Bahrain: Terrorizing, Torturing and Suppressing Human Rights Defenders
A Request for the Concerned International Panels to Step In to Provide Protection to the Victims
18 March 2009
The undersigned organizations express their deep concern regarding the targeting of the human rights defenders in Bahrain, where the Bahraini authorities waged a widespread campaign to prosecute, torture and suppress the defenders and their organizations in order to prevent them from promoting the principles of human rights in Bahrain.
The Bahraini authorities targeted the following human rights defenders:
Mr. Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja (Regional Protection Coordinator at the Frontline organization): he was charged with the attempt of overthrowing the regime, and spreading falsehoods about the conditions in Bahrain, and scorning the regime and this is because he delivered a speech on liberties and human rights in Bahrain and he spoke of the violators of human rights. The upcoming trial is on 15 April 2009.
Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati (President of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights): he was charged with working in a society before getting it licensed. The upcoming trial is on 31 March 2009.
Mr. Abbass Omran (Administrative member in the Bahrain Center for Human Rights): he was charged with joining a terrorist movement. The upcoming trial is on 24 March 2009.
The undersigned organizations ensure that the Bahraini authorities had targeted the human rights defenders in order to quiet down the voices that contact the international organizations and who expose the violations of human rights and support the victims of violations in Bahrain.
We stress that the Special Rapporteur for the defenders of human rights and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights should intervene to morally and legally protect the defenders of human rights in Bahrain, within the scope of the Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, issued in 1998.
The undersigned organizations demand the following:
To call off the trials of the Messrs. Al-Khawaja, Al-Maskati and Al-Omran immediately.
To stop targeting the defenders and to provide legal and moral protection for them to practice their work in entire freedom without any restrictions or harassments by the Bahraini authorities.
To amend the laws that restrict public liberties and democracy in accordance with international standards of human rights.
To counter arbitrary arrests of activists due to them practicing their rights and publishing their viewpoints on issues in Bahrain and working on reforming the Public Prosecution and Police.
For more information on the defenders:
Ÿ In Bahrain, Nader Al-Salatna – Vice-president of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights
+973 39596196 or
[email protected]
Ÿ In Norway, Aihan Jaf – General Manager of the Arab-Euro Center for Human Rights and International Law
+47 90 80 29 99 or
[email protected]
Ÿ In Egypt, Osama Abdul-Razzaq – Executive Manager of the Hemaia Center for Supporting the Defenders of Human Rights
+2 127295078 or
[email protected]
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