Attack against Mr. Nabeel Rajab's house

BHR006 / 0511 / OBS 080

Attack / Fear for security

Bahrain

May23, 2011

The Observatory for the Protection of Human RightsDefenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights(FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgentintervention in the following situation in Bahrain.

Description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sourcesthat the house of Mr. Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and SecretaryGeneral of FIDH, was attacked by tear gas on May 21, 2011.

According to the information received, in the earlymorning of May 21, 2011, while the whole Rajab family was still asleep,tear-gasbombs were shot into the house, breaking the window where Mr. Nabeel Rajab'sbrother, Nader Rajab, lives with his family. Nobody could see the attackers.The family had to rescue Mr. Nader Rajab, his wife and daughter who weresuffocating in the room.

The Observatory fearsthat this attack against Mr. Nabeel Rajab's house was launched in order topressure him to stop his human rights activities. Mr. Rajab did not file acomplaint for fear of reprisals.

The Observatory recallsthat in March 2011 Mr. Nabeel Rajab had been abducted and abused by the policeforces. After more than one hour of physical and psychological abuse, thepolice drove him back home.

Actions requested:

The Observatory urges the authorities of Bahrain to:

i. Guarantee the physical andpsychological integrity of Mr. Nabeel Rajab and his family as well as all humanrights defenders in Bahrain;

ii. Order a prompt, thorough and impartialinvestigation into the circumstances of the above-mentioned events in order toidentify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/oradministrative sanctions as provided by law;

iii. Put an end to any acts ofharassment, including at the judicial and administrative level, against Mr.Nabeel Rajab as well as against all human rights defenders in Bahrain;

iv. Conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the Declaration onHuman Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United NationsGeneral Assembly, in particular :

- its Article 1, which states that“everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promotethe protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at thenational and international levels” ;

- and its Article 12.2 which statesthat “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection bythe competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association withothers, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adversediscrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of hisor her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the presentDeclaration”;

v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights andfundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standardsand international instruments ratified by Bahrain.

Addresses:

· Cheikh Hamad bin Issa AL KHALIFA ,King of Bahrain, Fax: +973 176 64 587

· Cheikh Khaled Bin Ahmad AL KHALIFA,Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tel: +973 172 27 555; Fax : +973 172 12 6032

· Cheikh Khalid bin Ali AL KHALIFA,Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Tel: +973 175 31 333; Fax: +973 175 31284

· Permanent Mission of Bahrain to theUnited Nations in Geneva, 1 chemin Jacques-Attenville, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, CP39, 1292 Chambésy, Switzerland. Fax: + 41 22 758 96 50. Email: info@bahrain-mission.ch

Please also write to diplomatic representations ofBahrain in your respective countries.

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Paris-Geneva, May 23, 2011

Kindlyinform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in yourreply.

Tocontact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

• E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0) 1 43 55 2518 / +33 1 43 55 18 80

• Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29