Bahrain
31.01.01
Urgent Interventions
Bahrain: tear gas and rubber bullets fired at demonstrators and eight arrested
Case BHR 310101
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO) of the use of tear gas and rubber bullets fired at demonstrators, demanding the restoration of Bahrain's constitution, by security forces on the night of 18th January.
A number of citizens were also arrested, including two 12 year old boys, Mohammed Abdullah Juma (from Karbabad), and Abdul Shahid Khamis (from Sanabis). Other detainees included Baqir Ibrahim Khamis, Ahmed Al-Motawwa, Jaffer from Arad, Mohmood Isa, Hassan Al-Mulla, and several others.
According to the reports, citizens from the areas surrounding Karbabad marched on the main Budaya Highway on 18 January, around 7.30 p.m. denouncing the government's attempts to deface Bahrain's constitution. The demonstrators called for the restoration of the 1973 constitution, an immediate end to the siege imposed on Sheikh Al-Jamri and the bringing to justice of those people responsible for torturing and killing citizens. The foreign-staffed security forces attacked the demonstrators with rubber bullets and tear gas. In response, the citizens threw stones and burned car tyres to minimise the effects of tear gas.
Further reports from BHRO, note that on 21 January, several dawn raids were conducted against scores of houses. At 1.00 am units belonging to the interior ministry attacked Karbabad and raided the houses of Mahmood Abdul Nabi Ahmed (18 years old), Ibrahim Radhi Abdul Abbas (20 years), Ali Jasim Ali (20 years), Isa Abdul Nabi Al-Daqqaq (20 years), and Samir Jaffer Habib (22 years). They were accused of taking part in the peaceful demonstration that took place on 18 January.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Bahrain urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons and order their immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
ii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of these arrests in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
iii. put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
His Highness Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa, Office of His Highness the Amir, P.O. Box 555, The Amiri Court, Rifa'a Palace, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 668884. Telex : 8666 Qasar BN; 8500 Qasar BN
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain.
Telex : 9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO BN. FAX: + 973 533033.
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 276765 or 290526 or 754303. Telex : 9572 PSMKT BN OR 8333 ALAMAN BN
The Diplomatic Representatives of Jordan in your country.
Geneva, January 31, 2001
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO) of the use of tear gas and rubber bullets fired at demonstrators, demanding the restoration of Bahrain's constitution, by security forces on the night of 18th January.
A number of citizens were also arrested, including two 12 year old boys, Mohammed Abdullah Juma (from Karbabad), and Abdul Shahid Khamis (from Sanabis). Other detainees included Baqir Ibrahim Khamis, Ahmed Al-Motawwa, Jaffer from Arad, Mohmood Isa, Hassan Al-Mulla, and several others.
According to the reports, citizens from the areas surrounding Karbabad marched on the main Budaya Highway on 18 January, around 7.30 p.m. denouncing the government's attempts to deface Bahrain's constitution. The demonstrators called for the restoration of the 1973 constitution, an immediate end to the siege imposed on Sheikh Al-Jamri and the bringing to justice of those people responsible for torturing and killing citizens. The foreign-staffed security forces attacked the demonstrators with rubber bullets and tear gas. In response, the citizens threw stones and burned car tyres to minimise the effects of tear gas.
Further reports from BHRO, note that on 21 January, several dawn raids were conducted against scores of houses. At 1.00 am units belonging to the interior ministry attacked Karbabad and raided the houses of Mahmood Abdul Nabi Ahmed (18 years old), Ibrahim Radhi Abdul Abbas (20 years), Ali Jasim Ali (20 years), Isa Abdul Nabi Al-Daqqaq (20 years), and Samir Jaffer Habib (22 years). They were accused of taking part in the peaceful demonstration that took place on 18 January.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Bahrain urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons and order their immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
ii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of these arrests in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
iii. put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
His Highness Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa, Office of His Highness the Amir, P.O. Box 555, The Amiri Court, Rifa'a Palace, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 668884. Telex : 8666 Qasar BN; 8500 Qasar BN
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain.
Telex : 9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO BN. FAX: + 973 533033.
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 276765 or 290526 or 754303. Telex : 9572 PSMKT BN OR 8333 ALAMAN BN
The Diplomatic Representatives of Jordan in your country.
Geneva, January 31, 2001
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.