The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) are gravely concerned over the poor living conditions that lack basic safety measures, and that migrant workers endure in Bahrain. On the 11th of January 2013, a fire broke out at a building used as accommodation for migrant workers. Thirteen people were killed, and eight were injured in the fire. More than forty workers have been killed in similar incidents in the last 7 years. The government has not taken any serious action to ensure that the necessary safety measures are put into place to end these devastating incidents and ensure protection for the the rights of the tens of thousands of migrant workers in Bahrain.

On the 11th of January 2013, a fire burned for several hours at a three-storey building in Al Makharga village in Bahrain that is used as a center for migrant worker accommodation for free-visa workers. Most of the tenants were in the building at the time of the fire. The governor of Manama announced that the fire killed thirteen people, along with injuring eight others. According to the media, the building has 25 – 28 rooms and each room was occupied by seven to ten tenants.

Similar incidents have occurred in Bahrain and have resulted in the deaths of dozens of migrant workers over the years. In May 2012, ten people were killed when a residential building caught on fire; the building was designed to accommodate less than half the number it occupied at the time of the fire. [1] Six fires broke out in labor accommodations in less than a month in 2009. On the 15th of June 2009, two more people were killed in a similar fire in Manama souq.[2] In 2008, three people from Bangladesh were killed when their rundown accommodation burned to the ground. In May 2007, three construction workers were hospitalized because of a fire in their East Riffa camp. [3] In 2006, sixteen Indian workers were killed in a fire in their labor camp [4] and another seven migrant workers were injured in another camp in the capital Manama.

These incidents are in violation of Article 70 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and families, “States Parties shall take measures not less favourable than those applied to nationals to ensure that working and living conditions of migrant workers and members of their families in a regular situation are in keeping with the standards of fitness, safety, health and principles of human dignity.” Regulations and laws to ensure the safety of migrant workers are in place, although the Bahraini authorities continually delay the enforcement of these regulations and the protection of laborers’ rights. International human rights organizations concerned with migrant rights have reported for years on the poor living conditions, abuse and exploitation of workers in Bahrain, which has led to the death of dozens of workers. [5] The government in Bahrain has taken no significant measures to put an end to these reoccurring violations.

The BCHR and the BYSHR immediately demand:

-The enforcement of measures and regulations to ensure protection for the rights of the migrant workers in Bahrain.
-Protection for migrant workers from abuse and exploitation.
-The improvement and regular monitoring of housing standards and safety measures for migrant workers in Bahrain.

References:

[1] migrant-rights.org
[2] http://www.arabianbusiness.com/labourers-die-in-blaze-at-illegal-bahrain-camp-17166.html
[3] http://www.arabianbusiness.com/fresh-doubts-over-bahrain-camps-144956.html
[4] http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-5020-compensation-for-families-of-bahrain-fire-victims/#.UPC07qVbnW5
[5] hrw.org/news/2012

12 January 2013

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) has monitored during the past year 2012 the intense use of tear-gas and stun grenades against protestors in Bahrain, and according to the documentation of the BYSHR and international organizations, the use of tear-gas led to the death of at least 20 people, where the security forces used it as a killing device:

1. Security forces deliberately throw tear-gas canisters inside or near houses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5JNiptMvlM&playnext=1&list=PL7591E873E817621F&feature=results_main

2. Security forces deliberately throw teargas canisters inside or near cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBEcmA5nI7Y

3. Security forces deliberately throw teargas canisters inside cramped areas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MgJccgvAMM

Prohibiting repressive arms:

The BYSHR monitored statements of officials from “the U.S, U.K, Belgium and France” that they stopped selling arms that are used for suppressing protests in Bahrain since 2011 due the human rights violations and its misuse by the riot police.

Buying repressive arms:

Since the Bahraini Authorities started using various and new kinds of teargas and stun grenades; the source of those repressive arms could not be found due to the following reasons:

1. Lack of information on the teargas canisters or stun grenades (manufacturing country, expiry date, methods of use);

2. The Bahraini Authorities does not allow public opinion to access information that is considered military;
However, a group of activists and the BYSHR were able to obtain information related to the (manufacturing country, and the side effects) as well as the method of using stun grenades and teargas.

The (DAEKWANG) Korean Company is considered the lead supplier of teargas and stun grenades since approximately a year and a half ago “after the February 2011 protests”. The company exports its products to the most suppressive countries – according to the website – such as Syria and Saudi Arabia. ( Company website: www.teargas.kr)

Photo: A map of countries that buy from the company.

Types of imported arms:

The Bahraini Authorities imports from the (DAEKWANG) Korean Company three types:

1. TEAR GAS SHELLS DK-38M (See Photo)

2. TEAR GAS GRENADE DK-N500 (See photo)

3. RUBBER BALL SHELLS DK-38R (limited use – the BYSHR did not monitor its intense use, at least during the last 7 months) (See photo)

Promoting arms:

The (DAEKWANG) Korean Company did not only sell repressive arms to the Bahraini Authorities, but it also used some photos – photos illustrating suppressing protestors with teargas and stun grenades – to promote the arms that it manufactures. It published a photo of suppressing protestors in Bahrain along with the product (TEAR GAS SHELLS DK-38M).

Evidence:

These two photos were taken by people who cooperate with the BYSHR in the villages.

Recommendations:

1. Stop importing repressive arms to the Bahraini Authorities which excessively uses it against the protestors and as a killing device.
2. Initiate an independent investigation in the allegations of death due to the intense use of teargas.
3. Train security officers on the methods of dealing with peaceful protestors according to international standards and principles of human rights.

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.

Photo: logo of the Football Gulf Cup

04 January 2013

Prepared by: Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR)

Introduction:

This report is released on the occasion of holding the Football Gulf Cup in Bahrain from 5th to 18th January 2013. This report, which is being released in collaboration with “National Committee for the Defense of athletes”, observes the names of athletes who have been subjected to violations since the protests in 14 February 2011 – until now; the Bahraini authorities had suppressed the protests of 14 February and arrested thousands of citizens due to expressing their opinions.

The Cases:

The Bahraini authorities pressed “criminal” charges against the athletes in order to punish them for their participation in the protests, the cases are as follows:

1. The case of attempted murder and assembling in the Pearl Roundabout: the accused is Mr. Hamad Al-Fahad, a specialist in motor sport, and the date of arrest is 17 February 2011. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in a military court that does not meet the requirements of fair trial.

2. The case of kidnapping a security officer: all the ones accused were acquitted except for the Bahrain and Gulf champion in the Jiu Jitsu sport Mr. Mohammed Mirza who was sentenced to 10 years in prison, noting that he was arrested in a checkpoint after he was subjected to various types of physical and mental torture in a number of detention centers. He was forced to sign a confession that states him carrying out the crime of kidnap.

3. The case of assembling near the Financial Harbour: the ones accused are two handball players from the Etihad club, and they are Mr. Murtadha Salah Darwish and Mr. Jassim Ramadan, and the sports fan Mr. Baqer Al-Shaabani. The first was kidnapped from his room without his parent’s knowledge. The houses of the second and third were raided without a raid and arrest warrant. The accused were subjected to various types of physical and mental torture, confirming that there is no evidence that condemns the accused, except for the confessions that are extracted under torture and duress.

4. The case of ‘Rayat-al-Izz’ (assembling in the village of Nuwaidrat): the accused are four athletes, three of them play for Nuwaidrat Club, and they are Mr. Ali Dhaif, Mr. Ali Faisal, Mr. Ghassan Abbas, and the fourth plays for the Ahli Club and he is Mr. Ahmed Hasan Abdul-wahab. All the accused were arrested arbitrarily without showing a warrant to raid their houses or to arrest them. They have been subjected to various sorts of physical and mental torture.

5. The “handball” national team player Mr. Ali Al-Mulani: he was arrested from a checkpoint, and he faced a military trial. The court sentenced him to 3 years in prison, and the Civil Court upheld the verdict of the Military Court.

6. The endurance race “equestrian sports” supervisor Mr. Mahmood Abdul-Saheb: he is accused in four cases of assembling. The civil courts upheld the verdict of the military verdict of three years in prison.

7. The “volleyball” national team player Mr. Saleh Mahdi: he turned himself in at a detention center, and he was one of those accused of participating in the athletes demonstration (a demonstration held in the Pearl Roundabout), the Public Prosecutor dropped the charges against them, however he was brought forth to a military trial during the State of Emergency and the court sentenced him to 5 years in prison; the sentence was later commuted to two years and a half.

8. The Nasser Club “volleyball” player Mr. Ridha Abdul-Hussein: he was arbitrarily arrested and sentenced in a military court since he works in the military. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

The Detainees:

1. Mr. Jaffar Al-Asfoor, Mr. Amjad Al-‘Adhab, Mr. Salman Amer, Mr. Ahmed Al-Saudi, Mr. Ahmed Marhoon and Mr. Ali Jawad Al-Asfoor (they play for the Etifaq Club).

2. Mr. Mohammed Khamis and Mr. Hakeem Al-Arabi (they play for the Shabab Club).

3. Mr. Abdullah Alawai and Mr. Mahdi (they play for the Bahrain Club).

4. Mr. Hasan Abdul-Jalil Al-Ekri and Mr. Hussein Al-Sardoob (they play for the Etihad Club).

5. Mr. Ridha Hasan.

6. Mr. Hussein Abdul-Ghani “a gymnast”.

7. Mr. Hussein Shamsan.

8. Mr. Abulla Saai “an administrator in the junior team in the Malkiya Club”

Recommendations:

1. To immediately release the athletes who are being prosecuted for expressing their opinions;
2. To stop targeting the athletes and allow them to express their opinion in a peaceful manner;
3. To immediately and urgently investigate the allegations of torture and abuse.