Note: a press report from Bahrain TV (with English subtitles)

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its deep concern for the Bahrain State Television broadcasting photos of a number of defendants in security cases, who were arrested, among them Naji Fateel – board member in the BYSHR– on Wednesday 12 June 2013.

List of Defendants in the Case of ‘14 February Coalition’ ( HERE)

Bahrain Television broadcasted a press report that includes names and photos of people who were arrested and are still undergoing investigation, and their cases have not been solved yet.

The report stated that they are accused of establishing the ’14 February Youth Coalition’ and which is a political movement that was established on 14 February 2011 – after the pro-democracy protests kicked off – this movement had led the movement on the ground in the Bahraini villages on a daily basis. The movement had kept its members confidential in the villages, and the Bahraini Authorities accuses the ’14 February Youth Coalition’ of the responsibility of the bombing taking place in the villages.

The press report included a number human rights and political activists inside Bahrain and abroad. Among them was Naji Fateel who was arrested on May 2, and was subjected to severe torture in the Criminal Investigation Building (BYSHR Statemement: http://byshr.org/?p=1381 )

Naji Fateel is considered one of the prominent activists in the human rights field and he contributed in the establishment of the ‘Non-violent Youth Center’, which is a center that was established in 2007. Naji was arrested after the Center’s establishment and he was sentenced to 5 years in prison, but was later released.

Naji Fateel since his arrest (May 2) was not permitted a family visit.

Pic: Naji Fateel with Margaret Sekaggya

The Bahraini Authorities violated the principle that ‘the defendant is innocent until proven guilty’, as the broadcast contributed in charging them and their families with accusations, and this formed a negative public opinion against them.

According to the information received by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR):

1.Some of those whose photos were broadcasted, their cases are still undergoing investigation and have not been referred to court.
2.Some of those whose photos were broadcasted, testimonies of them being tortured during the investigation period were documented in the Criminal Investigation Building in order to confess against themselves or others.
3.Some of the lawyers did not receive the case files.
4.All of those who had their photos published did not receive final their final court verdict.

Article (1/11) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the basic principles of a fair and public trial before an independent and impartial judiciary was violated.

The BYSHR demands:

1.Hold accountable those responsible for broadcasting the photos of the defendants before their trial.
2.Immediate, urgent and independent investigation in the torture allegations.
3.Immediate release of Naji Fateel and to drop all charges against him.

List of Defendants in the Case of ‘14 February Coalition’ ( HERE)

6 June 2013

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) released its report on the judicial sentences issued against the protestors in Bahrain since 1 January until 1 June. The report includes the number of those convicted and their cases, in addition to the issued verdicts and the names of the judges who issued them.

The report clarified that 278 people were convicted as follows:

1.Acquittal: 20 people
2.Imprisonment (15 years – 10 years): 131 people
3.Imprisonment (9 years – 6 years): 7 people
4.Imprisonment (5 years – one month): 120 people

The total numbers of cases which have been settled are 29.

Judge Mohammed bin Ali Al-Khalifa (from the Ruling family) issued the more harsh verdicts against the defendants, as follows:

1.Judge Mohammed bin Ali Al-Khalifa (from the Ruling family): number of convicted (159 people – 18 acquitted), number of verdicts (185 years) number of cases (17 cases).

2.Judge Ebrahim Al-Zayed: number of convicted (33 people), number of verdicts (55 years), number of cases (3 cases).

3.Judge Jaber Al-Jazzar: number of convicted (74 people), number of verdicts (4 years and one month), number of cases (3 cases).

4.Judge Rashid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa (from the Ruling family): number of convicted (3 people), number of verdicts (1 year), number of cases (1 case).

5.Judge Jassim Al-Ajlan: number of convicted (1 person), number of verdicts (4 months), number of cases (1 case).

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

1.The judiciary must be independent from the executive authority and ruling family.
2.Immediately stop the trials related to freedom of opinion, expression and assembly.
3.Allowing freedom of opinion and assembly in accordance with international standards.

Full Report- English (HERE)

Full Report- Arabic تقرير بالعربي ( HERE هنا)

Introduction:

Royal Decree No. 14 of 2002 established the National Security Apparatus, which was an amendment of the Amiri Decree No. 29 of 1996 regarding the management of the Ministry of Interior. According to the new decree, the National Security Apparatus replaces the General Directorate for State Security that was affiliated with the Ministry of Interior. This Apparatus is headed by a manager whose degree equals that of a minister at the cabinet.

Since 2002, the notorious National Security Apparatus initiated a surveillance and wiretapping campaign on dozens of activists. It began to launch mass arrests, the most violent in 2007; the case was known as ‘burning a police car and stealing a weapon’ when many activists were arrested after Ali Jassim’s funeral. Jassim reportedly died as a result of the Security Forces use of excessive force against protestors on 17 December, which various political and human rights bodies consider ‘Martyr’s Day’. The National Security Apparatus was known for practicing numerous types of torture:

1. Severe beatings.
2. Electrocution.
3. Hanging for long periods of time in painful positions.
4. Beating the detainees’ feet with rubber hoses and/or batons.
5. Threatening the detainees with murder or rape.

In March 2008, the authorities arrested approximately 30 people from the village of Karzakan with the charge of burning property that belongs to the ruling Al-Khalifa family and killing a Pakistani officer in the village. Officers affiliated with the National Security Apparatus reportedly practiced serious violations, among them included violently raiding houses at dawn and torturing countless detainees.

In December 2008, the authorities arrested approximately 25 people and the Public Prosecution charged them with accusations related to training in Syria, preparing explosives, and attempting to carry out a terrorist act. The National Security Apparatus interrogated them using methods of intimidation and torture.
The National Security Apparatus manages people detained in the building of the Ministry of Interior – called the Fort – and in the Criminal Investigation Department building.

The names of several officials from the National Security Apparatus who practiced torture became public: Colonel Yousif Al-Arabi, Major Fahad Al-Fadhala, Major Bassam Al-Miraj, Lieutenant Isa Al-Majali and First Lieutenant Bader Al-Ghaith. ( HRW Report: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2010/02/08/torture-redux-0 )

In 2011, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa declared a state of emergency after violently cracking down on the pro-democracy protests in the Pearl Roundabout. The National Security Apparatus had obtained extensive powers, where it practiced the following:

1. Raiding thousands of houses, destroying their contents and targeting the residents.
2. Arresting thousands of citizens on political charges.
3. Abusing and torturing thousands of detainees.
4. Interrogating thousands of political detainees.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report indicated that the National Security Apparatus is responsible for ‘interrogating and collecting intelligence information’ as well as ‘arresting people’ which confirms its involvement in the human rights violations that took place during the state of emergency (15 March – 1 June 2011). (BICI Report: http://www.bici.org.bh/BICIreportEN.pdf)

The BICI report went on to recommend that the National Security Apparatus should be limited to only collecting intelligence information and should not carry out any arrests of suspects.

Since the recommendations of the BICI report, many detainees and their families confirmed that masked men in civilian clothing from the National Security Apparatus raided their homes. Additionally, riot police cars and black cars with tinted windows (known to belong to the NSA) surrounded their homes.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) have documented that those arrested by the National Security Apparatus disappear for up to several days before contacting their families by phone.

Full Report (Here)

The Authority Does Not Respect the International Community, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the International Conventions

7 January 2013

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its deep concern for upholding the verdicts against opposition leaders and prominent activists by the Court of Cassation – 7 January – and the verdicts were upheld against:

1-Abdulwahab Hussain Ali ( life sentence imprisonment)
2-Ibrahim Sharif Abdulraheem Mossa ( 5 Years imprisonment)
3-Hassan Ali Mushaima.( life sentence imprisonment)
4-Abdulhadi Al Khawaja ( life sentence imprisonment)
5-Abduljalil Abdullah Al Singace.( life sentence imprisonment)
6-Mohammed Habib Al Safaf. ( Mohammed Habib Miqdad) ( life sentence imprisonment)
7-Saeed Mirza Ahmed. ( Saeed AlNouri) ( life sentence imprisonment)
8-Abduljalil Mansoor Makk. (Abdul Jalil Miqdad) ( life sentence imprisonment)
9-Abdullah Isa Al Mahroos.( 5 years imprisonment)
10-Salah Hubail Al Khawaj.( 5 years imprisonment)
11-Mohammed Hassan Jawad.( 15 years imprisonment)
12-Mohammed Ali Ismael. ( 15 years imprisonment))
13-Abdul Hadi Abdullah Mahdi Hassan ( Abdulhadi AlMukhodher) ( 15 years imprisonment)

Defendants ( in Absentia) :

14-Akeel Ahmed Al Mafoodh.( 15 years imprisonment)
15-Ali Hassan Abdullah.( Ali Abdulemam) ( 15 years imprisonment)
16-Abdulghani Ali Khanjar.( 15 years imprisonment)
17-Saeed Abdulnabi Shehab.( life sentence imprisonment)
18-Abdulraoof Al Shayeb.( 15 years imprisonment)
19-Abbas Al Omran.( 15 years imprisonment)
20-Ali Hassan Mushaima.( 15 years imprisonment)

The Bahraini Authorities do no respect the international community, such as the UN Human Rights Council (the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review), the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United States (the Congress and U.S. administration), and the European countries (the European Parliament, the European Union), where the international community demanded the immediate release of the political figures and to initiate a serious dialogue between the Authority and opposition. It did not even pay attention to the demands of the international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Frontline Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights First, the International Federation for Human Rights, Freedom House and others.

The Bahraini Authorities did also not respect the report of the ‘Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry’ established by the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, for the following reasons:

First: the role of those accused in the events of February and March 2011: the Independent Commission of Inquiry refutes the responsibility of the accused in the planning and escalation of events, and portrays a different image for the Coalition for the Republic.
Second: the Independent Commission of Inquiry documents the violations related to arrest and search, and the lawyers defend by saying that ‘What is built on falsehood is false’, however the Court of Appeal neglects all that when convicting the accused.
Third: the Independent Commission of Inquiry documents the violations (related to arbitrary arrest and detention in isolation of the outside world, torture and abuse) and recommends a neutral and independent investigation; however the Court of Appeal neglects that and deliberately depends in its verdicts on statements taken forcibly, and on testimonies taken from those involved in torturing the accused.
Fourth: the Court of Appeal neglects the conclusions and the recommendation of the Independent Commission of Inquiry in regards to ‘detention and prosecution in relation to freedom of expression, assembly and organization’, and it criminates the accused for practicing these liberties, by expanding on the interpretation of the Bahraini laws that restrict liberties, in order to condemn the accused of inciting violence and terrorism.
Fifth: the Court of Appeal condemns some of the accused of communicating (with other countries), despite the Independent Commission of Inquiry denying that there is any evidence of any external interference in the events.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) confirmed that the Bahraini Authorities does not respect the International Conventions which it has ratified:

1. Convention against Torture
Refer to the report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry (refer to observations: 1230, 1233, 1234, 1235, 1237, 1238, 1240, 1241) and (refer to the cases related to this issue: 1 to 12, 23, 7)

2. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Refer to the report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry (refer to observation: 1291)

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

1. the immediate release of the opposition leaders and prominent activists, and to drop the charges related to freedom of opinion and expression and the freedom of peaceful gathering;
2. hold accountable those responsible for torture and abuse and to prosecute them before a fair court;
3. initiate a justice and reconciliation project and reimburse the victims;
4. permit freedom of opinion, expression and freedom of assembly.

Mr.Aqeel Mohsin Habib – 19 years old – from the village of Bani Jamra in critical condition, after the members of the security forces – in civilian clothes – fired him (live bullets and shotgun).

Photo: Mr. Aqeel before injury (left) – on the way to hospital after the injury (right)

According to information obtained by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) in the evening December 4, 2012, Mr. Aqeel driving in his village and was accompanied by a person accused of political charges (escaped from prison) and suddenly appeared bus in front of him and the persons in civilian clothes – from inside the bus -fired live bullets and shotgun towards the car.

Photo: Mr. Aqeel’s car after he was injured

According to information obtained by the BYSHR that the accused person in the political issues had escaped from the car, but Mr. Aqeel was seriously injured in the face, neck and left arm (injuries because of shotgun).

Photo: computerized tomography (CT)

Interior Ministry (MOI) issued a statement “http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/536089”

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) demanded an immediate and urgent investigation in the incident.

03 Dec 2012

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its grave concern for what is happening in the Dry Dock Prison – temporary prison – of violations against those detained for political cases, where the prison officials targeted the prisoners because of releasing a statement under the name of “Prisoner of Conscience Coalition”.

Photo: “Prisoners of Conscience Coalition in Bahrain” statement

On 27 November 2012, cyber activists published a statement under the title “Prisoners of Conscience Coalition in Bahrain”, the statement indicated the violations taking place in prison and the unjust trials that those detained for political cases are subjected to. The statement called for holding events in solidarity with the prisoners.

According to information received by the BYSHR from inside the “Dry Dock Prison”, the prisoners in “3,6,2,9″ words have suffered violations by the security forces, where the prison officials raided the words, searched them in derogatory and insulting manner, and the prisoners were beaten and tortured by the security forces in the sports field.

One of the prisoners – in a phone call – said to the BYSHR, “I have seen the security forces beat the prisoners and then I saw blood on the sports filed” and the call was disconnected.

One of the prisoners – in a phone call – confirmed that the security forces on 27 November 2012 targeted the prisoners’ beliefs and cursed and swore at the Shiite clerics.

According to the information received by the BYSHR the prison warden ordered to put at least two prisoners in solitary confinement.

On 1 September 2012, Director-General of Prisons visited the Dry Dock Prison and according to information from the prisoners, he was threatened the prisoners because of the “Prisoners of Conscience Coalition in Bahrain” statement.

In a phone call to the BYSHR, one of the prisoners said, “the chambers were raided and at least three people were taken to an unknown place, and among those was Mr. Mohammed Al-Tal – “a well-known pro-democracy activists”.

Photo: Mr. Mohammed Al-Tal

The BYSHR could not obtain any extra information about what is taking place inside the prison because communication is almost entirely lost.

The BYSHR calls for the following:

1. the immediate and urgent release of the peaceful and pro-democracy activists;

2. the urgent and independent investigation in the allegations of abuse against prisoners in the Dry Dock Prison, and the Jaw Central Prison and police stations;

3. Bring forth those responsible for abusing prisoners to fair trials.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its deep concern over the decision of the Court of Appeal because of its Upheld verdicts against 20 prominent activists and opposition leaders.

Appeal hearing was held this morning (September 4) and has been surrounded the building of the Ministry of Justice by the security forces to prevent demonstrators.

1-Abdulwahab Hussain Ali ( life sentence imprisonment)
2-Ibrahim Sharif Abdulraheem Mossa ( 5 Years imprisonment)
3-Hassan Ali Mushaima.( life sentence imprisonment)
4-Abdulhadi Al Khawaja ( life sentence imprisonment)
5-Abduljalil Abdullah Al Singace.( life sentence imprisonment)
6-Mohammed Habib Al Safaf. ( Mohammed Habib Miqdad) ( life sentence imprisonment)
7-Saeed Mirza Ahmed. ( Saeed AlNouri) ( life sentence imprisonment)
8-Abduljalil Mansoor Makk. (Abdul Jalil Miqdad) ( life sentence imprisonment)
9-Abdullah Isa Al Mahroos.( 5 years imprisonment)
10-Salah Hubail Al Khawaj.( 5 years imprisonment)
11-Mohammed Hassan Jawad.( 15 years imprisonment)
12-Mohammed Ali Ismael. ( 15 years imprisonment))
13-Abdul Hadi Abdullah Mahdi Hassan ( Abdulhadi AlMukhodher) ( 15 years imprisonment)

Defendants ( in Absentia) :

14-Akeel Ahmed Al Mafoodh.( 15 years imprisonment)
15-Ali Hassan Abdullah.( Ali Abdulemam) ( 15 years imprisonment)
16-Abdulghani Ali Khanjar.( 15 years imprisonment)
17-Saeed Abdulnabi Shehab.( life sentence imprisonment)
18-Abdulraoof Al Shayeb.( 15 years imprisonment)
19-Abbas Al Omran.( 15 years imprisonment)
20-Ali Hassan Mushaima.( 15 years imprisonment)

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its deep concern regarding the violations against prominent activists and opposition leaders in Jaw Prison – Central Prison – by the prison administration officials.

According to the information of the BYSHR – obtained from the families of prisoners – that prison officials have committed violations against the right of the prisoner.

” we submitted a letter to prison authorities that we will start a series of actions to protest against the violations and new restrictions, including on calls to families and lawyers, prevention from daily newspapers as well as prevention from daily exercise in the open air. The protest will include a hungerstrike” 13 prominent activists, said.

In the same context, the prominent activist Mr.Nabeel Rajab – president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights – confirmed that prison officials placed him in solitary confinement for several days and he was prevented to call his family.

Mr.Nabeel Rajab complained of psychological and physical torture to the Court of Appeal judge (court hearing Aug. 23)

Jaw Prison: BYSHR has documented numerous violations have occurred in the Jaw Prison since 2005.Many prisoners protested against the prison administration due to of torture and ill-treatment.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) demanded an immediate and independent investigation with prison officials and to hold those responsible for violations of the rights of the prisoners.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses its deep concern regarding the postponed decision of the court of appeal of 21 prominent activists to Sept. 4, 2012 .

Today was supposed to issue its final decision from Court of Appeal against 21 political leaders and prominent activists.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights expresses its deep concern regarding the verdicts are expected in 12-14 August of Court of Appeal against the prominent activists, political leaders and pro-democracy demonstrators.

The Court of Appeal will issue its final ruling against the 57 convicted among them Mr. Nabeel Rajab (director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, and president of the Bahrain Center for Human rights)

The list of cases before the Court of Appeal ( Click Here)