Bahrain
29.10.04
Urgent Interventions
Bahrain: Arbitrary arrests during a protest
URGENT APPEAL – THE OBSERVATORY
New information
BHR 001 / 0704 / OBS 054.4
Arbitrary arrests and detention
Kingdom of Bahrain
October 29, 2004
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), claims your urgent intervention in the following situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
New information:
The Observatory has been informed by the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights that on October 28, 2004, Mr. Abdul Rawf Al-Shayeb, spokesman of the National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture in Bahrain and Mr. Mahmud Ramadan, a board member of the Committee, were arrested by the anti-riot Police, together with several dozens demonstrators during a Car Parade protest march organized by the Committee.
The purpose of the march was to call for the release of Mr. Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja, the executive director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), who has been detained since September 26, 2004, in Howdh Aljaf detention centre.
Mr. Abdul Rawf Al-Shayeb, Mr. Mahmud Ramadan and the other demonstrators arrested are currently detained in West Riffa Prison. About a hundred demonstrators received letters of summons to appear at the Police department.
Moreover, on October 28 in the morning, Mr. Al-Khawaja’s wife received a phone call from the police summoning her to appear at the police department. She was threatened to be arrested if she failed to do so.
Background information
On October 25, 2004, Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja, the BCHR's executive director, charged with inciting hatred against the regime, was denied bail for the third time since his first court hearing on October 16. The trial was adjourned to November 3, 2004.
On September 26, 2004, the BCHR’s leading activist, Al-Khawaja, was arrested after he had criticized the government’s policy, in particular the Prime Minister, during a symposium on economic rights in Bahrain, organized by BCHR on September 24. He was charged for « encouraging hate of the state » and « distributing falseness and rumours » on the basis of articles 165 and 168 of the Bahraini penal code and remanded in custody for 45 days in Howdh Aljaf detention centre.
Following the symposium, a Committee composed of different governmental institutions was also created on September 26, by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Mr. Majeed Al-Alawi, with the aim of « taking punitive and legal actions against the BCHR ».
On September 29, 2004, Mr. Al- Alawi, declared in a press release that he had issued an order of dissolution of the BCHR the night before, the order coming into force that same day. The official motive behind this decision is that the BCHR would have violated Law No. 21 of 1989 on Societies, without any other precision.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities of the Kingdom Bahrain urging them to:
i. Release Mr. Al-Khawaja immediately and unconditionally and drop the charges against him, his detention and the charges against him being arbitrary;
ii. Release Mr. Abdul-Raoof Al-Shayeb, Mr. Mahmud Ramadan and other activists arbitrarily detained;
iii. Rehabilitate the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and put an immediate end to any obstacles to its activities;
iv. Conform with the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, in particular article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels,” and article 5(b), stating that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels to form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups;”
v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Declaration and all other international human rights standards.
Addresses:
Paris – Geneva, October 29, 2004
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
E-mail: observatoire@iprolink.ch
Tel and fax FIDH 33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 / 01 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT + 4122 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29
New information
BHR 001 / 0704 / OBS 054.4
Arbitrary arrests and detention
Kingdom of Bahrain
October 29, 2004
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), claims your urgent intervention in the following situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
New information:
The Observatory has been informed by the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights that on October 28, 2004, Mr. Abdul Rawf Al-Shayeb, spokesman of the National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture in Bahrain and Mr. Mahmud Ramadan, a board member of the Committee, were arrested by the anti-riot Police, together with several dozens demonstrators during a Car Parade protest march organized by the Committee.
The purpose of the march was to call for the release of Mr. Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja, the executive director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), who has been detained since September 26, 2004, in Howdh Aljaf detention centre.
Mr. Abdul Rawf Al-Shayeb, Mr. Mahmud Ramadan and the other demonstrators arrested are currently detained in West Riffa Prison. About a hundred demonstrators received letters of summons to appear at the Police department.
Moreover, on October 28 in the morning, Mr. Al-Khawaja’s wife received a phone call from the police summoning her to appear at the police department. She was threatened to be arrested if she failed to do so.
Background information
On October 25, 2004, Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja, the BCHR's executive director, charged with inciting hatred against the regime, was denied bail for the third time since his first court hearing on October 16. The trial was adjourned to November 3, 2004.
On September 26, 2004, the BCHR’s leading activist, Al-Khawaja, was arrested after he had criticized the government’s policy, in particular the Prime Minister, during a symposium on economic rights in Bahrain, organized by BCHR on September 24. He was charged for « encouraging hate of the state » and « distributing falseness and rumours » on the basis of articles 165 and 168 of the Bahraini penal code and remanded in custody for 45 days in Howdh Aljaf detention centre.
Following the symposium, a Committee composed of different governmental institutions was also created on September 26, by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Mr. Majeed Al-Alawi, with the aim of « taking punitive and legal actions against the BCHR ».
On September 29, 2004, Mr. Al- Alawi, declared in a press release that he had issued an order of dissolution of the BCHR the night before, the order coming into force that same day. The official motive behind this decision is that the BCHR would have violated Law No. 21 of 1989 on Societies, without any other precision.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities of the Kingdom Bahrain urging them to:
i. Release Mr. Al-Khawaja immediately and unconditionally and drop the charges against him, his detention and the charges against him being arbitrary;
ii. Release Mr. Abdul-Raoof Al-Shayeb, Mr. Mahmud Ramadan and other activists arbitrarily detained;
iii. Rehabilitate the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and put an immediate end to any obstacles to its activities;
iv. Conform with the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, in particular article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels,” and article 5(b), stating that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels to form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups;”
v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Declaration and all other international human rights standards.
Addresses:
- Dr. Majeed Al ALAWI, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, P.O.Box: 32333, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain; Tel : +973 687800 - Fax: +973 686954
- Mr. Khalid BIN ALI AL KHALIFA, Undersecretary of Justice, PO Box 450- Manama, Tel: +973 17522338- Fax: +973 175 36 343
- Dr. Yusuf ABDUL KARIM, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Po Box 547, Manama, Tél: +973 226766- Fax: +973 227 861
- Mr. Ahmed Mahdi AL-HADDAD, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manama; Tel: +973 211935- Fax:+973 214 440
- Dr Faisal Al MOUSAWY, Chairman of Shura Council, Po Box 2991, Manama; tel: +973 17716500- Fax: +973 17715715
- Dr Faisal FOULAD, Shura Council, Po Box 2991, Manama; tel: +973 17330424- Fax: +973 17335910
- Mr. Adel Bin Abdul Rahman AL MAAWDA, Dep Chairman of the Council of Representatives, PO Box 54040, Manama, tel: +973 748458- Fax: +97317644130
- Mission permanente de Royaume de Bahrein auprès de l’Office des Nations Unies à Genève, 51 Chemin William Barbey, 1292 Chambésy, Genève, Suisse, Fax : +4122.758.96.50; E-mail: bahrain-mission@bluewin.ch
Paris – Geneva, October 29, 2004
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
E-mail: observatoire@iprolink.ch
Tel and fax FIDH 33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 / 01 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT + 4122 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29