Bahrain on Press Freedom Day: Journalist in Jail, Abusers Responsible for Murder and Torture Are Free
02 May 2013
Violations against the Freedom of the Press in Bahrain are ongoing, and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights is seriously concerned about reports of attacks against journalists and the media in general. Tomorrow, the 3rd of May, we commemorate World Press Freedom day, to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression. Despite King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa’s pledge to uphold press freedom and reform, conditions over the last year have not improved.
During the last year, several journalists and bloggers in Bahrain have been harassed, assaulted, imprisoned, and allegedly tortured as a result of their work; journalists in the proximity of pro-democracy demonstrations were regularly targeted by security forces. The BCHR has compiled the following of violations that have occurred against the media over the course of the last year.
Arrest and torture of Journalists
On May 16, Ahmed Radhi, a freelance journalist and blogger, was arrested without a warrant by security forces at 4 a.m. after they broke down his door, for criticizing a proposed union of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in interviews he gave to BBC Arabic Radio and the London-based exile television station, Lulu TV. He was reportedly tortured, insulted, and held incommunicado for 10 days after his arrest. Ahmed's lawyer was not allowed to meet with him until the first week of June, nor was she told what Ahmed was accused of. The BCHR has received a letter written by Ahmed Radhi in which he stated that he was beaten on his head and chest by security forces. He was thrown on a cold and hard floor, handcuffed with his hands behind his back and blindfolded for 48 hours. Ahmed was released on 20 Sep 2012 without a trial.
On December 29, renowned and award-winning photographer, Ahmed Humaidan, was kidnapped by 15 security officers in civilian clothing from a shopping mall in Bahrain, and arrested. According to Humaidan’s family, he was subjected to psychological torture. He was forced to stand up for hours while being handcuffed and blindfolded in a very cold room, holding an unknown object which interrogators told him that its was a timed bomb set to explode. Humaidan is charged along with a group of over 30 persons of burning Sitra police station. However it is believed that Humaidan, who is still in detention, was targeted because of the photographs he takes of the ongoing Bahraini protests.
Archive photo of police aiming to shoot journalist Mazen MahdiProfessional photojournalists of the EPA Mazen Mahdi, the AP Hasan Jamali, and the AFP Mohamed AlShaikh were detained by police officers on Feb 14, 2013 while they were in Daih to cover the death of a teenager who was shot by the police. There were ongoing protest in the area. The three photojournalist were kept on the side of the road, prevented from doing their work, and were eventually told that they must leave. They were then put in a police car and taken to a police station where they were released. Similar incidents of breif arrests are common and seem to aim at hindering the journalists ability to fully cover events.
Photojournalist Ammar AbdulRasool (29 years old) was held under arrest for several hours at a checkpoint while he was on way to cover funeral of the teenager who was killed in Daih, on Feb 16, 2013. He was taken to Isa town police station and interrogated, but he was released later in the day after the events (funeral/protest/attacks) were over. Ammar is an award winning photojournalist who has been covering protests with his photos without covering his face.
Arrests and trials of online users
In the past year, 13 twitter users were arrested, detained, and put on trial for their tweets. Five of them have been already sentenced to periods ranging from 1-6 months for “defaming the king via twitter”, where another 6 including a 17 year-old boy are still on trial while in detention for the same charges.
Sentenced for defaming the king on Twitter: 1. 1 November 2012, Abdullah Alhashemi was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. 2. 5 November 2012, Salman Darwish was sentenced to 1 month imprisonment 3. 5 November 2012, Ali Mohamed Watheqi was sentenced to four months of imprisonment. 4. 13 November 2012, Ali Al-Haiki was sentenced to four months in prison on a lèse-majesté charge for messages he posted on Twitter. 5. 11 Dec 2012, a 5th online user was sentenced to 4 months in prison for same charges.
Still on trial while in detention, charged with defaming the king over twitter: 1. Ali Faisal Al-Shufa (17 years old) was arrested on 12 March at dawn, 2. Hassan Abdali Isa (33 years old) was arrested on 12 March at dawn, 3. Mohsen Abdali Isa (26 years old) was arrested on 12 March at dawn, 4. Ammar Makki Mohammed Al-Aali (36 years old) was arrested on 12 March at dawn. 5. Mr. Mahmood Abdul-Majeed Abdulla Al-Jamri (34 years old) was arrested on 12 March at dawn. 6. Mahdi Ebrahim Al-Basri (25 years old) was arrested on 11 March at dawn. His relatives confirmed to the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) that the contents of the house were destroyed and they were verbally abused. Mahdi also faced mistreatment in the Criminal Investigations. Mahdi is a practicing lawyer.
Photo: HRD Said Yousif Muhafdhah holding a poster in a protestOn 9 July 2012 Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and Director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, was sentenced to 3 months in prison and arrested from his house on charges of “libeling the citizens of the town of Muharraq over twitter”, in relation to statements he made on Twitter calling for the Prime Minister to step down, and discussing his visit to the island of Muharraq. Though he was acquitted from the charges at appeal court, he remains in detention serving a two year sentence on charges of participating in demonstrations and calling for gathering over social media.
On December 17, Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah, human rights defender and the Acting Vice President and Head of Documentation Unit of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), was arrested while monitoring a protest in Manama and tweeting about the attacks on protesters and the violations to their rights. He was charged with “disseminating false news over twitter” and he remained in detention for a month. Though the court acquitted him of the charges on 11 March 2013, the public prosecution has appealed against the acquittal.
Denial of Access
On 14 July 2012 Bahrain deported US filmmaker Jen Marlowe, after she was briefly detained and questioned before being flown to Jordan. The authorities accused her of falsifying her visa application and shooting a documentary without permission.
Nick Kristoff was denied entry at the country’s border on the 20th of December 2012 when he was informed that he is on a ‘black list’. The two-time Pulitzer prize winning journalist has been highly critical of the Bahraini authorities in his reporting. During his last visit to Bahrain in Dec 2012 he was subject to tear gas attack and was briefly detained along with his accompanying camera man.
Habiba Hamid reported that she was interrogated for 5 hours at Bahrain airport on 11 Feb 2013, then she was denied entry to Bahrain, although she was not coming to report on the political situation. The authorities checked her twitter feed which included comments on Bahrain. They wanted her to apply for a visa through Ministry of Information first, before coming to Bahrain.
On 19 April 2013, ITV News channel‘s team were stopped while filiming in Bahrain and were then taken to a local police station where they were asked to levae Bahrain, despite having an approved visa by the Bahraini authorities. The decsion of deporting them came after the news channel issued a report the night before, which was critical of the government.
Impunity for Abusers
Torture marks on Zakariya Al-ASheeri's body After a year-long show trial, all 5 police officers were acquitted on the 5th of March 2013 on the charges that they severely beat a blogger, ZaKariya Al-ASheeri which led to his death on April 2011 while he was in police custody. Zakariya Al-Asheeri, moderator of www.dair.net online forum was arrested on the 2nd of April 2011 on charges of inciting hatred, publishing false news, promoting sectarianism and calling for the overthrow of the regime via e-forums. He was announced dead in custody 8 days later on the 9th of April 2011. His body was handed over to his family covered with marks of torture. (Photos)
Journalist Naziha SaeedOn October 22, a female police officer Sara al-Moosa was acquitted from torturing France 24 Correspondent, Ms. Nazeeha Saeed after a series of adjournments that lasted for more than a year. In May 2011, at Riffa police station, Saeed was blindfolded, kicked, punched, and slapped. Her hair was pulled, she was whipped with plastic tubing, had a shoe forced into her mouth and her head dunked into a toilet. An unknown, caustic liquid said to be urine was poured onto her face, she was repeatedly insulted and mentally abused and the authorities demanded that she make a false confession. Three independent medical reports, two of which were from Bahraini government doctors, corroborate Ms Saeed’s account of the torture she suffered while in custody. While Ms Saeed was able to identify 5 of her attackers, only one female police officer, Sara al-Moosa, was prosecuted and thereafter acquitted.
More than one year has passed since citizen-journalist and cameraman, Ahmed Ismael (22 years old) was shot dead on 31 March 2012 while covering a peaceful protest in Salmabad which was suppressed by security forces accompined with armed men in a civilian car who were shooting live rounds at protesters. To date, no one has been held accountable for this murder.
Threats and harrasments
Journalist Reem KhalifaOn November 13, a Manama appeal court upheld journalist Reem Khalifa’s conviction on a trumped-up charge of physically attacking two women doctors and insulting a third after a Manama news conference in July 2011, she will had to pay a fine of 100 BD (210 euros) and a total of 500 BD in compensation to the doctors. The journalist has filed a complaint against her attackers, however the case was put on-hold at the public prosecution.
In a different incident, Journalist Khalifa was assaulted by a security patrol on 29th of June. She was standing near the building of AL-Wasat newspaper, which is situated near the site of a demonstration. A security patrol suddenly stopped and one police officer stepped out and after watching her for a moment, he took a stun grenade out of his pocket and throw it directly at her.
On November 23, the public prosecution summoned the lawyer Manar Maki and interrogated her on background of a statement she gave to the Satellite channel Alalam on 16 Nov 2012 about the torture of her detained client Adnan Almansi who was reportedly subjected to severe physical torture, including sexual assaults. Instead of investigating the allegation of torture, the prosecution seems to putting prssure on lawyers who expose violation to the media.
Where is @abdulemam?
It‘s been 2 years since the disappearance of the prominent bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemam on 17 Mar 2011. He was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison by a military court on 22 June 2011 for allegedly "belonging to terrorist organizations and trying to overthrow the government". Abdulemam is the owner of the bahraini forums bahrainonline.org where views critical to the government are regularly expressed and where the first calls to protest on 14 Feb 2011 emerged. He was previously detained from September 2010 to February 2011 and was subjected to torture during that period. His whereabout remain unknown to this today.
The BCHR demands that the Bahraini authorities show full respect for the freedom of the press in Bahrain. Ordinary citizens should be allowed to peacefully and freedly express themselves on the internet, and journalists should be able to report objectivly on the government without fear of reprisals. The first step to reform the government’s relationship to the media is with accountability, and the figures responsible for the culture of impunity towards the media must be brought to justice.
The Bahrain Press Association 2012 Annual Report: "Bahrain: Silence is a War Crime"
LONDON, May 02 , 2013 – Bahrain Press Association ("BPA"), a non-profit association based in London that is concerned with defending and addressing issues related to Bahraini media and press people and issues, its second annual report for 2012 titled "Bahrain: Silence is a War Crime" on the World Press Freedom Day. This day was declared by the UN General Assembly in 1993 to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined and to raise awareness that in tens of countries, there is a censorship on publications or suspend publication of newspapers. Journalists are exposed to multi-faceted harassments, assaults, and arrests. Some reports have also indicated incidents of assassination.
The 2012 Annual Report comes to mark the second year running of the coverage started with the incorporation of the Bahrain Press Association ("BPA") in July 2011 in London, the United Kingdom. The Report, named 'Bahrain: Silence is a War Crime", represents a testament intended to be comprehensive and impartial in describing and documenting the diverse violations pertaining to the freedom of expression and media in Bahrain in the period spanning January to December 2012. It is the third report issued by the BPA following "Bahrain: Word Leading to Death" issued in October 2011 and "Hunger for Freedom" issued in May 2012.
The bilingual Report is comprised of chapters that summarize the obstacles and challenges that have been, and are, in existence faced by media and press professionals in Bahrain. It also includes, among other things, personal testimonies, a table documenting violations, and some reportage with closer look on the commitment the Bahraini authorities have shown to implement the recommendations set by the Bahrain Independent Commission for Inquiry ("BICI"), and the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council. The Report also highlights very widely the violations and intimidation witnessed by the journalists, photojournalists, reporters, and bloggers in Bahrain as have been largely condemned and documented by leading international human rights advocates and other NGOs concerned with the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press.
The Report further sheds light on the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press in Bahrain by documenting the violations faced by tens of local and foreigner journalists along with several organizations, newspapers, media outlets, and news agencies. The Report also stresses the 2011 inherent dilemma that has more than 145 media and press professionals had been subjected to murder, torture, and mass dismissal.
The murder of Photojournalist Mr. Ahmed Ismail on March 31, 2012 by live ammunition in the village of Salmabad while filming a peaceful protest to mark the top worst moment of the year. Mr. Ismail's murderer, as were the case of the murderers of Publisher Kareem Fakhrawi and Blogger Zakaria Al Asheeri, are still unknown as the Bahraini judicial authority is still temporizing on the trial of those responsible of their murdering.
The major violations reported in 2012 are as follows:
1. Intimidation and direct targeting policy against media professionals was on the rise; it led to the murdering of Photojournalist Mr. Ahmed Ismail and reported incidents of bodily assaults and arbitrary arrests to many Bahraini media professionals. The list of violations also includes either the arrest of foreigner reports or having them deported outside the country.
2. The Bahraini authorities are still temporizing to show adherence to the commitments undertaken before the international community as reflected in the straightforward implementation of the BICI's recommendations and those of the UN Human Rights Council.
3. The Bahraini authorities are still prosecuting media professionals; the judicial authority is being placed to be the ultimate punisher against media professionals.
4. The regime did not fulfill its promises to introduce a new journalism and media law and is enforcing Law 47 for 2002 pertaining to the regulation of journalism, print, and publishing. This has enabled the regime to widen its fist on the media realm of the country and bringing media professionals and human rights advocates before courts in trials labeled by international NGOs as lacking due process and basic human rights.
5. The regime is still monopolize TV and radio broadcasting not allowing opposing voices to appear on the state-run TV and radio channels. While the regime still refuses to give a license to any independent national TV and radio channels, it has granted a license to a TV channel owned by a member of the Saudi royal family.
6. The regime still interferes directly in the content of the national papers. It also censored many opinion columns and media coverage by opposition parties.
7. The judicial authority, headed by the country's king, still temporizes promoting justice through sham trials. Those military officials responsible for the killings and torturing of media professionals are not brought to justice with employees of lower ranks being tried instead. In most incidents tried, the violators were granted innocence.
8. No media professional was reinstated to their work amid the arbitrary dismissals that came along the way with the brutal crackdown early in 2011. The Information Authority has reinstated some of those arbitrarily dismissed into posts not matching their expertise and qualifications.
9. The state, backed by pro-regime groups, continued the spread of media and press sectarian content. The state-run TV station has gone on to broadcast provoking material with racist connotations against oppositions leaders and human rights advocates in the country.
10. The judicial authority, by its supreme cassation court, upheld very severe rulings against cyber bloggers (Dr. A.Jaleel Al Sangice & Mr. Ali Abdulemam).
11. The Bahraini regime continued its crackdown against those media professionals living in exile. It circulated their names in black lists among Arab countries which, in turn, led to the ban of those professionals from entering countries like Egypt, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
12. The Bahraini regime still refuses to grant entry visas to international NGOs concerned with the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press including Freedom House, Reporters without Boarders, & International Federation of Human Rights.
Three major titles were selected to mark the anniversary of this year World Press Freedom Day. Firstly, ensuring the journalists protection. Secondly, combating impunity in the crimes committed against press freedom. Thirdly, supporting protection online. It is with great sorrow to note that journalists in Bahrain are being exposed to different types of violations and harassments under the proceeding three titles.
While the safety of journalists in Bahrain is still subjected to more hazards and violations, all those accountable for torturing journalists are holding their government positions. It is much worse to indicate that some of them were professional promoted equipping them with tools to exercise more violations. The Bahraini authorities are intensifying the criminal laws that target cyber activists with life imprisonment punishments.
Finally, the Bahrain Press Association “BPA” would like to thank all who contributed to the preparation of this report inside and outside Bahrain, also the International organizations, including: Reporters without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists “CPJ” and the International Federation of Journalists for their efforts in defending the Bahraini journalists. Special Thanks goes to the National Endowment for Democracy “NED” for sponsoring this version of the report.
Bahrain: Human Rights Defenders in Prison, Torturers Walk Free, and UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Denied Access
02 May 2013
The Gulf Center for Human rights (GCHR) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) denounce the decision of the Bahraini authorities to cancel the visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan E. Méndez which was schedule to take place from 8 to 15 May 2013.
In an official statement, Mr. Méndez stated, “This is the second time that my visit has been postponed, at very short notice. It is effectively a cancellation as no alternative dates were proposed nor is there a future road map to discuss.”
Over the past two years and since the crackdown on peaceful protests in Bahrain, GCHR and BCHR continue to receive with grave concern ongoing reports of torture of detainees in Bahrain, including human rights defenders and activists.
The leading human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja was subjected to a severe level of torture starting from the time of his arrest on 9 April 2011. While handcuffed and blindfolded he received a severe blow on the left side of his face with a metal object. This caused him to fall on the ground bleeding profusely due to deep cuts close to the left eye and a number of fractures in the jaw, cheek, and nose. This prompted the security forces to transfer him to the military hospital where he received stitches and underwent complex surgery to address bone fractures. X-ray images show about 18 plates and about 40 screws that were used to join fractions. At the hospital he was kept blindfolded and handcuffed to the bed in a painful manner that prevented him from moving. He was moved to Alqarain prison after only six days in hospital.
From the second day of his arrival to prison the nightly torture began. In his statement to the court Al-Khawaja said, “The torture that was inflicted on me during that period included continuous standing with hands lifted for many hours, beating the back of the head with a heavy tool, blows to the back, beating the back of the hands with the door lock, beating the feet with shoes, forcing me to kiss pictures of the rulers of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia which were put on the cell’s walls, forceful removal of clothing, sodomizing using sticks, indecent insults related to dignity and religious beliefs, forced self-cursing, forced declarations of loyalty to the political leadership under the threat of beatings and rape.” (Read his full testimony on http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5338)
Al-Khawaja is currently serving a life sentence on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government by force." Currently, no one has been held accountable for the torture which he endured. At least five cases of death that occurred in 2011 were attributed to torture in custody, as confirmed by the report of the Bahraini Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) including the death of blogger Zakariya Al-Asheeri on 7 April 2011 (BICI Report: http://www.bici.org.bh/BICIreportEN.pdf) However, two years later no one has been found responsible for any of these deaths, yet the court has acquitted all accused in the Al-Asheeri case. (BCHR Report: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5673 )
Both the GCHR and the BCHR are gravely concerned over the policy of impunity practiced in Bahrain, which continues to protect the perpetrators and those responsible for torture at the same time as the human rights defenders who report and document these abuses are being put in prison, ill-treated and tortured.
Bahrain ratified the 1984 Convention Against Torture (CAT) in 1998. Article 2 of the Convention requires States “to take effective measures to prevent [torture] in any territory under its jurisdiction.” GCHR and BCHR call on the international community to apply increased pressure on Bahrain to demand the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain including detained human rights defenders; to stop the security forces from practicing any form of torture on detainees - which is almost systematic in Bahrain; and to allow the UN Special Rapporteur on torture to visit Bahrain in order to meet with the surviving victims of torture inside and outside prisons.
Bahrain: Two Women Reportedly Beaten While in Police Custody and Threatened with Electric Shocks to Sign Confessions
The Bahrain Center for Human rights expresses grave concern in regards to the well-being and safety of two women who are in detention since 20 Apr 2013; they have been denied family visits, and reportedly tortured to extract confessions.
Rayhana Al-Mosawi informed her lawyer, Manar Maki, in a short phone call on 29 April 2013 that she was beaten in detention, threatened with the arrest of her relatives, and threatened with electric shocks to force her into signing confessions.
Nafeesa Al-Asfoor informed her husband in a short phone call on 29 April 2013 that she was beaten during interrogation at the criminal investigation department, threatened with arrest of relatives and with electric shocks by masked men.
Both detainees have not been allowed to consult with a lawyer about their situation, or to receive visits from family members, since their arrest on 20 Apr 2013 from the Bahrain International Circuit where the Formula1 race was taking place. The lawyers for the two women submitted requests to the public prosecution to formally represent the detainees, but they have not received a response. The lawyer Entisar AlAsfoor said that the authorities ordered a visitation ban on the two detainees for 60 days.
The two women are being charged with terrorism acts after one of them was caught with a pillow under her dress, according to the Ministry of Interior statement (http://www.policemc.gov.bh/news_details.aspx?type=1&articleId=14173).
The BCHR renews its calls to the international community to apply pressure on Bahrain to stop the practice of systematic torture to force confessions on falsified charges. The BCHR calls for the immediate release of Nafeesa Al-Asfoor and Rayhana Al-Mosawi, and the dropping of all trumped-up charges against them.
For More information about the case please read: http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5715
USCIRF’s 2013 Annual Report on the State of International Religious Freedom - Bahrain
April 30, 2013
In December 2012, a USCIRF delegation traveled to Manama to assess conditions for freedom of religion or belief, particularly progress by the Bahraini government in implementing relevant recommendations from the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), including related to the rebuilding of Shi’i mosques and religious structures the government destroyed in 2011.
The delegation met in Manama with high-level government officials, including the Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs and the Minister of Human Rights. The delegation also met with the Secretary-General of one of the leading Shi’i opposition groups, the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society; Sunni and Shi’i religious leaders; representatives of human rights organizations; representatives of non-Muslim religious minority communities; other civil society leaders, such as lawyers and media personalities; and ordinary Bahraini citizens. In addition, the delegation met with the U.S. Ambassador and other Embassy staff.
While Bahrain does not meet the criteria to be placed this year on USCIRF’s Tier 1 or Tier 2, inadequate implementation of the relevant BICI recommendations over the next year may negatively impact its status. USCIRF remains concerned by the government’s ongoing lack of accountability for abuses against the Shi’i community since 2011. USCIRF acknowledges some progress by the Bahraini government in implementing various BICI recommendations related to freedom of religion or belief, but much more needs to be done. USCIRF will continue to monitor closely the religious freedom situation in Bahrain over the next year.
Bahrain: Shooting Victim Arrested and Prosecuted While Shooter Enjoys Impunity
Photo: X-ray of the bullet inside the chest
27 April 2013
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses grave concern over the escalating culture of impunity that was on display recently in the act the authorities took to arrest and prosecute a shooting victim before he completed full medical treatment, while at the same time the shooter was not held accountable for his crime.
On 22 Feb 2013, Sayed Majed Sayed Hasan (18 years old) and another boy were shot with bullets by a person driving in a civilian car in Buri, where a pro-democracy protest was taking place. The two boys sustained injuries in the chest and they were taken immediately to the hospital. Sayed Majed underwent a surgery that stabilized his situation, but the bullet remained in his chest. He stayed in hospital until 2 March 2013. He has scheduled surgery on Sunday 28 April to remove the bullet from his chest. While in the hospital, Sayed Majed was interrogated by the police, but no action was taken against the person responsible for the shooting despite the available information that would lead to his identity. According to witnesses, the shooter was driving a black Range Rover car with a license plate containing three digits; witnesses recorded the license plate number. However, license plates with only three digits are normally assigned to "VIP" persons by the government.
At dawn on 25 Apr 2013, security forces stormed the home of Sayed Majed and arrested him without presenting an arrest warrant after searching and damaging much of the private property in the home. His family told the BCHR that Sayed Majed informed them via a short call that he was forced to stand for long hours at the criminal investigation department, and whenever he became tired and sat down, he was beaten. He was then taken to the public prosecution where he was interrogated in the absence of a lawyer and was charged with “illegal gathering, rioting, and assault of policemen”. The public prosecution issued an order for Sayed Majed to be kept in detention for 45 days pending investigation. He is currently detained at the Dry dock detention center according to a brief call he made to his family.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights believes that the act of arresting a victim of an attempted murder while the responsible person for the crime is allowed to go free, despite having information that lead to his identity, only confirms growing culture of impunity in Bahrain which continues to leave much of the population without any protection of the law.
In addition, the Bahrain Center for Human rights expresses concern for the life and safety of Sayed Majed, who still has a bullet lodged in his chest and who needs to have access to proper medical treatment.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls for the following:
- Immediately release Sayed Majed and provide him with the complete medical treatment required for his rehabilitation.
- Launch an investigation and bring the responsible party of the shooting of the two boys to justice, and hold him/her accountable for the attempted murder.
- Put an end to the culture of impunity and bring those accountable for the protection of criminals to justice including the officials at the public prosecution.
Joint Letter to the President of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA)
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-KhalifaTo: Mr. Joseph S. Blatter President International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA)
CC: Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Subject: Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa’s nomination for Chairman of the AFC
26 Apr 2013
We are writing this letter to urge you to reconsider nominating Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa for the position of the AFC Chairman and the position of membership of the executive office of FIFA in the next due election on 2 May, 2013. We hope that you bear in mind the sublime principles of sport and fair play that respect basic human rights and to distance all violators of human rights from reaching prestigious sport positions in order to embellish their notorious image.
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa is involved in human rights violations with the assistance of his office and consultants against players, administrators, referees and clubs who participated in the democracy protests in February 2011. We would like to bring to your kind attention the most important acts of revenge carried out by Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa against groups that are affiliated with football.
• On 20 April 2011, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa chaired a periodic meeting for the Bahrain Football Association [1], where he emphasized that the Association has to implement the resolutions of the inquiry commission [2] and to work on eliminating anyone who proves to have participated in the peaceful protests, whether administrators, referees, and the members of the running committees of the Bahrain Football Association.
• Turning the “Shabab” and “Malkiya” clubs to the second degree football league, and fixing the “Sitra”, “Tadhamun”, “Etifaq” and “Etihad” clubs in the second degree football league, in addition to fining each club with a sum of approximately $8,000 USD, because of the absence of the amateur football players from the matches due to the deteriorating security situation against the protest participants[3]. • Fining the “Shabab”, “Malkiya”, “Sitra”, “Tadhamun”, “Etifaq”, “Etihad”and “Ahli” clubs a sum of approximately $4,000 US, per club, per age group, that did not participate in the scheduled matches by the Association due to the deteriorating security situation against the protest participants [4]. • After the announcement published by the Bahrain News Agency, the Bahraini Authorities published photos of the athletes and tried them on live TV [5]. This campaign continued to summon athletes, raid their homes or even the training fields and arrest them as had happened to the two football players Alaa Hubail and Mohammed Hubail.
• The arrested (players, administrator and referees) were subjected to torture and abuse in prison by the National Security Apparatus.
• The Bahrain Authorities brought the detainees forth to a military trial after their arrest and the Court sentenced some of them, among them the National football player Mohammed Hubail, with two years in prison.
• The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) documented several cases where football players, coaches, referees and administrators were subjected to suspension or arrest and torture and even military trials [6].
To conclude, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights believe that the world’s most popular sports should respect human rights, and we ask you to put an end to the practice of using the sport of football to polish a poor background in human rights, and who use the sport as a tool for human rights violations and abuse. Please withdraw the nomination of Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa’s to the position of chairman of the AFC.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati President – Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights/ mohdmaskati@byshr.org
Ms. Maryam Al-Khawaja
Acting President – Bahrain Center for Human Rights/ maryam.alkhawaja@gmail.com
- Attachment (1)
List of names of affected players, administrators and referees:
1. The player Jafar Tawq, football player at Riffa Club (removed from club) 2. The player Mahmood Al-Ojaimi, football player at Riffa Club (removed from club) 3. The player Hasan Al-Barri, football player at Riffa Club (removed from club) 4. The player Nedhal, football player at Riffa Club (removed from club) 5. The coach Mohsen Abdul-Wahab, goalkeeper trainer at Riffa Club (removed from club) 6. The player Ahmed Al-Hujairi, football player at Hala Club (contract with club was annulled) 7. The player Alaa Hubail, football player at Ahli Club (removed from club + arrested and sentenced to 4 years) 8. The player Mohammed Hubail, football player at Ahli Club (removed from club + arrested and sentenced to 3 years) 9. The player Ali Saeed, football player at Ahli Club (removed from club + arrested) 10. The fan Ali Jawad, head of the Ahli Fan Club (suspending his membership in the club) 11. The player Sayed Adnan Sharaf, football player at Bahrain Club (removed from club) 12. The player Shaker Salman, football player at Bahrain Club (removed from club) 13. The administrator Abdul-razzaq Mohammed, administrator in the Bahrain Football Association (suspended from work + arrested) 14. The player Sayed Hasan Sayed Isa, football player at Ahli Club (suspended from playing + arrested) 15. The player Abbas Ayad, football player at Ahli Club (removed from club) 16. The player Mahmood Abbas, football player at Ahli Club (suspended from playing) 17. The player Abdul-Wahab Ali, football player at Ahli Club (suspended from playing) 18. The player Hussein Al-Shakar, football player at Ahli Club (suspended from playing) 19. Abdul-Hussein Habib, international football referee (suspended from refereeing + arrested) 20. The referee Jaffar Al-Khabbaz, a football referee, and referee observer in the Bahrain Football Association (suspended from refereeing) 21. The referee Ali Salman, a member of the referee committee in the Bahrain Football Association (suspended from work) 22. The referee Abdul-Hameed Abdul-Aziz, vice-president of referee committee in the Bahrain Football Association (suspended from work) 23. The administrator Faisal Al-Aali, head of the football unit at Ahli Club (suspended from work) 24. The coach Ali Sangoor, first team assistant coach (suspended from coaching) 25. The administrator Ali Mayoof, administrator of the football team at Ahli Club (suspended from work) 26. The administrator Nader Abdul-Jaleel, administrator of the football team at Ahli Club (suspended from work) 27. The coach Abd-Ali Al-Sikri, youth football coach at Ahli Club (suspended from coaching) 28. The player Abdullah Mahdi, football player at Ahli Club (suspended from playing) 29. The player Alaa Ayad, football player at Ahli Club (suspended from playing) 30. The player Hussein Majdi, football player at Ahli Club (suspended from playing) 31. The player Baqer Mohammed Al-Asfoor, football player at East Riffa Football Club (suspended from playing) 32. The player Sayed Abdul-Mutaleb Hashim Sharaf, football player at East Riffa Football Club (suspended from playing) [1] http://www.bna.bh/portal/news/453609?date=2011-04-20
[2] The inquiry commission with athletes: formed by Sheikh Nasser, King’s son, to interrogate and punish athletes that participated in the pro-democracy protests where Sheikh Nasser threatened to “drop a wall” on athletes, via Bahrain TV.
[3] http://www.bna.bh/portal/news/453609?date=2011-04-20
[4] http://www.bna.bh/portal/news/453609?date=2011-04-20
BAHRAIN: Sentenced to two years in prison for advocating and exercising the right to peaceful assembly
Publication of a Judicial Observation Mission Report 19 Feb 2013 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), publishes today a report, which presents findings of a judicial observation mission conducted on the trial in appeal of prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab. The report concludes that a series of violations of the right to fair trial marred the judicial process and that Mr. Nabeel Rajab is suffering judicial harassment for merely advocating for and exercising the right to peaceful assembly in Bahrain. Read full report While February 14, 2013 marks the second anniversary of the start of pro-democracy protests in Bahrain, Mr. Nabeel Rajab, Deputy Secretary General of FIDH, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and Director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), remains detained in Jaw Prison, serving a two-year prison sentence. On December 11, 2012 the Appeals Court in Bahrain confirmed his conviction on charges of calling for and participating in peaceful gatherings on three occasions. As of today, he has been in detention for 217 days. The Observatory sees the detention and sentence of Mr. Nabeel Rajab as arbitrary and solely aimed at sanctioning and preventing his human rights activities. Indeed, Mr. Rajab has been targeted for his tireless efforts at highlighting gross human rights violations in Bahrain, in particular since the beginning of the popular uprising in the country in February 2011 through the use of Twitter, Facebook, and other social network tools and media outlets as well as his participation in public gatherings. “Mr. Rajab’s trial reflects Bahrain’s policy and practice of criminalising the exercise of the right to freedoms of association, expression and peaceful assembly and silencing human rights defenders and other dissenting voices” declared Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General. Between September and December 2012, the Observatory carried out four missions to Manama to monitor the hearings of Mr. Rajab’s trial. The report recounts the details of these missions and demonstrates that the trial in appeal against Mr. Nabeel Rajab failed to comply with international standards of fair trial. “The entire procedure was fraught with serious human rights violations from the time of arrest, through detention, trial and conviction” said Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH President. Mr. Nabeel Rajab was initially detained on July 9, 2012 for his participation in “illegal” assemblies in January, February and March 2012 during which the authorities alleged that acts of violence were committed by some participants. Said gatherings were organised to call for the release of human rights defenders and political activists, to denounce corruption, to call for political and economic reforms, to denounce human rights violations and to call for a fair distribution of wealth and an end to torture. Though the Bahraini authorities have committed on several occasions to implement the recommendations issued by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), including the release of all prisoners of opinion, Mr. Nabeel Rajab is still detained. He is held in a prison together with ordinary criminals, though most other prisoners of conscience are held together in a separate unit. Read full report
Bahrain: Weaponizing Teargas by Bahrain Authorities Kills Another Victim: 20 Year-Old Mahmood Al-Jazeeri
Photo : Right Mahmood Al-Jazeeri, Left: Mahmood Al-Jazeera while in Coma at Hospital
Date: 22nd February 2013
Photo: Extracted from a Youtube Video, Illustrating How Mahmood was Shot. Order: No. 1: Top Right, 2:Top Left, 3:Second Row Right, 4:Second Row Left..etc
Link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwjYUgh3L1A
The family of Mahmood Al-Jazeeri informed Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah, Acting Vice President of the BCHR and Head of Documentation Unit that the familly refused to accept the Death Certificate. The death certificate did not mention that there is a suspicion of criminal activity and no further comments were added, initially, by the coroner. The public has lost faith in the authorities after several other investigations were performed on deceased protesters in such a manner that did not accurately reflect the facts in the case, and prevented justice. Examples include the cases of Karim Fakhrawi , Ali Al-Shaikh and Yousif Al-Muwali. Mahmood AlJazeeri is the 4th victim, according to the BCHR records, to die as a result of a direct hit from a tear gas canister to the head or neck: 1 -Fadhel AlObaidy, 22 years old, date of death: 3 Oct 2012: http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5108 2- Sayed Hashim Sayed Saeed, 15 years old, date of death 31 Dec 2011 http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/4936 3- Ali Alshaikh, 14 years old, date of death: 31 Aug 2011 http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/4577
Cyprus Victory Starlight Cartridges 
German-Owned South African Tear Gas Canisters 
Italian manufactured weapon (Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun)
The BCHR calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and all other allies and international institutions to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to stop its use of excessive force in response to the continued peaceful protests, and to consider a meaningful solution to resolve the persistent political issues of instability in the country. The BCHR calls on the European Governments and other ally Governments to Bahrain to stop supplying the government with arms that are used against peaceful protesters, which cause severe injury and death among them.
References: [1] Physicians for Human Rights Report on Weaponizing Tear Gas [2] Bahrain: Minor Killed And Human Rights Violations Escalate During the 2nd Anniversary of 14Feb Mass Protests Read more in the BCHR Anniversary Report: The BCHR Releases Report on Deaths and Detentions to Mark Two Year Anniversary of Protest Movement
Bahrain: 20 Persons from Sitra Await Verdicts Tomorrow Charged with Attempted Murder; while 2 Policemen Acquitted from Murder
Photo : A solidarity protest with the 20 Prisoners
Date: 26th Feb 2013 The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its deep concern about the continuous use of the judicial system as a tool to silence dissidents and activists. The BCHR documented a case concerning 20 people, four of them minors, from Sitra in Bahrain who were arrested last year on 15th February 2012. Police arrested them from two houses following multiple house raids. One of the houses raided was in the village of Mehazza and the other was in the village of Sufala. During the violent house raids there were no arrest warrants presented. The 20 prisoners have been charged with: 1. Attempted Murder of two policemen 2. Attacking a policeman 3. Damaging a Police car and Possession of Molotov Cocktails List of Names and their Ages: 1 Ebrahim Abdulla Al-Mualim 44 2 Khalil Ebrahim Ali 41 3 Jaffar Abd-Ali Al-Khazaz 35 4 Nawaf Hashim Fardan 34 5 Abbas Moh’d Hubail 30 6 Sayed Haidar Humaidan 29 7 Jawad Taher Al-Sharqi 28 8 Sayed Qassim Alawi 24 9 Sadiq Bu-Hussain 24 10 Ali Abdulwahid Al-Makna 20 11 Jassim Abdullah Jassim 22 12 Ahmed Bu-Hussain 21 13 Mohammed Al-Aradi 27 14 Mohammed Ahmed Al-Taqi 19 15 Ahmed Tahir Eid 19 16 Abduallah Al-Khudur 18 17 Adel Al-Safi 17 18 Sayed Ali Alawi 16 19 Ebrahim Ashoor Abdullah 17 20 Taqi Mohmmaed Al-Taqi 17 The public prosecuter stalled their case as a punishment by detaining them for 45 days. He then renewed the case for another 20 days before their first trial, which was initially set for 25 July 2012. During the trial, BCHR became aware that there has been no tangible evidence convicting the 20 prisoners, adding to the fact that the incident as per a police report happened at 8 PM that day and all were arrested at 9 PM. The verdict will be given on 27th February 2013.
Photo : Shotgun wounds in the back of Fadhel Al-Matrook
Meanwhile today (26th Feb 2012), Bahraini courtrooms, that are being ruled by a culture of impunity and a corrupt judicial system, the high criminal court acquitted 2 security men from the murder of Fadhel Al-Matrook who was killed on 15th February 2011. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the UN and all other allies and international institutions to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to: 1. Release all political prisoners and drop all trumped up charges against them. 2. Hold all those responsible for violations and crimes accountable, including members of the ruling family. 3. Reform the judicial system so that it is up to international standards of fair and independent trials.