity with him from entering.

Mrs. Rola Al-Saffar faced charges after the protests of 14 February 2011. The Court of First Instance had sentenced her with 15 years in prison, but the Court of Appeal acquitted her. Mrs. Rola Al-Saffar had participated in the meetings of the Human Rights Council in Geneva in September 2012.

Mr. Al-Demistani is serving a 3 year imprisonment after being sentenced by the court for his role in treating the injured in the protests of 2011. Mr. Al-Demistani had participated in training dozens of people in villages on the treatment of those wounded in the daily protests taking place in the villages since 14 February 2011.

The BYSHR believes that upholding the sentences against Mrs. Rola Al-Saffar was because of her role in demanding the release of the medics who were convicted for treating the injured in the protests and for her participation in the Universal Periodic Review in the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Septemeber 2011.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) demands the following:

1-To immediately release the human rights activists and the medics;
2-Allow the civil society institutes to carry out their work freely and without restrictions.

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.

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Bahrain: The government targets NGOs
August 25th, 2007

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is highly concerned by the practices of Bahraini government against local NGOs. The government, represented by the Ministry of Development, launched a campaign against local NGOs registered according to Law 21/1989. Most of human rights organizations refer to this law as one of the obstacles hindering the work of local NGOs in Bahrain. In addition, the Ministry of Development launched another campaign against unregistered committees and NGOs that refused to be registered according to such a deficit law that hinders its social work.

Registered NGOs:

1. Islamic Work Association: it is a political association that was registered according to NGOs law (there is a different new law for political associations). The Ministry of Development closed its headquarters for a period of time, according to NGOs law.
2. Feminine Society of Bahrain: It is a feminist association registered according to NGOs law. The Ministry of Development required a separate license for each of association’s activities, according to the new regulations of the ministry, issued particularly because the ministry seeks to host someone from outside Bahrain.
3. Bahrain Society for Human Rights: it is a human rights organization registered according to NGOs law. The Ministry of Development sent a notification to the society requiring it to issue a license for hosting prominent figures from outside Bahrain to attend one of the events to be held by political and non-governmental NGOs on Transformational Justice.

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