HAQ: Movement of Liberties and Democracy- Bahrain

حق: حركة الحريات والدموقراطية- البحرين

الـحـقـوق للـجـمـيـع .. Rights for All

www.haaq.org, Email: HAAQ.Bahrain@gmail.com, HRB.BAHRAIN@gmail.com

مـكـتـب حـقـوق الإنـسـان Human Rights Bureau

Bahrain: In the first case hearing, State-militia car detainees spell out suffering of torture

Bahrain Centre for Human Rights - March 2008.
The Kingdom of Bahrain is the first Arab country to have all its detainees released from Guantanamo. They were released as the result of a diplomatic and security agreement between the Bahraini and American authorities, but in reality this would have not taken place without the activity and continued pressure exerted by institutions of civil society, human rights organizations, the US law firm representing Bahraini detainees, a popular movement, and the parliament.

Picking up the pieces

Sandeep Singh Grewal

Bahrain Tribune

Every time I opened my eyes, I used to curse myself that I was still alive. Every suicide attempt was a disaster and my only desire was to die… Even when freedom was in the air, I chose death. Yet, as fate would have it, I survived again…

Life as much as it is beautiful can be very ugly too. It is a cruel world out there on the dark side of life.

Six years in Guantanamo Bay can turn life upside down leaving a deep scar at the root of one’s life and beliefs. The past is a blur and the present a painful reminder of the past.

Published: 10th October 2007

BAHRAIN's former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Juma Al Dossary hosted a reception at his family home in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, last night to celebrate his release.

Members of the Al Adala (Justice) National Movement, who campaigned for his freedom, attended the event to congratulate him and his family on his release from the Cuba-based camp in July.

The reception by the detainee, who has dual Bahraini-Saudi nationality, took place at a house in the Al Mazro'aya neighbourhood.

Mr Al Dossary was among a group of 16 Saudis freed from Guantanamo in July and was held in the Al Hair prison, before being moved to the rehabilitation centre several weeks later to prepare him for life in the community.

By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 4th October 2007

FREED Bahraini Guantanamo Bay detainee Juma Al Dossary has been temporarily released from a rehabilitation centre in Saudi Arabia, it emerged last night.

Human rights activist Nabeel Rajab confirmed the news after receiving a telephone call from the 32-year-old, who has dual Bahraini-Saudi nationality.

Mr A Dossary is now staying for 20 days at his family home in Dammam, after being allowed to leave the Riyadh centre yesterday.

He was among a group of 16 Saudis freed from Guantanamo in July and was held in the Al Hair prison, before being moved to the rehabilitation centre several weeks later, to prepare him for life in the community.

Bahrain: 19 September 2007

Ex-Gitmo detainee struggles for a business licence
Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter

Isa Al Murbati is out of the dreaded Guantanamo Bay.
But he is a victim nonetheless – of red-tape now.
“I want to open a car washing shop in Isa Town or Riffa. I have no passport, no CPR which are required to obtain permission to start a business,” Al Murbati told the Tribune.
The former Bay detainee said his passport was confiscated when he was arrested in Pakistan. “ I want a new passport but there is no one guiding me how to go about it.
“I have visited government offices several times but they have not given a positive response. This has delayed my business venture.

Bahraini 'efforts should be emulated'
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/08/22/10148188.html

08/23/2007 01:06 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: The US lawyer who defended the six Bahrainis formerly detained at Guantanamo has called upon governments that have citizens at the prison to emulate the efforts of Bahrain to secure their release.

"We wish to recognise the efforts of the Bahraini government in negotiating with the US for the return of our clients and note that these efforts could be emulated by other governments that have citizens at Guantanamo," Joshua Colangelo-Bryan yesterday said in a statement sent to the press by rights activist Nabeel Rajab.

By Geoffrey bew
Published: 23rd August 2007

FIVE Bahrainis released from Guantanamo Bay may each soon receive a BD50,000 grant from the government. MP Mohammed Khalid, who has been at the forefront of efforts to free the captives, plans to raise the issue in the next session of parliament, which begins in October.

It is crucial the men receive compensation for the suffering and torture they were forced to endure in the US prison camp and so they are able to financially support their families, he told the GDN.

"The government must give them something," said Mr Khalid.

Bahrain's last Guantanamo Bay detainee, Isa Al Murbati, 41, returned home on August 8 for an emotional reunion with his wife and five children, who he had not seen for more than five years.

'Bahrain must work to reintegrate freed inmate'
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10146102.html

08/13/2007 06:42 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: A rights activist on Sunday pledged to continue the campaign to have the Guantanamo Bay prison shut down.

"For the sake of human rights and dignity, the infamous prison has to be shut down and all prisoners must be allowed to go home," Nabeel Rajab, Vice-President of the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, told Gulf News.

"The world needs to see, without further delays, a happy ending to a long chapter of human rights violations against these men and their families, and we will continue to assume our role towards the goal, even though there are no more Bahrainis held there."