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)
