The Bahrain Youth Society for Human (BYSHR) Rights launched yesterday the website “Bahrain Hub ” which is a website that monitors the human rights conditions in Bahrain by using photos and videos, as well as monitoring the articles and news published about Bahrain in the international media.

The BYSHR said that, “the correspondents, journalists, those working in the media and citizens can send photos and videos about the daily events in the different areas and the human rights violations.”

Mr.Mohammed Al-Maskati – BYSHR president – confirmed that, “the website has been divided into three parts, and a number of volunteer photographers will contribute with the BYSHR by monitoring human rights violations and publishing them in Arabic and English.

Mr.Al-Maskati clarified that the “website has been divided according to the Bahraini villages and towns and this will facilitate the search for international organizations and media.”

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 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)