NGO Submission by NCMVT Related to Bahrain for the Session scheduled April 2008 - 20 November 2007
To: UPRsubmissions@ohchr.org

A Focus on Torture and Impunity in Bahrain
A Submission by: The National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture

Content:

• Shadow report to the UN Committee Against Torture
• Government reaction to CAT’s Recommendations
• NGO’s reactions and related consequences
• Independence of the judiciary
• Arrest and Detention
• Prison and Detention Center Conditions
• Impunity
• The work of NGO’s

KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
Head of State King Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Head of government Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Death penalty retentionist
Population 0.8 million
Life expectancy 75.2 years
Under-5 mortality (m/f) 15/15 per 1,000
Adult literacy 86.5 per cent

Isolated incidents of repression of human rights defenders, journalists and internet sites were reported. Courts passed two death sentences, but no one was executed.

Background
In February demonstrations were held after three people were arrested and protesters clashed with security forces. The three arrested – ‘Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, President of the dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights;

Dhaka plea to lift visa ban
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Bangladeshi government yesterday called on Bahrain to withdraw the decision not to issue employment visas to Bangladeshis.
A source told the Tribune that Bangladeshi Foreign Advisor, Iftekher Chowdhury, held talks with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nizar bin Sadiq Al Baharna.
“He requested Dr. Al Baharna to facilitate the withdrawal of the employment visa ban,” the source said. “Chowdhury also expressed regret that one of his countrymen was responsible for killing Bahraini Mohammed Jassim Dosary.”

Teachers suspected to have ties with Hizb

Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Saudi authorities suspect that the eight Bahraini teachers detained in a Riyadh prison have links with Hizbullah.
“My nephew informed me that the authorities keep questioning them on links with Hizbullah and other outlawed groups, which is not true,” a family member told the Tribune.
He claimed that the Saudi authorities were forcing the men to confess they were associated with Iran and were being mentally tortured.

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Teachers' Iran links probed
By RASHA AL QAHTANI
Published: 29th May 2008

SAUDI authorities are reportedly trying to draw links between eight Bahraini teachers, arrested three months ago, with Iran and Hizbollah.

However, the men's relatives have denied any connection between them and any foreign groups.

They have also denied the men have been involved in political unrest in Bahrain.

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Riots trial spurs courts lockdown
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 29th May 2008

BAHRAIN's courts were again under lockdown yesterday with police barricades blocking the Justice Ministry entrance for the trial of 15 men accused of rioting, stealing police weapons and hurling Molotov cocktails.

However, there were emotional scenes inside a packed High Criminal Court as the men were allowed to embrace their wives and mothers during a break.

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Ban sparks alarm among foreigners
By BASMA MOHAMMED
Published: 28th May 2008

BAHRAIN's decision to no longer issue work permits to Bangladeshis has prompted a mixed response from the Bahraini and expat communities.

The GDN yesterday spoke to people in the Manama suq and an area of Salmaniya known as the "Bangladesh colony", where many illegal workers are known to live.

Vol XXXI NO. 69 Wednesday 28th May 2008
Clampdown 'may fuel hatred'
THE decision to ban Bangladeshis from Bahrain will fuel discrimination against the country's expatriate communities, human rights activists warned yesterday.

Some plan to submit a petition to government officials to intervene and reverse the decision, while others say they will take up the issue at an international level.
The now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights vice-president Nabeel Rajab said the government's decision will create hatred between locals and expatriates.
"This collective punishment is a decision that was taken without virtually any research on its impact," said Mr Rajab.

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90,000 facing uncertain future
Published: 28th May 2008

Bahrain: Detention and torture of seven human rights defenders
By ting.ting
Created 2008/05/27 - 15:41
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the detention and torture of Shaker Mohammed Abdul-Hussein Abdul-Aal, Sadeq Jawad Ahmed Al-Fardan and Hasan Kathom Ebrahim Ahmed of the Unemployment Committee; Ali Mohamed Habib Ashoor and Habib Mohamed Habib Ashoor of the Committee for Detainees; Fadhel Abbas Mohamed Ashoor of the Committee Against High Prices; and Sayed Omran Hameed Adnan of the Committee Against One Percent. These human rights defenders are active defenders of labour rights in Bahrain.

The continued detention of eight Bahrainis in Saudi Arabia without charges
Fear to be victims of political conflicts and sectarian tension
Bahrain government is urged to do more to guarantee the rights and safety of its citizens

Bahrain Centre for Human Rights - May 26, 2008
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights is highly concerned about eight Bahraini teachers who are still in detention for more than two months in solitary confinement in (Hayr Prison - Riyadh) which seems ad hoc to security issues, without any charges or the possibility to provide legal advice.

MPs' proposal xenophobic say rights groups
Published: 26th May 2008
HUMAN rights and social activists have slammed a call by a group of MPs to ban Bangladeshis from living in Bahrain due to their alleged criminal nature.
The activists said that if Bahrain implemented the move, it would be in breach of United Nations laws on human rights.
They described the proposal as xenophobic and contrary to human rights laws, particularly after Bahrain won a seat on the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday.

Press Releases

For media inquiries, please telephone +41-22-734-1472 or click here.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bahrain: “Not Qualified” for UN Rights Council Election

Geneva, May 21, 2008 — Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Gabon and Zambia fail to meet the minimum standards required for today’s election of 15 new members to the UN Human Rights Council, according to a report by UN Watch and Freedom House, two independent human rights organizations that monitor country compliance with democracy and individual liberties. Click here for report.

Among them the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights:
84 Asian organizations succeed to convince the UN General Assembly members to reject Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Council bid. Following is the letter:
Your Excellency,
We, the undersigned 84 non-governmental organisations working on human rights in Asia, write to urge that your government not vote for Sri Lanka for membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council in the election taking place in the General Assembly on May 21, 2008, because of the country’s evident failure to meet the Council’s membership standards.

HAQ: Movement of Liberties and Democracy- Bahrain

حق: حركة الحريات والدموقراطية- البحرين

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

مـكـتـب حـقـوق الإنـسـان Human Rights Bureau

Bahrain: Resurrection of State Security Courts .. Prosecutions without Lawyers

More Dawn Raids More Arrests

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Maid beaten up then strangled
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 23rd May 2008

A MAN smashed his housemaid's head into a metal headboard and then strangled her because she refused to take off her clothes, a court heard. The 21-year-old Bahraini is now on trial for murder after allegedly killing the Ethiopian woman, aged 28, in his bedroom on February 31.

He locked her inside his room while she was cleaning it and asked her to strip, the High Criminal Court heard.

UN: Sri Lanka’s Defeat a Victory for Human Rights Council
UN Vote Upholds Council Membership Standards on Rights

(New York, May 21, 2008) – UN member states enforced the standards they established for the new Human Rights Council by not re-electing Sri Lanka to the body today. Domestic and international human rights advocates who had opposed Sri Lanka’s re-election to the council said the vote was a victory for human rights standards and for victims of abuse in Sri Lanka.

Statement by National and Int. NGO’s
On the Candidacy of Bahrain to Human Rights Council
May 18, 2008
We, the undersigned, national and international NGO’s, urge the Bahrain government to commit, if elected, to achieve the following, during its membership period:
On the international level:

Key UN chance
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 21 May 2008

A TOTAL of 192 United Nations (UN) members will vote today on the memberships of six countries from Asia, including Bahrain, to the Human Rights Council.

To win a seat on the Geneva-based council, Bahrain must collect a minimum of 97 votes from other countries voting in a secret ballot.

It is contesting alongside Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and East Timor, who are all competing for just four seats in Asia.

Statement by National and Int. NGO’s
On the Candidacy of Bahrain to Human Rights Council
May 18, 2008
We, the undersigned, national and international NGO’s, urge the Bahrain government to commit, if elected, to achieve the following, during its membership period:
On the international level:

Bahrain Rights Group Urges Lifting Restrictions On Banned NGO

May 19, 2008 10:28 p.m. EST

Sandeep Singh Grewal - AHN Middle East Correspondent
Manama, Bahrain (AHN) - A local human rights group has urged authorities here to lift restrictions on a non-government organization reportedly dissolved after being accused of inciting hatred against the regime.

Back council seat rights groups urged
By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 19th May 2008

HUMAN rights organisations were yesterday urged to support Bahrain's election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for their own benefit.

Permanent Representative of Bahrain to UN Industrial Development Organisation in Geneva Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla said Bahrain's election to the council would help satisfy societies' demands.

Families protest
Published: 19th May 2008

RELATIVES of 30 suspects arrested in connection with the murder of a policeman and an arson attack on a farm in Karzakan once again protested outside the Public Prosecution yesterday.

They said they would continue their protest until their next appearance in the High Criminal Court on June 1.

Pakistani policeman Majid Asghar Ali Kareem Baksh, 24, was lynched by a mob that attacked his patrol vehicle with Molotov cocktails last month.

Bahrain bans political activities in mosques
By Suad Hamada (Our correspondent)

19 May 2008

MANAMA — Bahrain is moving ahead to curb irregularities at mosques especially against those politicising religious dialogue.

Blow to UN bid
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 18thMay 2008

A GROUP of societies yesterday pledged not to support Bahrain's candidacy for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council unless it improves civil liberties.

Eleven political and human rights organisations are demanding that the government makes a firm commitment to ratify several international conventions and recommendations.

May 12, 2008 7:05 p.m. EST

Sandeep Singh Grewal - AHN Middle East Correspondent
Manama, Bahrain (AHN) - Hussain Al Qanber is a stranger in his own country, with no passport or documents. He is married to a Bahraini woman, but despite being a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) national he is still waiting to become a Bahraini citizen.

"My wife is a Bahraini, but I am not. I hold a Saudi passport which does not guarantee housing or education to my family here. My father has stayed in Bahrain for 50 years," Hussain told AHN.

(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 3 May 2008 BCHR press release:

On World Press Freedom Day: A Report by a Regional Group Calls for Reforming the Media in Bahrain; The BCHR Calls for Discussing Report Findings and Implementing Its Recommendations

NGOs say five nations unfit to serve on UN rights body

AFP - Tuesday, May 6 11:53 pm

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Gabon, Bahrain, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zambia do not deserve a seat on the Human Rights Council, the United Nations' top rights body, two non-governmental organizations said Tuesday.

In a joint report, UN Watch and Freedom House, which champion human rights worldwide, lamented that Gabon and Zambia were guaranteed seats on the council because of a lack of competition from more democratic countries in their African group.

Bahrain hopeful of rights council seat
By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 8th May 2008

BAHRAIN stands a good chance of being elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council, a top official said yesterday. "We have had a very good Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recently and in light of that, we have a bright chance," said Permanent Representative of Bahrain to UN Industrial Development Organisation, Geneva, Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla.

He said Bahrain's UN team was campaigning for a seat on the council in both Geneva and New York

Jailed teachers 'may go on hunger strike'
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 7th May 2008

FAMILIES of Bahraini teachers held in a Saudi jail for more than two months have claimed the men could resort to a hunger strike if they are not released soon.

Four of the eight teachers reportedly told their families they would take the drastic action when they visited them in the Riyadh prison last week.

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FREE TO SPEAK OUT
Published: 5th May 2008

MANAMA: Freedom of expression in Bahrain yesterday received a major boost as the amended law on Press and publications was approved.Chaired by Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Cabinet gave the green light to this important step as Bahrain joined hands with the international community to celebrate World Press Freedom Day.

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US hails Bahrain's anti-terror battle
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 5th May 2008

BAHRAIN is actively monitoring terrorist suspects, but its ability to detain and prosecute them is sometimes hampered by the country's legal constraints, according to a US Department of State report.

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.

Pregnant wife's terrifying ordeal
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 3rd May 2008

THE pregnant wife of one of eight Bahraini teachers arrested in Saudi Arabia two months ago is worried that her husband could miss the birth of their first child. Kawthar Yousif, the 20-year-old wife of Majeed Al Ghasra, is now five months pregnant.

She says she is terrified that her husband could still be behind bars when she goes into labour.

"I don't think I can do this without him," she told the GDN.

"If things keep going the way they are then I'm afraid he will miss the birth of our child."