The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) strongly denounce the arbitrary arrest, detention, and politically motivated charges brought against human rights defender Mr.Mohammed Al-Maskati “president of the BYSHR”

On 17 October 2012, Mr.Al-Maskati, appeared before Bahrain’s public prosecution on charges of participating in illegal protests. A day prior, he had been summoned to Al Hoora police station, where he was kept overnight before being referred to the prosecutor’s office. Although he has since been released, the prosecution may raise his case again at any time, which we view as a clear form of intimidation against the activist.

It is important to note that during his participation and oral intervention in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Bahrain in Geneva, in the 21st session of the Human Rights Council Mr. Al-Maskati received continuous threats via anonymous phone calls due to his activism and participation at the Council ( http://byshr.org/?p=1178 ). He was threatened with death if “he smeared Bahrain’s reputation in Geneva”

The arrest of Mr. Al-Maskati and the charges leveled against him for taking part in “gathering and rioting ” and “Participating in an unauthorized march” are an attempt to intimidate and punish him for his engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, and, as such, constitute a reprisal for cooperating with the United Nations.

On 13 September, Mr.Al-Maskati delivered an oral intervention before the Geneva council, informing its members of the acts of reprisals to which he was subjected for his participation at the session. He stated, “I have received more than a dozen anonymous phone calls threatening my life and the safety of my family for my engagement here. Nonetheless, I have chosen to speak today because my case is not unique.”

Mr Al-Maskati is a renowned human rights defender, an advocate of non-violence and a trainer in Digital Security for activists.

We believe that the Bahraini government has been emboldened by international silence on its recent arrests and harassment of human rights defenders and may take inaction.

The BYSHR call on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently issue a press release condemning these acts and calling for all States to ensure that human rights defenders are able to cooperate safely with the UN human rights mechanisms. The Human Rights Council should also ensure that it raises these acts of reprisals with the State concerned in order to ensure accountability, non-recurrence, and full protection for the human rights defenders involved.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses it deep concern regarding the continuous threats against Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati – president of the BYSHR, where the Bahraini Al-Watan newspaper – a pro-government newspaper – published a photo of Mr. Al-Maskati and the photos of other activists under the title “Al-Watan Reveals the Names of the Participants in Discrediting Bahrain in Geneva“.

Full article – here

On 23 September 2012, Al-Watan newspaper published a list of names of most of the participants in the human rights council during the Universal Periodic Review of Bahrain and it accused them of “discrediting Bahrain” and it also published their photos on the front cover with a “red circle” around it.

Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati has been subjected to a two-week continuous campaign against him on social networks (twitter), and he received dozens of phone calls – during his presence in Geneva – threatening him with death if “he smeared Bahrain’s reputation in Geneva”.

listed below what the anonymous callers have told Mr.Al-Maskati:

1. Bastard and traitor to the country.
2. They have cited to me personal information that includes my home address, the number of the plate of my car. They have told me all this information.
3. They told me that I’m an Iranian agent.
4. They told that on my return from Geneva they will kill me.
5. They said if you talk in Geneva against the state then you will see some thing you have n’t seen before.
6. They also put some noisy voices during their calls.

On 17 of September 2012, one member of the Bahrain delegation, followed Mr.Al-Maskati taking pictures as he was engaged in meetings with various Human Rights Council officials.

The Al-Watan newspaper published a picture of Ms.Mariam ِAl-Khawaja ( Acting President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights-BCHR).

The BYSHR considers that the continuous campaign against Mr. Al-Maskati is because of his cooperation with the mechanisms of the United Nations and considers what is happening to him as a revenge of this cooperation by the Bahraini Authorities.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) demands the Bahraini Authorities to stop the threats and organized campaigns to smear the reputation of the prominent activist Mr. Al-Maskati, and it demands as well investigating with the organizations that target the participants in the human rights council.

More information about threats Mr. Maskati :

1- End persecution of human rights defenders in Bahrain now, says international appeal to UNHRC ( http://www.ifex.org/bahrain/2012/09/17/end_persecution/ )

2- Bahrain/Geneva: Concerns on ongoing intimidation against human rights defender Mohammed Al-Maskati ( https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/19869)

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its deep concern regarding the blocking of the UN (http://webtv.un.org) Website after the oral intervention given by Mr.Mohammed Al-Maskati-President of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights 0n 13 September 2012 at the Human Rights Council (Session 21) which was focused on reprisals.

Dozens of Bahraini citizens have informed the BYSHR that they could not enter the Web Site of the UN after the intervention of Mr. Maskati at the Human Rights Council. ( Mr.Al-Maskati intervention: http://byshr.org/?p=1168)

This blocking means that the people of Bahrain will not be able to lively follow up the UPR discussion on Bahrain scheduled on 19 September 2012.

Mr. Al-Maskati intervention at the Human Rights Council dealt with reprisals against human rights defenders in Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Al-Maskati also talked about the threats received by Mr. Al-Maskati during his intervention during the meetings of the Human Rights Council.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights believes the blocking part of the on-going campaign of attacks directed toward human rights defenders in Bahrain including Mr. Maskati himself which aimed at preventing them from continuing their legitimate human rights work.

Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati-President of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights – had intervention (on behalf of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies) in the Human Rights Council “session 21″ on reprisals against defenders of human rights in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

(Go to 2:30:40)

Video – Panel Discussion on Intimidation & Reprisals, 9th Meeting

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its deep concern for the threats received by Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati – president of the BYSHR – during his participation in a workshop on the mechanisms of the UN with an international organization. Mr. Al-Maskati will also be participating in a human rights session on Bahrain among the mechanism of “Universal Periodic Review”.

The Vice-president of the BYSHR Mr. Nader Al-Salatna indicated that, Mr. Al-Maskati had tweeted his mobile number – a local number in Geneva – on his twitter account to maintain the communication between him and the victims in Bahrain. However, for Three continuous days (10 –11-12 September) he received anonymous calls threatening him with death because of his participation in Geneva, and he was threatened with assault upon his arrival in Bahrain. The callers also cursed him, and they also turned on disturbing sounds for long periods of time starting at one am.

Mr. Al-Salatna also confirmed that, “The BYSHR believes that whoever called Mr. Al-Maskati is connected to the local authorities in Bahrain in order to intimidate Mr. Al-Maskati from participating in the 21st session of Human Rights Council .”

Mr. Al-Maskati had participated in the 20th session of Human Rights Council and had met several diplomats and office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in addition to international organizations; 27 states had issued a joint statement on Bahrain during the UN sessions.

During the past few weeks, slander campaign orchestrated against Mr. Al-Maskati on Twitter by unknown persons and pro-government pages due to the publish the names of the officers who are abusing prisoners.

The BYSHR demands providing the protection of human rights defenders who use the UN mechanisms, and who participate in the UN sessions, as they are subjected to revenge by the Bahraini Authorities. The BYSHR demands the protection of Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati and that he is not targeted upon his return from Geneva to Bahrain.

The Arab-American Organization for Democracy and Human Rights has awarded three prominent Bahraini Human Rights Defenders the International Human Rights Defenders Personality of the year 2011 along with other prominent Arab activist from the region.

The three defenders are:

1. Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, currently serving a life sentence for his human rights work in Bahrain. Was previously the Middle East and North Africa Coordinator with Frontline Defenders and the previous President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR)

2. Mr. Nabeel Rajab, An Ion Ratiu Democracy Award Winner 2011, President of Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Deputy Secretary General of FIDH, and MENA Advisory member of Human Rights Watch.

3. Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati, President of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR)

The award identifies these 3 activists as brave leaders of the Arab spring along with other prominent activists such as Nobel award winner Tawakul Karman, Eqyptian blogger Alaa Abdulfatah and Egyptian activist Wael Ghunaim.

The President of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) Mr.Mohammed Al-Maskati yesterday (December 5, 2011) received death threats on social networks (Twitter).

Adel Fleifel-Former official in the security of the state and accused of torturing hundreds in the nineties-broadcast threat to Mr.Al-Maskati and other activists ( Mr.Nabeel Rajeb – President of the Bahrain centre for Human Rights And a member of the Centre Mr. Yousef AlMahafdha)

Fleifel called previously to the formation of armed militias to face the pro-democracy demonstrators.

Members of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights are always subject to harassment :

1-Mr. Yousef Abdul rasool – member of the Board of Directors in BYSHR- subjected to harassment and interrogation by security forces in Bahrain International Airport – Friday, December 2 – After his return from participating in a training session with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

2- Mr.Ahmed Abbas- Member of the BYSHR- authorities are trying to arrest him because the monitoring and documenting human rights violations in the village of Nuwaidrat.

The BYSHR has been a major source of information to international human rights organizations as well as international journalists since the February 14th protests. Members have acted as guides and translators to these organizations and have been documenting cases of human rights violations as observers. The BYSHR has distributed information and restarted its non-violence campaign since then in order to raise awareness on non-violence strategies.

The BYSHR places full responsibility for any harm to the safety and well being of active human rights defenders on the Bahraini Authorities and warns that these calls for liquidation and killing if left without appropriate reaction will set a dangerous precedence and compromise the work of human right defenders. The BYSHR calls on international human rights organizations to approach the Bahraini authorities in regards to this latest development and require guarantees for the safety and security of human rights defenders.

The BYSHR will continue, regardless of these intimidation campaigns, in its work of documenting human rights violations and providing international human rights organizations and journalists with information regarding the human rights situation in the country.

Background:

On March 2011, the President of the BYSHR Mr.Mohammed Al-Maskati has received numerous phone-calls since yesterday evening of threats to his life as well as insults after his personal information, personal mobile number, CPR number, photo and home address were being circulated through blackberry messenger, forums, twitter, facebook by unknown sources. Mr. Najji Fateel, a member of the BYSHR board of Directors and a torture victim as well as Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, previous regional Coordinator at Frontline and previous President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights also had their personal information distributed in addition to their car numbers.

URGENT ACTION: Allegations of Treason against Known Human Rights Activists and Calls for their Killing by “Unknown” Sources
Personal Information & Photos of Activists as Well as their Home Addresses being Circulated
BYSHR Accuses Bahraini Authorities of Being behind Groups

The President of the BYSHR Mr.Mohammed Al-Maskati has received numerous phone-calls since yesterday evening of threats to his life as well as insults after his personal information, personal mobile number, CPR number, photo and home address were being circulated through blackberry messenger, forums, twitter, facebook by unknown sources. Mr. Najji Fateel, a member of the BYSHR board of Directors and a torture victim as well as Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, previous regional Coordinator at Frontline and previous President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights also had their personal information distributed in addition to their car numbers.

One of the messages received read: (apx translation from Arabic) “These are the instigators of disorder and who have organized the movements of sabotage and leaders who are insisting on going to the Royal Court on Friday. The Heads of agitation and disorder in our beloved Bahrain need to be killed and liquidated. Following is the information of the traitors:…”

The BYSHR accuses the Bahraini authorities of directly or indirectly, standing behind these group as some of the personal information being distributed is accessible squarely by government institutions and is not in publicly accessed records, in addition, the phone call campaign is being done in an organized manner and through unknown numbers similar to previous campaigns. This would not be the first time a state sponsored defamation campaign has happened or that government related groups have waged a campaign against human rights defenders, (refer to campaigns waged by pro-government newspapers and radio) one may even claim that it has become a systematic practice in the past 7 years.

The BYSHR has been a major source of information to international human rights organizations as well as international journalists since the February 14th protests. Members have acted as guides and translators to these organizations and have been documenting cases of human rights violations as observers. The BYSHR has distributed information and restarted its non-violence campaign since then in order to raise awareness on non-violence strategies.

The BYSHR places full responsibility for any harm to the safety and well being of active human rights defenders on the Bahraini Authorities and warns that these calls for liquidation and killing if left without appropriate reaction will set a dangerous precedence and compromise the work of human right defenders. The BYSHR calls on international human rights organizations to approach the Bahraini authorities in regards to this latest development and require guarantees for the safety and security of human rights defenders.

The BYSHR will continue, regardless of these intimidation campaigns, in its work of documenting human rights violations and providing international human rights organizations and journalists with information regarding the human rights situation in the country.

Attached: photos that were circulated of the human rights defenders.

The trial of 23 persons (human rights defenders, political activists, bloggers, and the men of religion) started at 9:30 am, attended the court hearing, representatives from the embassies, defense lawyers, representatives of the international organization as well as some local media and some relatives of the detainees.

Bahraini security forces prevented a group of people from entering the court:

1 – Mr. Mohamed Maskati – Chairman of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (representing the Arab-European Centre for Human Rights) in Norway.
2 – Ms.Ghada Jamsheer – a defender of human rights.

In addition to activists and families of some detainees.

(more…)

Full Article

We’ve all heard of the film Sleepless in Seattle, full of romance and racy scenes.

Now the world can feast their eyes on Boycotting in Bahrain, a much more dramatic saga featuring repression, torture and vote rigging.

While the political junkies of the world have their eyes peeled on the US midterm elections this Tuesday, the tiny Middle Eastern island kingdom of Bahrain is engaged in its own parliamentary elections, replete with explicit government crackdowns on three opposition groups and a kangaroo-court-style trial of over two dozen human rights activists, opposition activists and bloggers.

Bahrain, a strategic American military partner and home to the US Fifth Fleet, is a Shiite majority country ruled by a Sunni minority, at the top of which is the royal al-Khalifa family. The Gulf state has been plagued by high levels of sectarian tension for decades.

Two months ago the Bahrain Ministry of Justice announced a crackdown on three Bahraini opposition groups – the Bahrain Freedom Movement, the Haq Movement and the Al-Wafa Islamic Movement – ahead of this month’s elections for 40 members of the Council of Representatives. Bahraini national security forces arrested some two dozen human rights activists, opposition members, dissident clerics and critical bloggers, accusing them of (among many charges) “forming an authorized group which incites to overthrow the government.”

(more…)