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.

The Security forces have arrested five medics in a series of dawn raids on Tuesday ( October 2) morning, just one day after the highest court dismissed their appeals.

On Monday ( October 1) , The court of cassation has rejected the appeals and upheld the previous court’s convictions and sentences of the nine medics.

Medics who have been arrested:

1–Dr. Ali Al-Ekri ( 5 Years imprisonment)

2-Dr. Mahmoud Asghar ( 6 Months imprisonment)

3-Dr. Ghassan Dhaif ( 1 Year imprisonment)

4-Dheya Ibrahim AbuIdris ( 2 Months imprisonment)

5-Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim ( 3 Years imprisonment)

6- Dr. Saeed Al-Samahiji ( 1 Year imprisonment)

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) demanded the immediate release of the doctors who treated the injured in peaceful protests last year (Feb 2011).

The Court of Appeal today-14 June- issued the verdicts against the medical staff:

1-Dr. Ali Al-Ekri ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( 5 Years imprisonment)
2-Dr. Nader Diwani ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( 1 Month imprisonment)
3-Dr. Ahmed Abdul Aziz Omran ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( Innocent)
4-Dr. Mahmoud Asghar ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( 6 Months imprisonment).
5- Rola Al Saffar ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( Innocent)
6-Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al-Oraibi ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( 1 Month imprisonment).
7-Dr. Ghassan Dhaif ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( 1 Year imprisonment)
8-Dr. Bassim Dhaif ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( 1 Month imprisonment).
9- Sayed Marhoon Al-Wedaie ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( Innocent)
10-Dr. Nada Dhaif ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( Innocent)
11-Dr. Fatima Haji ( 5 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( Innocent)
12- Dheya Ibrahim AbuIdris ( 5 Years imprisonment) hanged to ( 2 Months imprisonment)
13-Dr. Najah Khalil Al-Haddad ( 5 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( Innocent)
14-Dr. Saeed Al-Samahiji ( 10 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( 1 Year imprisonment).
15-Dr. Zahra Al-Sammak ( 5 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( Innocent)
16-Ali Hassan Alsddi ( 15 Years imprisonment) ( Convicted in absentia)
17-Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahimn ( 15 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( 3 Years imprisonment).
18-Hassan Mohammed Said ( 10 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( Innocent).
19- Mohammed Faiq Ali ( 5 Years imprisonment) Changed to ( Innocent).
20-Qassim Mohammed Omran ( 15 Years imprisonment) ( Convicted in absentia).

Attached : The list of Medical Staff (click Here)

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned regarding the trial of the Medical staff before a civil court.

The hearing session on November 28th 2011

Attached : The list of Medical Staff undergoing trial (click Here)

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) expresses deep concern at the harsh sentences against 20 Medical Staff.

Defendants:

1-Dr. Ali Al-Ekri ( 15 Years imprisonment)
2-Dr. Nader Diwani ( 15 Years imprisonment)
3-Dr. Ahmed Abdul Aziz Omran ( 15 Years imprisonment)
4-Dr. Mahmoud Asghar ( 15 Years imprisonment)
5- Rola Al Saffar ( 15 Years imprisonment)
6-Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al-Oraibi ( 15 Years imprisonment)
7-Dr. Ghassan Dhaif ( 15 Years imprisonment)
8-Dr. Bassim Dhaif ( 15 Years imprisonment)
9- Sayed Marhoon Al-Wedaie ( 15 Years imprisonment)
10-Dr. Nada Dhaif ( 15 Years imprisonment)
11-Dr. Fatima Haji ( 5 Years imprisonment)
12- Dheya Ibrahim AbuIdris ( 5 Years imprisonment)
13-Dr. Najah Khalil Al-Haddad ( 5 Years imprisonment)
14-Dr. Saeed Al-Samahiji ( 10 Years imprisonment)
15-Dr. Zahra Al-Sammak ( 5 Years imprisonment)
16-Ali Hassan Alsddi ( 15 Years imprisonment)
17-Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahimn ( 15 Years imprisonment)
18-Hassan Mohammed Said ( 10 Years imprisonment)
19- Mohammed Faiq Ali ( 5 Years imprisonment)
20-Qassim Mohammed Omran ( 15 Years imprisonment)

Attached : The list of Medical Staff (click Here)

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned about the trial of the Medical staff before a Military court.

Military Court will issue a ruling tomorrow (29th of September).

Attached : The list of Medical Staff undergoing trial (click Here)

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned about the trial of the Medical staff before a civil court.

Trials of medical staff:

1-Misdemeanors “Civil court” : The first hearing session on October 24, 2011. (Attached List of names)

2-Felonies “Military court” : The verdict will be on September 29, 2011. (Attached List of names)

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned about the trial of the Medical staff before a military court.

The BYSHR lawyer said that:” The lawyers were presented Statement on the unconstitutionality of Decree no “28″ 2011 (Trial of civilians before a Military courts) and the judge refused a request to release them”

The case has been adjourned till 7 September, 2011 for defense witnesses.

Attached : The list of Medical Staff undergoing trial (click Here)

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights-BYSHR expresses its deep concern for the decree no. “28” 2011 that was published in the Official Gazette on 18 August 2011 and allowed the trial of the civilians who have been arrested since the political unrest that started in February 2011.

The first article in the decree states that: “the ordinary courts take over all the cases of misdemeanors and appeals relating to them that were not adjudicated in a final verdict by the National Safety Court”

Article 2 states that: “The Lower National Safety Court adjudicates in all cases of crimes referred to it in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. (18) 2011 declaring state of national safety and those cases it started deliberating in them. Both the prosecutors and the sentenced can appeal the verdicts issued by this court before the Supreme Court of Appeal”

The BYSHR lawyer said that “the military tribunals will be held for seven criminal cases in the coming days” and according to the lawyer, the tribunals will try:

1. The medical staff- 28 August 2011 – The Lower National Safety Court

7.Attack on security men using weapons in the Financial Harbour – 6 September 2011 – The Lower National Safety Court.

The Bahraini authorities have violated international conventions to try civilians before a military tribunals.

BYSHR demands the Bahraini authorities to halt the military tribunals for defendants in criminal cases and immediate and independent investigation in the torture allegations.

More information:

1-Political leaders and human rights activists – http://byshr.org/?p=632

2-The medical staff – http://byshr.org/?p=700

Mr. Mohisn Al-Alawi – Lawyer – informed the BYSHR that the medical staff will be presented before a military court on 28th Aug, 2011.

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned about the trial of the Medical staff before a military court.

Attached : The list of Medical Staff undergoing trial (click Here)

More information:

1- Mr. Mohisn Al-Alawi- Lawyer : +973 339 339 32 (only Arabic)

2- Mr.Mohammed Al-Maskati – President of the BYSHR : +973 364 370 88 (English – Arabic)