By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 1st November 2006

PROSECUTORS yesterday launched an investigation into complaints by the Information Ministry that various websites are violating Bahrain's laws. A number of complaints have been received from the ministry that Bahraini and non-Bahraini websites violate the Press, printing and publishing law, said a Public Prosecution statement.

It said it was also investigating allegations that some sites had violated a High Criminal Court order banning reports or comments on the Salah Al Bandar case.

It said it contacted the authorities concerned in relation to the complaints and requested an investigation from the Criminal Investigation Directorate.

Bahrain blocks websites for violating reporting ban
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10078969.html

11/01/2006 12:30 AM | Reuters

Manama: Bahrain has blocked several websites for violating a reporting ban in the case of a government adviser who was deported after alleging election irregularities.

Authorities imposed a ban on publishing information about the case of the adviser, British citizen Salah Al Bander, who was sacked and deported to Britain in September for what a minister said was an attempt to foment civil strife in the country.

The case, known as Bandergate, initially made headlines in the country which is due to hold parliamentary and municipal elections on November 25. Officials say the reporting ban was imposed to ensure an impartial investigation.

In an official call by the Bahrain Information Minister and less than a week from barring access to the home page of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights [1], the Bahraini Authorities further blocked seven different sites [2] making the total number of known sites to be 18 (See Appendix below). The Authorities went on to state that legal action will be taken against these sites [3]. The reason behind this blockade is that "they continued to debate the Dr Al Bandar affair after a court order banning the Press from doing so " the Bahrain's Information Ministry official stated. The decision of blocking these and other site was made in accordance with Royal Decree Code 47 of 2002, dealing with publications and the Press. This code was drafted by the executive branch and promulgated in 2002 among 56 decrees, in law format, and aimed to exert more restrictions on civic activities in format of expression or protest.

By AFP
Middle East Times
Published October 31, 2006

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is providing $8,000 in support for each female candidate in Bahrain's upcoming parliamentary and municipal elections, an official said Monday.

"The UNDP is going to provide logistical support to female candidates in the amount of BD3,000 [$8,000] for each of them," UNDP coordinator in Bahrain Sayed Aqa told a news conference.

Aqa added that "23 candidates in total will be served by this logistical support, which will be provided for their electoral campaigns and not in the form of cash."

Bahrain clamps down on talks of 'spy' allegations
By AFP
Middle East Times
Published October 31, 2006

Bahrain has censored local and foreign Internet sites for discussing a report by an alleged British spy who claimed to have uncovered a plot to maintain Sunni domination of the Gulf kingdom, local media said Tuesday.

Newspaper reports quoted ministry of information official Hassan Aoun as saying "the sites in question transgressed a ruling by the high court banning [October 4] publication of any information or commentary on the matter."

Bahraini rights activist Nabil Rajeb slammed the move as "a flagrant violation of the right to free speech," saying that "the censorship affected around 17 Internet sites, mostly Bahraini."

‘Blogfather’ blocked
Mahmood’s Den no more accessible
By Sandeep Singh Grewal and Mark Summers

One of Bahrain’s most widely-read blogs has been blocked – allegedly by the Ministry of Information due to comments made on the site by author Mahmood Al Yousif.
Mahmood’s Den – a hugely popular blog which attracts over four million hits a month and covers topics as diverse as its author’s love of gardening to his opinions on the Kingdom’s political scene is no longer accessible within Bahrain.
The straight-talking Al Yousif has won widespread praise in recent weeks for an anti-sectarianism initiative which started on his blog.

Banned 'blogs' face legal action
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 31st October 2006

THE Information Ministry yesterday said it plans to take legal action against a number of sites recently blocked for continuing to discuss the Dr Salah Al Bandar affair.

The move was announced after access from Bahrain to the popular Bahraini blog mahmood.tv, along with five other sites, was blocked by the ministry yesterday.

It follows the alleged leaking of a ministry document bearing Information Minister Dr Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar's signature ordering the sites be blocked in accordance with law 47 of 2002, dealing with publications and the Press.

27 October 2006

Sigma Huda, United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, will visit Bahrain, Oman and Qatar from 29 October to 12 November 2006.

The Special Rapporteur is scheduled to visit Manama, Muscat and Doha to gather first-hand information on the question of trafficking in persons, especially women and children. She is expected to meet with representatives of the Government, civil society organizations, persons affected by trafficking and United Nations officials. A report on the three visits will be presented to the Human Rights Council.

By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 29th October 2006

TRAFFIC to the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights' (BCHR) website has tripled since authorities blocked it, says a founding member. BCHR vice-president Nabeel Rajab claims the blockage of the site on Thursday has fuelled interest in it, locally and internationally.

"I don't think the government is being well-advised in these matters, because when a website is blocked, especially in the Middle East, it makes people believe the information on it must be credible," he said.

"The site is blocked in Bahrain, but not abroad. Our main target audience is outside Bahrain anyway."

New law dashes Bay hopes
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 29th October 2006

THE two remaining Bahraini detainees at Guantanamo Bay could be left without any legal representation following US government moves to limit contact with their lawyers. Legal team head Joshua Colangelo-Bryan said that the US government was arguing that under the Military Communications Act, which recently became law, attorneys are not permitted extensive access to their clients at Guantanamo.

The lawyer says politicians are also demanding that attorneys be restricted on the information they can discuss with their clients.

BAHRAIN : Official Censorship Continues: BCHR Homepage Barred

http://www.haaq.org/en-US/42/ViewNews/37/139/Default.aspx

Yesterday, HAQ has received the news about barring the electronic site of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR). HAQ has checked this news and verified it instantly. Today, and before issuing this report, HAQ took extra test to access BCHR site www.bahrainrights.org" via the local supplier's proxy BATELCO [1], the response by locally activating that address has been "403 Forbidden - The following error occurred: Access denied by access control list". This error is a common one for all those sites barred by the Bahraini Authorities (see Barred Sites). It has been practice by activists and Bahrainis attempting to locally access barred sites by changing the local proxy, or use anonymous access sites.

Maid slashes wrist to go home

Filipina desperate to be with her ailing daughter
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Contributor

A 29-year-old Filipina reportedly slashed her left wrist at her sponsor’s home so that she could be sent back to the Philippines.
Rowena Peñaflor was rushed to a nearby hospital by her Syrian sponsor, Ehad Marwan Shamaz, and later escorted to the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) shelter at the Philippine embassy in Zinj.
Witnesses said Rowena seemed “dazed and speechless” when she arrived at the shelter, refusing to speak to anyone.
The heavily-bandaged wounds on her left wrist were inflicted by herself, she said in a statement.

Published: 28 October 2006

LABOUR abuse cases reported to the Indian Embassy at its open house will no longer be heard behind closed doors, it was revealed yesterday.

Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty had earlier stated that only embassy officials, the complainants and the media would be allowed to witness the proceedings.

He made the comments at the last open house held on October 6, saying the practice would reduce publicising the way in which workers are being harassed by their sponsors.

But yesterday's session went on as normal at the embassy premises in Adliya and not as a 'confidential meeting'.

By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 28 October 2006

BAHRAIN's government has pledged to address concerns raised by animal rights groups following a fire at the Dolphin Park, which killed an elephant seal.

The marine mammal died after smoke engulfed the Al Fateh Corniche building on August 4, while the only other animal inside the park, a Beluga whale, survived.

It prompted the London-based charity Marine Connection call for the closure of the park, following earlier concerns it raised about the alleged poor conditions of animals in the facility.

Twenty animal welfare organisations from around the world joined forces to call for the permanent closure of the park in a letter sent to Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and several other government officials in August.

UN official to probe trafficking
Published: 28 October 2006

A UNITED Nations (UN) special rapporteur arrives in Bahrain today to investigate human trafficking.

Bangladesh human rights lawyer Sigma Huda is set to meet government officials, non-government organisations, shelter home representatives and survivors of the trade.

During her five-day visit, she will assess the scale of the problem in Bahrain and what legal and social assistance is available.

Ms Huda, who was invited by the government, will investigate various forms of trafficking including prostitution, forced labour, sexual slavery and bonded labour.

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community -ALERT - BAHRAIN

27 October 2006

Website blocked one month ahead of parliamentary elections

SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abridged, translated version of an RSF
alert:

On 26 October 2006, access to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) website (http://www.bahrainrights.org ) was blocked by Batelco, Bahrain's main Internet service provider (ISP). This action may be linked to the website's coverage of "Bandargate", a political scandal involving the royal family and several Bahraini politicians.

Only five women poll candidates
By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 25th October 2006

MANAMA: Five women were among 171 candidates who filed papers for the upcoming elections for 40 municipal council seats in five governorates, at the close of nominations last night. This compares with 320, including 34 women, who contested 50 municipal council seats in 2002.

Of the women candidates this time, four - Fatima Salman Mohammed Salman, Sabah Al Dosari, Wafa Abdul and Khadija Mahmood Al Qahtani - are from Muharraq.

The fifth, Homyan Al Ruwaie, is from the Southern Governorate.

Seventeen candidates filed their papers yesterday - six in Central Governorate, four each in Capital and Muharraq, and three in Southern Governorate.

Don’t contest, women warned
Candidates approach SCW after receiving SMS threats
Sandeep Singh Grewal
Contributor

Some women candidates have approached the Supreme Council for Women and filed a complaint after allegedly receiving threatening text messages on their mobile phones stating they “lacked the qualification to run the country and hold parliamentary positions.”
Dr Munira Fakhro, contesting on behalf of the Wa’ad society, told the Tribune: “We had to approach SCW after these messages were sent to some of the women candidates. There are some conservative scholars who are against women contesting the elections. This is not fair as it is an attempt to weaken the position of women candidates.”

Prisoner's release from Guantanamo still a mystery
By geoffrey bew
Published: 24 Ocotber 2006

LAWYERS for freed Bahraini Guantanamo Bay detainee Salah Abdulrasool Al Blooshi are never likely to know why he was released, it has emerged.

Legal team head Joshua Colangelo-Bryan told the GDN no explanation had been given for the 24-year-old's release last week.

Mr Al Blooshi, held for nearly five years without charge or trial, was kept in Camp 4 at the Cuba base, reportedly for prisoners who were "not considered a threat".

"We have often said Salah would probably be the first person (of the Bahrainis) to come home from Guantanamo," said Mr Colangelo-Bryan, based in New York.

UN puts women on path to success...
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 24 Ocotber 2006

BAHRAIN is among more than 190 countries marking United Nations (UN) Day, which is celebrated every year on October 24, since 1948.

The UN has had a presence in Bahrain since 1972 and during this period has operated various environmental, industrial, political, health and other development programmes in the country.

One of its main focal points in Bahrain, under the UN Development Programme (UNDP), is political empowerment of women.

Bahraini women are increasingly having a presence in the political arena, which is evident in the appointment of Bahraini Shaikha Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa as the first Arab woman to preside over the UN General Assembly and Bahraini Latifa Al Gaoud's achievement in becoming the Gulf's first woman MP.

Bahrain mulls jobless benefits
by
Monday 23 October 2006 2:35 PM GMT

Unemployment in Bahrain has led to protests (File)

Bahrain's government has pledged to introduce unemployment benefits for the country's 18,000 jobless, many of whom are women.

The bill would provide $415 per month to the country's unemployed, who comprise about 15 per cent of the country's workforce.

It also appears to be designed in part to avoid the unrest that has hit Bahrain over lack of jobs, which was a major factor in the turmoil that engulfed Bahrain in the mid-1990s and led to a series of riots and arson attacks.

Life's good for Jews of Bahrain - as long as they don't visit Israel

larry lunxner / jta, THE JERUSALEM POST Oct. 23, 2006

If you want to find the only synagogue in the Persian Gulf, come to Bahrain - a tiny desert kingdom linked to Saudi Arabia by the 15-mile King Fahd Causeway.

But don't expect to find kosher restaurants, yeshivas or Yiddishkeit in this land of mosques and minarets; just 36 of Bahrain's 700,000 or so inhabitants are Jews.

That's not much - but these three dozen people form the only known Jewish community in any of the six countries comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates).

Hate-attack denounced
Anand Sagar (From Bahrain Bureau Chief)

22 October 2006

MANAMA — The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) responding to the ‘grave allegations’ of a hate-attack against an Indian migrant worker has strongly condemned the incident and demanded that the Bahraini authorities immediately investigate the attack and bring its perpetrators to justice.

BCHR Vice-President Nabeel Rajab told Khaleej Times, “We strongly condemn the recent attack on an Indian barber, Mustafa Hamza, and the BCHR not only denounces this gruesome attack but also urged the authorities concerned to take responsibility for his personal safety. They should also ensure that he is compensated.”

A CALL FOR ACTION

A PUBLIC SEMINAR IS TO BE ATTACKED BY BAHRAINI AUTHORITIES

http://www.haaq.org/en-US/22/ViewNews/34/134/Default.aspx

Over a month ago (September 15th ), the Bahraini Authorities used Special Forces to terrorize the residents of Sanabis and prevent people from being able to reach the venue of a public seminar organized by "HAQ"-the Movement of Liberties and Democracy – Bahrain. One week later (September 22 nd), the Special Forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to attack and disperse thousands of people attending the same public seminar organized by "HAQ" in Bilad Al-Qadeem, resulting in injuries [1].

By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 22 October 2006

HUMAN rights activists in Bahrain have expressed concern about an apparently racially motivated attack on an Indian barber.

Police and embassy officials are investigating the assault on Mustafa Hamza, who required hospital treatment after being bound, gagged, bundled into an alleyway, beaten and slashed with a carpet knife by five Bahrainis.

The 30-year-old was robbed of BD41 during the incident on October 13, but authorities are probing the possibility that the attack was racially motivated.

Mr Hamza initially thought he was being mugged, but said his attackers kept on telling him that he did not deserve a Bahraini passport - despite the fact that he has never applied for one.

Man claims race attack
By Begena George
Published: 19th October 2006

POLICE and embassy officials are investigating an attack on an Indian barber, who says he was bound, gagged, bundled into an alleyway, beaten and slashed with a carpet knife by five Bahrainis. He was robbed of BD41, but officials are probing the possibility that the attack was racially motivated.

Mustafa V Hamza, 30, initially thought he was being mugged, but said his attackers kept on telling him that he didn't deserve a Bahraini passport - even though he had never applied for one.

The incident happened while the father-of-two was returning to his home, in Sanabis, after visiting a friend.

Citizenship plea by family of eight
By BEGENA GEORGE
Published: 20 October 2006

AN Indian family of eight, who claim to have been living here for three generations, is appealing for citizenship from the Bahraini government.

The family, which had applied for citizenship in October 2004, says that its youngest members were kicked out of school and ended up working at an early age because they don't have residency documents.

Its history dates back to the 1950s when the father of the head of the family came to Bahrain from Mangalore, Karnataka, and set up a lodging business in Manama.

http://mahmood.tv/?p=2825

Bahrain bans sacking of staff for union activities
AFP

October 17, 2006

MANAMA -- King Hamad Monday banned the dismissal of employees in Bahrain's private sector for trade union activities, the BNA official news agency said.

The monarch issued a decree amending the existing labor law in the private sector to "ban the dismissal of a worker because of his activities in his trade union," BNA said.

The decree also instructed "courts to reinstate the employee to his post and [order the employer to] compensate him for the period spent out of work when proven that his dismissal was based on his union activities," it added.

Bahrain activist warns of “rising tensions” over Bandargate scandal
(DPA)

17 October 2006

LONDON - The vice-president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) has warned that “tensions are rising fast” in the Gulf state in the wake of allegations that a secret government grouping has been conspiring to fuel sectarian tensions and rig upcoming elections.

BCHR vice-president Nabeel Rajab also told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa by telephone late Monday he feared there “would be not much participation” in elections scheduled for November 23. “People have lost faith in the whole process,” he said.

The Associated Press

Published: October 17, 2006

MANAMA, Bahrain A woman will serve as an elected representative in Bahrain's parliament for the first time in the Gulf kingdom's history, election authorities announced Tuesday.

Lateefa al-Geood has effectively won a seat in parliament, because she was the only candidate who registered to run in her region, Bahrain's official news agency reported. The registration period for candidates ended late Monday.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for Nov. 25. Some 221 candidates, including 18 women, are vying for seats in the 40-member assembly.

BAHRAIN YOUTH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS DATE ANNOUNCED

posted: October 16, 2006
MANAMA, OCT. 16, (BNA) -- PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ORGANISATION OF YOUTH AND SPORT (GOYS), SHAIKH FAWAZ BIN MOHAMMED AL KHALIFA, ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 18 AS THE DATE FOR BAHRAIN YOUTH PARLIAMENTS ELECTIONS TO KICK START, MARKING A LANDMARK AND UNPRECEDENTED WORLD EVENT TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY BAHRAIN WHICH IS KEENLY FOLLOWING ON THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE REFORM PROJECT LAUNCHED BY HIS MAJESTY KING HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA.

IN A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD TODAY, SHAIKH FAWAZ SAID BAHRAINS YOUTH PARLIAMENT, WHICH IS A BUDDING PROJECT THAT HAS SPRUNG FROM THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE YOUTH, IS A QUALITATIVE INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO REINFORCE BAHRAINI YOUTHS PATRIOTISM, ACTIVATE THEIR ROLE IN THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE PART IN DECISION MAKING AND SPEAK THEIR MINDS REGARDING VARIOUS ISSUES. SHAIKH FAWAZ PLEDGED TO ENSURE THE NEEDED TRANSPARENCY AND IMPARTIALITY IN THE UPCOMING YOUTH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, URGING YOUNG MEN TO SHOW INTEREST IN THIS UNIQUE DEMOCRATIC AND CIVILIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND TO TURN UP MASSIVELY AT POLLING CENTERS TO CAST THEIR VOTES. ON HER PART, HEAD OF BAHRAINS YOUTH PARLIAMENTS CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, AMAL SALMAN AL DOSARY, IN CHARGE OF DEVELOPING THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE YOUTH, SAID THE YOUTH PARLIAMENT WILL COMPRISE 80 MEMBERS, HALF OF THEM ELECTED AND THE OTHER HALF NOMINATED, EMULATING BAHRAINS DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE. YOUNG MEN AGED 15 TO 19, MAKING UP A TALLY OF NO LESS THAN 30 THOUSAND, WILL BE ALLOWED TO EMBARK ON THE RACE FOR THE YOUTH PARLIAMENTS MEMBERSHIP IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE NEEDED TRAINING THAT WOULD ENTITLE THEM TO TAKE PART IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS, AL DOSARY SAID. AL DOSARY REVEALED THAT ACCESS TO MEMBERSHIP CANDIDACY IN THE YOUTH PARLIAMENT WILL BE REOPENED FROM OCTOBER 28 TO NOVEMBER 1 IN ORDER TO ALLOW NEW NOMINEES TO JOIN THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY SUBMITTED THEIR NOMINATION APPLICATIONS ON NOVEMBER, 30, 2005. THOSE WISHING TO RUN FOR THE YOUTH PARLIAMENTARY MEMBERSHIP OUGHT TO BE BAHRAINI RESIDENTS AGED BETWEEN 15 TO 19 WITH AN INTEREST IN NATIONAL, SOCIAL AND YOUTH ISSUES AND A REPUTATION OF GOOD MANNERS AND HAVE TO PLEDGE COMMITMENT TO MEET ALL THE CONDITIONS AND NEEDS DICTATED BY THE MEMBERSHIP, SHE EXPLAINED. AL DOSARY NOTED THAT THE KINGDOMS FIVE GOVERNORATES WILL EACH HAVE A BALLOT CASTING AND COUNTING CENTER, TO BE ANNOUNCED IN DUE TIME, WHICH WILL REPORT THE ELECTIONS RESULTS TO THE SUPREME COMMITTEE WHICH IS HEADED BY GOYS PRESIDENT. THIS COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS A DEPUTY HEAD AND FOUR OTHER MEMBERS INCLUDING A LEGAL EXPERT, WILL, AMONG OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, ISSUE THE NECESSARY RULES AND GUIDELINES THAT ORGANIZE THE ELECTIONS AND ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. AL DOSARY SAID SUB-COMMITTEES WILL BE FORMED TO MONITOR THE ELECTIONS IN THE FIVE ELECTORAL CENTERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH FOREIGN SUPERVISORS, PREPARE VOTERS LISTS, STUDY NOMINATION FILES, ORGANIZE BALLOT CENTERS AND LOOK INTO PROTESTATIONS AGAINST ANY PROCEDURE BEFORE REPORTING THEM TO THE SUPREME COMMITTEE. IN ADDITION TO COUNTING VOTES AND REPORTING THE FINAL RESULTS TO THE SUPREME COMMITTEE, THE SUB- COMMITTEES WILL ALSO GUIDE VOTERS AND ANSWER THEIR INQUIRIES, AL DOSARY ADDED. SHE NOTED THAT BAHRAIN YOUTH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WILL WITNESS THE PRESENCE OF INTERNATIONAL MONITORS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ELECTIONS ORGANIZATION AND THE UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AS WELL AS BAHRAIN TRANSPARENCY SOCIETY TO ENSURE THE ELECTIONS FAIRNESS AND IMPARTIALITY. IT IS TO BE NOTED THAT BAHRAINS YOUTH PARLIAMENT, WHICH IS A NATIONAL NON-POLITICAL PROJECT THAT DOES NOT REPRESENT A PARTICULAR PARTY OR POLITICAL BLOC, WAS INAUGURATED IN NOVEMBER 2005 AND AIMS AT FAMILIARIZING THE YOUTH WITH THE BAHRAINI DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE, HELPING THEM EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS AND IMPROVE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS. MOREOVER, THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY (ICNYP) SELECTED BAHRAINS NEWLY-INTRODUCED NATIONAL YOUTH STRATEGY AS THE BEST YOUTH INITIATIVE AND PROJECT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. HMQ 16-OCT-2006 19:23

Bahrain gets first woman MP
From correspondents in Manama
17oct06

A WOMAN won a seat in Bahrain's parliament for the first time as registration for November 25 polls ended today without a contest in her constituency, an official said.

"Only Latifa al-Qouood remained as a candidate in the seventh constituency, making her a winner by law," said Ahdeyah Ahmed, spokeswoman of the election high committee.

Ms Qouood had reached the second round in Bahrain's last legislative polls, but was eventually beaten by an Islamist candidate whose camp dominates the outgoing chamber.

Some 199 candidates, including 16 women, have registered for next month's polls to the 40-member assembly.

http://abuaardvark.typepad.com/qahwa_sada/2006/10/bahrain_must_be.html
October 12, 2006
Bahrain: Must be election season
Toby Jones, Swarthmore College

Sectarianism, political fraud, and police brutality are on the rise in Bahrain. It must be election season.

In September 2006 US President George Bush cited Bahrain as an example of the “real” changes taking place in the Middle East and that the country was evidence that “as liberty flourishes, nations grow in tolerance and hope and peace.” The reality could not be more different. On the eve of new elections Bahrain’s political crisis appears as bad as ever.

Miami Herald and Staff Report
MANAMA, Bahrain - A former detainee at the U.S. prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, returned home Sunday to Bahrain after being held for five years, officials said.

Salah Abdulrahim al Blooshi, who is believed to be about 25, was at his family's home Sunday night, said the head of Bahrain's public prosecutor's office, Nawaf al Ma'wdah, who declined to provide additional information about al Blooshi or his release.

Over the weekend, al Blooshi's father, Abdulrahim al Blooshi, thanked the small Persian Gulf country's king, members of parliament and civil rights activists, including Nabeel Rajab, the former head of the now dissolved Bahrain Center for Human Rights, for his son's release.

Yemeni Authorities to Stop Their Arbitrary Practices against Human Rights Defendants and to Immediately Release Ali Al-Demely

Statement from 30 NGOs in 11 Arab Countries

The undersigned organizations expressed their great discontent about the arrest and detention of Mr. Ali Al-Demely by the Yemeni Authorities on Monday, October 9th, 2006, while he was heading to Copenhagen, Denmark, to participate in an event on rights and freedoms. Mr. Al-Demely is a Yemeni human rights defender. He is the executive director of the Yemeni Organization for Defense for Rights and Democratic Freedoms.

Blooshi ... from Bay to Bahrain

Release raises hope for freedom of others detained at Gitmo
Nada Al Abbas
Crime Reporter

Bahraini Guantanamo Bay detainee Salah Al Blooshi finally returned home yesterday after being held for more than five years in extrajudicial detention in the United States’ Guantanamo Bay detainment camps in Cuba.
Immediately on arrival, Blooshi was taken to the Public Prosecutor where after a short debriefing he was taken home by his family. There was no case against Blooshi and the questions asked by the Public Prosecutor were just routine procedure.
Speaking to the Press outside the Public Prosecutor’s, Salah’s father, Abdulrasool Al Blooshi, thanked God for the return of his son. He thanked King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the government, the lawyers and human rights activist Nabeel Rajab for their efforts in securing the release of his son.

Fourth Guantanamo detainee turned over to Bahraini authorities

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Sunday October 15, 2006

Manama- The US military on Sunday turned over a fourth detainee from the military prison on Guantanamo Bay to Bahraini authorities, as two more Bahrainis continue to be held at the detention centre in Cuba. Salah Abdul Rasool al-Blooshi, 24, who arrived earlier Sunday in Bahrain, appeared in front of the public prosecutor, where he was questioned and later released to his parents.

Bahraini authorities have not charged al-Blooshi, and he is free to go, his father, Abdul Rasool, told reporters after meeting his son at the public prosecutor's office.

Former Guantanamo prisoner returns home to Bahrain
The Associated Press

Published: October 15, 2006

MANAMA, Bahrain A former detainee in the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay returned home Sunday to Bahrain after being held for five years, officials said.

Salah Abdulrahim al Blooshi was at his family's home Sunday night, said the head of Bahrain's public prosecutors office, Nawaf al-Ma'wdah, who declined to provide any additional information about al Blooshi or his release.

Earlier Saturday, al Blooshi's father, Abdulrahim al Blooshi, thanked the small Persian Gulf country's king, members of parliament and civil groups including Nabeel Rajab, the former head of the now dissolved Bahrain Center for Human Rights, for his son's release.

Media sends ‘open’ letter to judiciary
Don’t let the foreign press misinterpret the Al Bandar issue by asking us to be silent

Your Honours, members of the Supreme Judiciary Council,
We, the Editors in chief of the daily newspapers address this open letter to you so that we can together agree on drawing the principled policies of safeguarding the right of our Press to exercise its legitimate role in engaging in the freedom of speech, which is an indivisible part of the rights of Bahrain -- the homeland and the citizen -- and is an important and vital pillar in increasing awareness and developing Bahraini culture so as to understand and appreciate the issues of the homeland with a sense of high national responsibility.

By REBECCA TORR
Published: 15th October 2006

A BAHRAINI family of 14 claims it has been left to sleep under the stars after their makeshift tent and other possessions were confiscated last week.

Police dismantled their home and left their belongings piled up on the seafront at Halat Al Naeem, just off Muharraq, on Thursday.

Since then husband and wife Abdulla Mohammed Sbei'i and Mariam Mangondato, their seven sons and five daughters, aged one to 18, have been living on the pavement with just a few household items and blankets.

"We are living on the road, the police took everything - all our kitchen equipment has gone, even our water," sobbed Ms Mangondato, who is originally from Mindanao, Philippines.

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/10/14/10074643.html

10/14/2006 07:24 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: A Bahraini blogger has launched a campaign to resist and reverse the emerging divide between Sunnis and Shiites in Bahrain.

The 'No Shiite, No Sunni, Just Bahraini' campaign was started a few weeks before the municipal and parliamentary elections which many observers fear will be held on a sectarian platform.

"We are at a historic crossroads. We either eliminate this repugnant sectarianism or it will burn us all. Let us work together because we cannot be free if we do not stand united and we cannot live happily if we are not together. We are one people with one heart and one history," said Mahmoud Al Yousuf, one of Bahrain's best-known bloggers.

خطاب من مائة من الشخصيات السياسية والحقوقية والدينية إلى ملك البحرين
بشأن "تقرير البندر" والمخطط السياسي الطائفي، والمنظمة السرية القائمة على تنفيذه
ودور مسؤولين بالديوان الملكي ومجموعات سياسية طائفية في وضع وتنفيذ ذلك المخطط

Published: 13th October 2006

MANAMA: Bahraini Guantanamo Bay detainee Salah Abdul Rasool Al Blooshi is expected to freed and flown home today, sources revealed last night.

Al Blooshi, now aged 24, was arrested on the Pakistan border as he tried to leave Afghanistan in December 2001.

The US accused him of being an Al Qaeda recruiter, but he has always maintained that he was in Afghanistan on a humanitarian mission. Two other Bahrainis, Juma Al Dossary, 32, and Isa Al Murbati, 42, are also detained in Guantanamo Bay.

Three others, Adel Kamel Hajee, Abdulla Al Nuaimi and Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, were released and flown home last November.

By EUNICE del ROSARIO
Published: 13th October 2006

FILIPINOS in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are being urged to obey the law - to cut the numbers being jailed.

Philippine Embassies in Riyadh and Bahrain sent out an advisory yesterday, which also urges Filipinos to be wary of con artists and to be more careful on the roads.

In Saudi Arabia, there are 147 male Filipinos in detention for various offences in 10 jails and 109 Filipinas, all at Al Nisa women's jail, say embassy officials.

In Bahrain, four male Filipinos are serving time at Jaw prison and 14 Filipinas at the Isa Town Detention Centre.

By eunice del rosario
Published: 13th October 2006

FEWER housemaids have approached their embassies for assistance just over halfway into Ramadan, compared to last year.

The Philippine Embassy's shelter, located in Zinj, currently houses about 52 workers, the majority of who are runaway housemaids.

The number of runaways is significantly less compared to previous Ramadans when maids say that they were overworked, forced to fast despite not being Muslims and required to stay up late to prepare meals.

Last year, within the first two weeks of Ramadan, the embassy housed nearly 80 workers - over 90 per cent of who said their employers overworked them during Ramadan.

By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 13th October 2006

ALLEGATIONS that Bahrain's labour reforms were doctored after being vetted by international watchdogs are to be investigated.

A draft of the government reforms was shown to the Geneva-based International Labour Organisation.

But trade unionists and other sources had since complained that key clauses were later removed, before the draft was put to parliament, ILO social dialogue department director Giuseppe Casale told the GDN yesterday.

"We have received reports that some 'critical clauses' have been amended or removed when the draft was presented to parliament," he said as he headed a delegation to Bahrain.

Tent family of 14 is evicted
By sara sami
Published: 13th October 2006

POLICE swooped on a makeshift home yesterday to evict a Bahraini family of 14, who claim they have been forced to live rough for seven months.They were left with their belongings piled up on the seafront at Halat Al Naeem, just off Muharraq.

A Muharraq Municipality official said the eviction was ordered because the family had set up home illegally by building their makeshift tent on public property.

Abdulla Mohammed Sbei'i put up the tent to shelter his wife Mariam Mangondato and their seven boys and five girls, aged one to 18.

Opposition fault registration procedure on first application day

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Thursday October 12, 2006
http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Opposition_fault_registration_proce_10122006.html

Budaiya, BahrainThe head of Bahrain's largest Shiite opposition group on Thursday suggested the registration process for electoral candidates was designed to hurt the opposition's chances, at the end of the first day for those running to submit their names. The first of five days for submissions saw 111 people, including 11 women, file requests to run in the November parliamentary vote, election committee spokeswoman Ahdeya Ahmad said.

By EUNICE del ROSARIO
Published: 12th October 2006

TEN of the 13 Filipinos, who quit their Dana Mall jobs three months ago claiming they were "too overworked", have reportedly returned to work.

Only three of the workers, waitress Ludy Lyn Fernandes, cashier Dana Cruz and chef Rolando De Guzman, are left to fight the labour case they filed in July, citing unpaid salaries ranging from BD500 to BD1,900.

Six of them withdrew their complaints and went back to work, shortly after the original 13 filed the case at the Labour Ministry.

Late last month, cinema attendant Shella Sangalang, returned to work and last week, waitresses Rhea Jaena and Jane Talagtag and cashier Cynthia Urdino took their old jobs back.

Published: 12th October 2006

A RUNAWAY worker allegedly kidnapped by his sponsor was still missing yesterday, after being snatched from his flat more than a week ago.

Indian Justin Jose's Bahraini sponsor allegedly reneged on a promise to produce him at Hoora police station yesterday.

The construction worker was allegedly snatched from his apartment in Gudaibiya on October 4.

His friend John Baby Muthaiyan, also an Indian, says he was also snatched earlier and beaten until he revealed where Mr Jose was.

Both men were then allegedly assaulted in a car by five men, three Indians and two Bahrainis.

By EUNICE del ROSARIO
Published: 12th October 2006

A FILIPINA housemaid, who claimed her sponsor coerced her into trading sex for salary and phone calls home, was last night deported back to the Philippines.

Irenea Sanchez, 38, refused to return to her Egyptian employer after he told police he would welcome her back to his family home despite her allegations.

The Public Prosecution Office then advised Philippine Embassy officials yesterday that it was best to send the mother-of-three home as soon as possible.

A third and final meeting was held between Mrs Sanchez, her sponsor and police yesterday.

Published: 12th October 2006

A CHILD custody hearing was adjourned by a Sharia Court judge after a Filipina mother and her lawyer failed to arrive on time.

The two-year battle over Sarah, a three-year-old Bahraini toddler, was adjourned until November 29.

Filipina Lecita Flores and her Bahraini ex-husband were expected to let the Sharia Court judge know at the hearing whether they have reached a settlement over their child.

Ms Flores told the GDN that she and her lawyer had arrived late in court and was told that the judge had already adjourned the hearing to next month.

"I was late because I was hoping a Philippine Embassy official could come with me to the court, but no one was able to," she said.

Bahrain Tribune – Wednesday, October 11, 2005

Bon voyage

Compensation, tickets arranged for housemaids

Two Indian housemaids, Sangeeta Gaunkar and Theodora Monsurate, saw light of the day when the Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) arranged for some compensation and a ticket back home.
Theodora, who left yesterday for Goa, faced the ultimate test of survival in her employer’s Askar home – newly arrived in Bahrain with the promise of a BD100 post as a nanny, she was made to work as a housemaid and paid just BD150 for five months of back-breaking work. In addition, when finally rescued by MWPS volunteers, she was a malnourished bag of bones, having survived on just dates and water for the whole period.

By rebecca torr
Published: 11th October 2006

A TOP official has jumped to the defence of a new centre that opened last night to support the country's 400-plus Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

The centre, in Tubli, offers free expert advice, technical support and training and is the first of its kind in the GCC.

It was opened last night by Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi, but was already coming in for criticism before the ceremony even started.

It will be managed and funded by the Social Development Ministry, while the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been recruited to provide expert advice on setting up the centre.

Ban on Al Bandar coverage to stay till it is necessary

The Higher Criminal Court yesterday refused the appeal of the editors of the local newspapers to review its decision to bar the publication of any reports on the Salah Al Bandar’s case. While the court, in a written reply to the editors’ letter, lauded the important role of the local Press and stressed its keenness to provide them with all information to enable them to carry out their duties, it said the decision was aimed at protecting the court procedures. However, it said its decision might be reviewed once the case no longer requires the prohibition, to enable the Press play its role in enlightening the citizens.

Child custody case drags on

Compromise formula is ready
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Contributor

The two-year-old child custody case filed by Filipina mother Lecita Gabucay Flores has again been postponed. The next hearing will be held on November 29.
The fate of the case for the custody of her daughter Sarah Abdulla Mohammed Mattar now hangs in the balance.
Flores had hoped the courts would reach a verdict on the October 8 hearing of the case that included approval for some of the provisions that her lawyer and embassy officials had drawn up to meet a compromise for Sarah.
It turned out to be disappointing for Flores as she was told the case was declared postponed yet again, due to her late arrival. “We had earlier waited for four hours at the previous hearing only to be told it was postponed to October 8. This time the hearing was held too early. What am I to do but wait?” she asked.

Sponsor 'to hand over kidnapped runaway'
By BEGENA GEORGE
Published: 11th October 2006

A BAHRAINI sponsor who has allegedly kidnapped a runaway worker after forcing a friend to reveal his whereabouts, has reportedly promised to present him at the Hoora Police Station today.

Indian Justin Jose was allegedly snatched from his apartment in Gudaibiya last Wednesday.

His friend John Baby Muthaiyan, also Indian, says he was snatched earlier and beaten until he revealed where he was.

Both men were then allegedly assaulted in a car by five men, three Indians and two Bahrainis.

Mr Muthaiyan, a construction worker who also works as a part-time salesman at a cold store in Gudaibiya, claims that he was tied up and blindfolded by the men, after he initially refused to disclose his friend's whereabouts.

Published: 11th October 2006

MANAMA: Bahrain has shut down two websites for depicting the Prophet and portraying Islam negatively.

Information Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar ordered the crackdown on Sawt Al Haq "Voice of Truth" and "Islamiyat".

Several anti-Islamic electronic websites have already been identified and blacklisted.

The clampdown comes amid a wave of anti-Islamism seeping the world, said publications acting director Hassan Oun yesterday.
© Gulf Daily News
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/story.asp?Article=158411&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29205

Published: 11th October 2006

AN Indian housemaid allegedly forced to live on dates and water flew home last night, after fleeing her sponsor's home.

Theodora Mensurate, aged 32, walked around 20km from Askar to Kuwait Avenue, Manama last Sunday, in the hope of finding help.

A passer-by gave her a lift to Sacred Heart Church, from where she was taken into the care of the Migrant Workers' Protection Society.

She was working for a family of eight in Askar and was paid just once in five months.

"She said that she also had to work at another house in which the sponsor's mother lived," a MWPS volunteer told the GDN.

By VINITHA VISWANATH
Published: 11th October 2006

EMBASSY officials are seeking action from police and labour officials, following a road accident in which three workers were killed.

Twenty-one others were injured in the head-on crash between a pick-up and a trailer truck on Hawar Road, Askar, on Sunday.

The men were being transported in a partially-covered pick-up to a worksite in Askar, when the accident happened.

Bangladeshi Ambassador Rahul Amin and Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty visited BDF Hospital with other officials yesterday to see some of the injured.

Ten are still in BDF Hospital and another is recovering in Salmaniya Medical Complex.

Published: 11th October 2006

MANAMA: The High Criminal Court yesterday defended its decision to ban the publishing in Bahrain of any news, comments or information relating to the case against Dr Salah Al Bandar, for allegedly seizing government papers and stealing two private cheques.

It said the decision was taken to safeguard legal procedures involving the case, but may be reviewed later.

The response followed a letter to the court from editors-in-chief of the country's leading newspapers, urging that the ban be lifted.

"In reference to your request to reconsider the court order banning any publication involving the case of Salah Abbas Al Bandar, Number 951 for the year 2006, I would like to clarify the following," said a letter signed by the court president and two judges.

Bahrain king reassures Shia clergy over polls
(AFP)

10 October 2006

MANAMA - Bahrain’s Sunni ruler King Hamad has reassured the spiritual leadership of the Gulf state’s Shia majority that there will be no attempt to rig next month’s parliamentary elections, a report said on Tuesday.

The Council of Muslim Scholars had sought Sunday’s meeting with the king following charges by a Briton, since expelled as an alleged spy, that a Sunni clique within the government was plotting to maintain the minority sect’s domination of the archipelago, the Al-Wasat daily said.

“The clergy asked the king during Sunday’s meeting for practical assurances concerning the affair that has exercised public opinion recently,” the council’s chairman Sheikh Issa Qassem told the paper in allusion to the accusations made by Salah al-Bandar.

تعرب الشخصيات الحقوقية البحرينية الموقعة على هذا البيان عن قلقها تجاه ما تضمنه تقرير الدكتور صلاح البندر الأمين العام لمركز الخليج لتنمية الديمقراطية والمستشار بشئون مجلس الوزراء، البريطاني الجنسية والسوداني الأصل والذي تم إقالته واعتقاله ومن ثم إبعاده عن البلاد مؤخرا بسبب التقرير الذي قام بإعداده.

Published: 10th October 2006

FOREIGN Affairs Ministry ambassador Saeed Al Faihani yesterday reiterated the ministry's commitment to secure the safe transfer of Bahraini detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Bahrain.

He said the ministry was continuing to have extensive contact with the US government to secure the release of the detainees and was achieving progress.

The Bahraini detainees at Guantanamo Bay are Juma Al Dossary, Salah Abdulrasool Al Blooshi and Isa Al Murbati.

They will complete almost five years at the prison in Cuba, without trial.

By rebecca torr
Published: 10th October 2006

A CENTRE designed to support non-governmental organisa-tions (NGOs) being launched in Tubli tonight will be the first of its kind in the GCC.

It will offer training, resources and expertise to the more than 400 NGOs in Bahrain.

The initiative is the brainchild of the Social Development Ministry, which has also sought expertise from the United Nations Development Pro-gramme (UNDP).

"There are more than 400 NGOs in Bahrain and the number is increasing exponentially so the centre will help to give value to them," Social Development Ministry adviser Dr Ates Elshabrawy told the GDN yesterday.

Maid 'swaps sex for salary'
By EUNICE del ROSARIO
Published: 10th October 2006

AN elderly Egyptian man is being investigated for alleged exploitation after his Filipina maid yesterday claimed she had sex with him in exchange for her salary and phone calls to her family in the Philippines.

A second interview is scheduled to take place today between police officers and 38-year-old maid Irenea Sanchez as part of the investigation.

The man, who is believed to be in his 60s and suffering from diabetes, has denied all allegations during meetings with police and Philippine Embassy officials.

By begena george
Published: 10th October 2006

AN Indian man was allegedly kidnapped and beaten by three other Indians and two Bahrainis because he refused to disclose the location of a runaway worker.

Construction worker John Baby Muthaiyan, aged 27, who also works as a part-time salesman at a cold store in Gudaibiya, claims that he was tied up and blindfolded by the men.

He alleges they threatened to kill him if he didn't tell them where they could find his Indian friend Justin Jose.

Mr Muthaiyan filed a case against the men following the incident and will present the report to the Indian Embassy today for assistance.

Wife's killers lose appeal
By SARA SAMI
Published: 10th October 2006

MANAMA: A Bangladeshi couple sentenced to death for the brutal murder of a Bahraini mother-of-two in November 2004 lost their second appeal against the sentence yesterday.The death penalty was upheld by Cassation Court judge Shaikh Khalifa bin Rashid Al Khalifa.

Housemaid Jasmine Anwar Hussain, 23, and her 33-year-old accomplice Mohammed Hilaluddin lost their first appeal last December when the Supreme Criminal Appeal Court rejected it

http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10073500.html

10/09/2006 11:46 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: Bahrain's highest Shiite authority yesterday called "all believers to participate in the upcoming municipal and parliamentary elections" in a move that contrasted with its 2002 stance that led to the boycott of polls by four societies.

The move is likely to deepen the rift with Haq, the movement that splintered from Al Wefaq Society last year, and which has been actively opposing participation in the November 25 elections.

"Despite all political and security crises and tensions and in spite of all the disappointments, the Islamic Scholars Council believes that participation in the elections is the best option to confront the reality on the ground with all its complexities. Participation is also the best option to tackle strife and exclusion schemes," the council said in a statement sent to the media on Sunday evening.

Bahrain's Shiite clergy urges people to vote in next month's legislative polls despite problems
The Associated Press

Published: October 9, 2006

CAIRO, Egypt Bahrain's Shiite Muslim clerics have given their blessing to next month's parliamentary elections, urging citizens of the Gulf state to vote despite the perceived flaws.

The Nov. 25 elections for parliament and municipalities were thrown into question when a former civil servant, Salah al-Bandar, claimed to have documents showing that the authorities intended to rig the elections by depriving many Shiites of their voting rights.

Trailer-truck collision near Alba leaves 10 workers critical

The accident occurred when the workers employed by Sayed Kadhem Al Durazi Construction company were being transported by the six-wheeler to the BANOCO worksite. The driver tried to overtake a bus on the two-way road and rammed into a trailer coming towards him.
Two workers, an Indian and a Bangladeshi, died on the spot while another Indian succumbed to injuries at the ICU at the BDF Hospital, where the injured were taken.
The dead were identified as Mehboob Sadiq, 26, Shankar Katomari, 35 and Sukumar, 38. Ten workers who were seriously injured are under observation, while 11 others were discharged later during the day.

By REBECCA TORR
Published: 9th October 2006

A BAHRAINI youth group is eagerly waiting to find out if its proposal to His Majesty King Hamad to further reduce the voting age from 20 to 19 has been accepted.

The Bahraini Youth Forum Society (BYFS) put forward the recommendation at an audience with the King at Al Safriya Palace, in which they asked for the decree to be made before the elections next month.

Initially the group wanted to reduce the voting age to 18 in line with international standards, but at a mock national assembly last month the majority of delegates agreed 19 would be more acceptable, BYFS vice-president Enas Al Fardan told the GDN.

By tariq khonji
Published: 9th October 2006

POLITICAL and human rights activists have called for the lifting of a gag order, which bans Bahrain's newspapers from publishing news, comments or information related to the Dr Salah Al Bandar affair.

They said the order, issued by the High Criminal Court last Wednesday, was stifling public debate and described it as worthless because people have already found other ways of spreading information about the case.

A petition is already being drawn up against the gagging, which has been described as a "dangerous precedent" that "stifles freedom of speech".

BY BEGENA GEORGE
Published: 8th October 2006

MANAMA: A worker, who was kept in chains and locked up by his sponsor in a room at A'Ali for nearly 24 hours, was rescued last night by Indian embassy officials following a tip-off.

The sponsor was planning to deport him today.

Indian Dharmarasan Sengottai, 24, from Tamil Nadu state came to Bahrain two years ago after paying BD1,250 for a tailor's visa.

His CPR shows his sponsor as Fadhel Abbas Ebrahim Alaaraj Tailoring Establishment.

Shop owner Fadhel Abbas told the GDN that Mr Sengottai ran away in 2004, a couple of months after arriving in Bahrain. And as his visa had expired on September 21 this year Mr Abbas wanted to send him back to India.