Judicial harassment and slander campaign orchestrated against several human rights defenders
February 24, 2009

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.

New information:

The Observatory was informed by the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) about the judicial harassment and slander campaign orchestrated against Mr. Abbass Abdul Aziz Al-Omran, BCHR Administrative Board member, Mr. Abduljalil Alsingace, Head of the Human Rights Unit of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy in Bahrain, Mr. Hasan Mushaima, Secretary General of the Haq Movement of Civil Liberties and Democracy, Mr. Mohamed Habib Al-Meqdad, a Shia religious scholar, Mr. Abdul-redha Hassan Al-Saffar, a human rights defender well-known for his role in organising peaceful sit-ins in collaboration with the families of detainees and the Unemployed Committee, Mr. Ali Mushaima, a former leading member of the Unemployed Committee living in the United Kingdom as political refugee, and Mr. Abdulraoof Al-Shayeb, former President of the National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture living in the United Kingdom as political refugee.

According to the information received, on February 23, 2009, the Grand Criminal Court in Manama started the trial of 35 people, including Messrs. Abbass Abdul Aziz Al-Omran, Abduljalil Alsingace, Hasan Mushaima, Mohamed Habib Al-Meqdad, Abdul-redha Hassan Al-Saffar, Ali Mushaima, and Abdulraoof Al-Shayeb, following the indictment No. 1403/2008 issued by the Public Prosecutor on February 10, 2009, and related to the alleged “terror plot” uncovered by the Bahraini authorities mid-December.

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Mr. Jakob Kellenberger, Ph.D
President of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

19 avenue de la Paix
CH 1202 Geneva
Fax: ++ 41 (22) 733 20 57
Phone: ++ 41 (22) 734 60 01
February 10, 2009

Dear Kellenberger,

Human Rights organizations in Bahrain and in the world are deeply concerned by the recent events in the human rights situation in Bahrain. Last December, Bahraini authorities have detained 18 individuals alleged to be belonging to a terrorist organization and they were attempting to carry out acts of terrorism and bombing of public property.

According to the reports from local human rights organizations – attached with this the letter – the Bahraini authorities had used torture and various forms of degrading treatment in order to coerce confessions by the detainees. The Public Prosecutor has violated the principle of “innocent until guilty”, when the official Television channel paraded 14 detainees “confessing” against themselves and other activists.

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9 February 2009

Bahrain: ARTICLE 19 Condemns the Targeting of Human Rights Activists and Calls for the Reform of Laws Aimed at Silencing Dissenting Voices

On 26 January 2009, three prominent Bahraini human rights activists Mr Hasan Mushaima, Secretary General of the Movement of Civil Liberties and Democracy (HAQ); Mr Mohamed Habib Al-Muqdad, a scholar and social activist; and Dr Abdul-Jalil Alsingace, Head of Human Rights Unit at HAQ, were arrested. Following almost nine hours of interrogation, Mr Mushaima and Mr Al-Muqdad were held in custody for further interrogation, while Dr Alsingace was released on bail and officially banned from travel out of Bahrain. The Public Prosecutor declared that he would take the necessary measures to pursue cases against them in the courts and prosecute them on charges related to the national security of Bahrain.

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Abdulhadi Alkhawaja faces 10 years imprisonment for delivering a speech

February 9, 2009

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights is highly alerted after learning of a travel ban against its former president Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, and the unjustifiable charges and unfair trial against him for delivering a speech highlighting human rights issues and expressing his opinion on the political situation in Bahrain.

Today, February 9, 2009, at 9:00 am, Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja was prevented from leaving Bahrain Airport. According to Mr. Alkhawaja, the officer at the passport point told him that there is an official order from the General Prosecution Office to prevent him from leaving the country. As the Middle-East Coordinator for Front Line (The International Foundation to Protect Human Rights Defenders) Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja was leaving for a field visit to Iraq.

Yesterday, February 8, 2009, was the first session of trial against Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja at the High Criminal Court. He faces charges related specifically to a speech he delivered on January 7, 2009. The Charges were: 1. instigating hatred and disrespect against the ruling regime, 2. broadcasting false and malicious statements, and 3. spreading provocative propaganda related to the internal affairs that could cause damage to the public interest. According to the related article of the 1976 Penal Code, Mr. Alkhawaja could be sentenced for up to 10 years imprisonment. The Head Judge adjourned the case until March 11, 2009.

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights considers the travel ban and the unfair trial against Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja as an escalation in the ongoing orchestrated campaign by the authorities to hinder the work of human rights defenders in Bahrain and to further restrict the right to freedom of opinion. Hence, BCHR calls upon all concerned to do whatever possible to:

Remove the travel ban and drop all charges against Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja,
Put an end to targeting human rights defenders and restricting freedom of opinion,
Amend the 1976 Penal Code which allows for punishing individuals for practicing there basic rights, including the right to freedom of opinion, and
Securing the independence and impartiality of the judiciary system in Bahrain.

Rashid bin Abdallah bin Ahmad al-Khalifa
H.E. The Minister of Interior
P.O. Box 13
Manama, Bahrain London, 5 February 2009

Your Excellency,

Detention of Human Rights Activist: Mr Hasan Mushaima

The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales is the international human rights arm of the Bar of England and Wales. It is an independent body concerned with defending the rule of law and internationally recognised legal standards relating to human rights and the right to fair trial.

The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales is contacting you regarding the arrest and interrogation of Mr Hasan Mushaima.

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Bahrain: Arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defenders, Mr Ali Hassan Salman and Mr Jaafar Kadhim Ebrahim

Posted on 2009/02/09

Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defenders, Mr Ali Hassan Salman and Mr Jaafar Kadhim Ebrahim, were arbitrarily arrested on 4 February 2009. Both human rights defenders have worked for the Committee of Activists and Prisoners of Conscience since December 2007 and have helped to organise peaceful marches and protests for the rights of detainees. During an Amnesty International visit to Bahrain in 2008, Ali Hassan Salman and Jafaar Kadhim Ebrahim coordinated meetings between families of detainees and Amnesty International.

Further Information
On 4 February 2009, at approximately 2.45 a.m., the houses of both Ali Hassan Salman and Jaafar Kadhim Ebrahim were raided by security forces. Ali Hassan Salman was arrested and beaten in front of his family during the raid, causing his mother to faint. His glasses were also broken. Jaafar Kadhim Ebrahim, who lives in the same area, was arrested within 15 minutes. No arrest warrant was shown and no reasons were given for either of the arrests. Since their arrests, Ali Hassan Salman and Jafaar Kadhim Ebrahim have not been allowed to communicate with their families and lawyers.

Front Line believes that Ali Hassan Salman and Jafaar Kadhim Ebrahim have been arrested because of their legitimate and peaceful activities in the defence of human rights, in particular their work to coordinate meetings between Amnesty Intenational and families of detainees. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Ali Hassan Salman and Jafaar Kadhim Ebrahim while in detention.

URGENT ALERT: Bahrain – Haq Movement representative Dr Abdul Jalil Al-Singace arrested

27 January 2009
Islamic Human Rights Commission

URGENT ALERT: Bahrain – Haq Movement representative Dr Abdul Jalil Al-Singace arrested

Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letters

1. Summary

Dr Abdul Jalil Al-Singace and two prominent leaders of Haq movement, including Secretary General, Hassna Mushaime\’, were arrested on 26 January 2009. They have been charged with conspiring to overthrow the regime.

These political activists are law-abiding citizens, actively promoting human rights in Bahrain. IHRC has close links with Dr Al-Singace and Haq Movement and is involved in their campaigns against injustice in Bahrain. IHRC urges all campaigners to write to the authorities mentioned in this alert and appeal for the immediate release of Dr Al-Singace and the other representatives of Haq Movement.

2. Background

Three prominent human rights activists from the opposition have been arrested in the early hours of the morning of 26 January 2009. Mr Hassna Mushaime\’, the Secretary General of Haq Movement, Sheikh Mohammad Habib Al Miqdad, a prominent religious figure and public orator and Dr Abdul Jalil Al-Singace, a university lecturer were taken into custody after their houses were raided around 3:00 am (local time) by police forces. The main doors were smashed open and women were reportedly attacked and children were terrorized.

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JOINT ACTION: Twenty IFEX members around the globe denounce jailing of activists for expressing their views

Country/Topic: Bahrain
Date: 06 February 2009
Source: Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR)
Person(s): Hasan Mushaima, Mohamed Habib Al-Muqdad, Abduljalil Alsingace
Target(s): academic(s) , human rights worker(s)
Type(s) of violation(s): arrested , charged , questioned
Urgency: Flash
(BCHR/IFEX) – The following is a joint action by 20 IFEX members:

We, the undersigned freedom of expression organisations, are gravely concerned for the deterioration of human rights exemplified by the aggressive measures taken by the Bahraini authorities to silence three well-known activists from expressing their views and addressing public issues.

Mr. Hasan Mushaima, Secretary General of the Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy (HAQ), Mr. Mohamed Habib Al-Muqdad, a scholar and social activist, and Dr. Abduljalil Alsingace, head of HAQ’s human rights unit, were arrested around 2:30 a.m. (local time) on Monday 26 January 2009 and were kept in solitary confinement for three hours until they were transferred to the Public Prosecution (PP). Following almost nine hours of interrogation, Mr. Mushaima and Mr. Al-Muqdad were held in custody for further interrogation, while Dr. Alsingace was released on bail and officially banned from travel out of Bahrain. The PP declared that it will take the necessary measures to pursue cases against the human rights defenders in the courts.

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URGENT APPEAL – THE OBSERVATORY

New information

BHR 001 / 0109 / OBS 003.1

Incomunicado detention /

Harassment

Bahrain
February 6, 2009

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.

New information:

The Observatory was informed by reliable sources about the incommunicado detention of Mr. Abduljalil Alsingace, Head of the Human Rights Unit of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy in Bahrain, Mr. Hasan Mushaima, Secretary General of the Haq Movement of Civil Liberties and Democracy, and Mr. Mohamed Habib Al-Meqdad, a Shia religious scholar.

According to the information received, on January 26, 2009, Messrs. Abduljalil Alsingace, Hasan Mushaima and Mohamed Habib Al Meqdad were arrested by elements of the intelligence police and subsequently detained incommunicado. The former was released the following day from the Dry Dock detention centre while Messrs. Mushaima and Al Meqdad remain in solitary confinement, with no access to legal aid and without any explicit legal justification for their detention.

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Bahrain: Increasing restrictions on the activities of human rights defenders
Posted on 2009/02/03
Human rights defenders in Bahrain are facing increasing restrictions on their activities. The authorities have sought to target independent human rights organisations including the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and restrict human rights activities. Human Rights defenders have been subjected to arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, fabricated judicial proceedings, threats and harassment.

Further Information
According to the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), during the last two years the Government, represented by the Ministry of Development, has waged a campaign against local NGOs registered under Law 21/1989. Most human rights organisations refer to this law as one of the obstacles hindering the work of local NGOs in Bahrain. In addition, the Ministry of Development has launched another campaign against unregistered committees and NGOs that have refused to be registered according to such a defective law that hinders their social work.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights submitted its request for a license in 2005. However, the Ministry is still refusing to grant the license without any reasonable grounds. The Government has targeted the leaders of the organisation on several occasions and has attempted to suppress its activities.

Also, the Ministry of Development has rejected the registration request by the Child Association for reasons that contradict the provisions of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which Bahrain is a signatory. The Convention stipulates that children have the right to establish their own organisations to protect their rights. The Association submitted its application in 2004.

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