Front Line is deeply concerned following reports received concerning the ongoing media harassment of human rights defenders Nabeel Ahmed Rajab, Abduljalil Alsingace and Maryam Alkhawaja, since 16 October 2008. Nabeel Ahmed Rajab is the founder and acting chairperson of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Abduljalil Alsingace is the head of Human Rights Unit of the Haq Movement of Liberties and Democracy in Bahrain, and Maryam Alkhawaja is a youth activist and former leader of the student organization.

US meetings to discuss religious freedom in Bahrain

Author: BI-ME staff

Source: BI-ME

Published: 15-10-2008

BAHRAIN. The US this week weighed in on the issue of political reform in Bahrain and Shiite-Sunni tensions.

Representatives Frank Wolf, James McGovern and Trent Franks yesterday issued invitations to a briefing being held in Washington DC on behalf of a group called 'Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain'.

Congress to Discuss Religious Freedom in Bahrain Wednesday
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following letter by Reps. Frank R. Wolf, James P. McGovern and Trent Franks is being redistributed today by Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain:

Dear Colleague,

By BEGENA P PRADEEP
Published: 20th October 2008

BAHRAIN's bureaucratic legal system is discouraging expatriates from filing cases against their sponsors, claims a human rights report.

The Situation of Women Migrant Domestic Workers, compiled by the Bahrain Centre of Human Rights (BCHR), points out that Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) has been unsuccessful at resolving cases against sponsors in the courts.

The report also documents major problems faced by women in Bahrain, the problem of the existing sponsorship system and the need for a comprehensive labour law.

Bahrain Rights Groups Call to Protect Expat Women Workers
Suad Hamada

21 October 2008 Print E-mail
MANAMA — Three human rights groups on Sunday called for urgent steps to protect expat women workers in Bahrain from alleged abuse.

In a report to be submitted to the 42nd session of the Committee of the Convention of the Elimination for Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to be held this month, the three groups pointed to the suffering of women workers and asked the panel to pressure the government to take action.

October 28, 2008
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), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.
Description of the situation:
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about a media campaign waged against Mr. Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), Dr. Abduljalil Al-Sengais, Head of the Human Rights Unit of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy in Bahrain, and Ms. Maryam Al-Khawaja, former leader of the student organisation .

Bahrain Rights Groups Call to Protect Expat Women Workers
Suad Hamada

21 October 2008
MANAMA — Three human rights groups on Sunday called for urgent steps to protect expat women workers in Bahrain from alleged abuse.

In a report to be submitted to the 42nd session of the Committee of the Convention of the Elimination for Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to be held this month, the three groups pointed to the suffering of women workers and asked the panel to pressure the government to take action.

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Red tape hurdle
By BEGENA P PRADEEP
Published: 20th October 2008

BAHRAIN's bureaucratic legal system is discouraging expatriates from filing cases against their sponsors, claims a human rights report.

The Situation of Women Migrant Domestic Workers, compiled by the Bahrain Centre of Human Rights (BCHR), points out that Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) has been unsuccessful at resolving cases against sponsors in the courts.

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Eid rioters appeal against jail terms
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 20th October 2008

BAHRAINIS accused of rioting and other offences were tortured with electric shocks, hung by the wrists, or beaten into confessing, four witnesses claimed in court yesterday.

They were testifying as 11 Bahraini men appealed against their convictions and subsequent jail sentences for rioting, torching a police car and stealing police weapons, claimed former detainees.

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70 jobless teachers protest
By BASMA MOHAMMED
Published: 22nd OCTOBER 2008

ABOUT 70 unemployed Bahraini teachers demonstrated outside parliament yesterday, demanding that MPs take their cause to His Majesty King Hamad and Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

The jobless male and female teachers complained that the Education Ministry was employing expatriates, while leaving Bahrainis out of work.

Religious Freedom for Shi’a in Bahrain:
"Systematic Suppression and Marginalization"
Bahrain has a population of 1,050,000, according to a January 2008 government statement. The citizen population is 99 percent Muslim; Jews, Christians, Hindus, and Baha'is constitute the remaining 1 percent. Muslims belong to the Shiite and Sunni branches of Islam, with Shiite’s constituting an estimated 70 percent of the Muslim population .

Activists demand new law to protect rights
Call to criminalise all forms of discrimination
Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter

Bahraini activists called for a national law criminalising all forms of discrimination and fair distribution of electoral districts at the Congress meet in Washington.
“The Bahrain government should enforce a law which imposes stiff penalties against discrimination,” said Abduljalil Al Singace from the Haqq Movement of Liberties and Democracy.

Impact of Political Reform on Religious Freedom in Bahrain

The session was chaired by Congressman Frank Wolf who is chair of the Congressional Human Rights Commission at the United States House of representative. Congressman Wolf is a champion of Human Rights causes and long time advocate for Human Rights around the world. Congressman Wolf opened the session with strong and powerful remarks about the political situation in the country. The Congressman refer that reforms in Bahrain were nothing but a campaign of deceptions and disappointment especially the new imposed constitution that put all the powers in the hand of the King.

Congress to Discuss Religious Freedom in Bahrain Wednesday

By: PR Newswire
Oct. 14, 2008 02:33 PM
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following letter by Reps. Frank R. Wolf, James P. McGovern and Trent Franks is being redistributed today by Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain:

Dear Colleague,

%D%A %D%A %D%A%D%A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------%D%A %D%APrivacy is protected %D

October 9, 2008

Dear Colleague,

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the Congressional Task Force on International Religious Freedom for a briefing on the "Impact of Political Reform on Religious Freedom in Bahrain." The briefing, chaired by Rep. Frank Wolf, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 15, in 2168 Rayburn. It is open to the public.

Defense Lawyers Reveal Official Document Proving Death Before Alleged Murder Incident
Individuals Accused of Burning a Police Car and Killing a Police Man are Exposed to Cruel and Inhuman Treatment

8 October 2008

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New twist in murder trial chaos
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 7th October 2008

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Terror suspect appears in court
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 9th October 2008

A BAHRAINI appeared in court yesterday accused of joining Al Qaeda, training for combat and helping finance the terror organisation.

The 27-year-old Traffic Directorate employee appeared before the High Criminal Court for the first time yesterday, where he denied all the charges.

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'Blood for blood' call over Baksh murder
By ANIQA HAIDER
Published: 9th October 2008

RELATIVES of a policeman allegedly murdered by an angry mob are demanding "blood for blood". The family of Majid Asghar Ali Kareem Baksh is seeking the death penalty for anyone found guilty of killing him, his cousin and fellow police officer told the GDN yesterday.

He said the family had experienced traumatic times following the death of Mr Baksh, who was just 24 years old.

(BCHR/IFEX) - BCHR is alarmed to learn that Abbas Al-Omran, a unionist and labour rights defender, was dismissed by his employer, the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), which is engaged in the oil industry and under the control of the local oil and gas authorities. The BCHR believes that the dismissal is linked to Al-Omran's communications with the local media, blowing the whistle on corruption in the company.

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Tight security for suspected rioters\' case
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 6th October 2008

BAHRAIN\'s courts were once again under lockdown yesterday as 11 men convicted of rioting, torching a police car and stealing police weapons launched an appeal.

Riot police surrounded the Justice Ministry complex in Diplomatic Area, and the men\'s relatives had to be escorted out of the courtroom at the end of the hearing.

%D%A %D%A %D%A%D%A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------%D%A %D%ATight security for suspected rioters\\ case %D