Gulf Daily News - 28 June 2006

AN international human rights organisation has made a donation of almost BD2,000 to families of activists jailed in connection with demonstrations that followed the December 25 Bahrain International Airport clashes between protesters and police.

Vice-president of the Ireland-based international foundation Front Line, Andrew Anderson, visited the families during his trip to Bahrain in April. The organisation works for the protection of human rights defenders by lobbying governments and international authorities such as the United Nations (UN).

الحكومة تتعامل مع المنفيين العائدين كأصحاب حاجات وليس حقوق
وتحاول الاستعانة بممثلي العائدين لإغلاق الملف وإضفاء المشروعية على سياستها

Open Letter

AI Index: MDE 11/001/2006 (Public)
News Service No: 153
15 June 2006

Bahrain: Open Letter to the Shura Council

Dr Faisal Radhi Almousawi
Chairman of the Shura Council
Bahrain

15 June 2006

Proposed Amendments to Decree No. 18 of the year 1973 of Public Meetings, Processions and Gatherings (“Bahraini Gatherings Code”)

Your Excellency,

Amnesty International and ARTICLE 19 both have noted and greatly welcome the State of Bahrain’s pledge on 25 April 2006 to protect and uphold human rights as part of its nomination to the newly established UN Human Rights Council, and we congratulate you on Bahrain’s election to the Council for a one-year term. Having now been elected to the UNHRC, it is particularly important that the State of Bahrain should uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights, and to co-operate fully with the Council.

Video documenting attacks on activists in Bahrain starting with the arrest of BCHR president Abdulhadi Alkhawaja in September 2004 for criticizing the Prime Minister, until the crackdown on protests in April 2006.

Gulf Daily News - 14 June 2006

By KANWAL TARIQ HAMEED

A CALL went out yesterday to amend a law prohibiting the Press from publishing names or photos of suspects in the local and foreign media without the permission from the Public Prosecution.

Such restrictions would make it difficult for families and human rights activitists to campaign for their release, say activists.
The parliament-proposed law has been approved by MPs and is currently being reviewed by the Shura Council.

The law proposes a maximum sentence of one year in jail or a BD100 fine for those who publish "names or photographs of those accused, before the final verdict, and without permission from the Public Prosecution or the relevant court depending on the circumstances".

ضمن "المشروع الإصلاحي" ومن بين جملة من التشريعات المناهضة لحقوق الإنسان:
مجلس النواب البحريني يشرع منع الدفاع عن المعتقلين

Letter to His Majesty Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the Amendments to Law 18 (1973) on Public Gatherings

June 8, 2006

His Majesty Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
Rifa’a Palace
Kingdom of Bahrain

Your Highness:

We are writing to express concern regarding the draft law governing public meetings and demonstrations, known as Amendments to Law 18/1973. It is our understanding that the Majlis al-Nawwab and the Legislative Committee of the Majlis al-Shura have reviewed and approved this draft, and that the full Majlis al-Shura is expected to do the same in the near future, before sending it to Your Highness for final approval.

Government Must Revise Draft Law That Undermines Freedom of Assembly

Human Rights Watch - 8 June 2006

(Washington, D.C., June 8, 2006) – The Bahraini government’s draft legislation on public meetings and demonstrations undermines the right of peaceful assembly, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter urging Bahrain’s king not sign the bill into law.

The draft law will be the first significant human rights-related legislation to come before Bahrain’s king, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for final approval since the country was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council last month. In its letter, Human Rights Watch urged the king to instruct the Ministries of Justice and Interior to revise the legislation to bring it in line with international human rights law.

Released by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
June 5, 2006

http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/65988.htm
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/65985.htm

BAHRAIN (TIER 2 WATCH LIST)

Bahrain is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and sexual exploitation. Men and women from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines migrate willingly to Bahrain to work as laborers or domestic servants, but may be subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude when faced with exorbitant recruitment and transportation fees, withholding of their passports,