PRESS RELEASE

1. An Asian Worker Loses his Life in the Worst Deterioration of Ethnic Tension Yet
2. A growing sense of hatred towards all foreigners, due to the Bahraini authorities employment of foreign mercenaries to suppress protests and attack protestors.
3. The Bahraini authorities instigate 'clashes' with protestors, and later use 'clashes' as an excuse to increase repression, justify further repression, and as part of a smear campaign against opposition activists

Bahrain: Special Forces Shoot and Wound Protestors with Shotgun Bullets
26 March 2009

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights express their deep concern regarding the use of shotguns by the Special Forces, that is a subordinate of the National Security Service, against the demonstrators in the escalating protests in Bahrain.

'Terror plot' 35 win new probe
By NOOR TOORANI
A BAHRAINI court will re-investigate the case of 35 men standing trial in connection with an alleged plot to carry out terrorist attacks during Bahrain's National Day celebrations, it was revealed yesterday.

Twenty-two men, including 14 Bahrainis arrested when the suspected plot was first discovered last December, appeared before the High Criminal Court yesterday.

The court also ordered prison authorities to end the men's solitary confinement and a medical committee to examine their torture allegations.

'Big Brother' move rapped
By GEOFFREY BEW
NEW regulation that would force telecommunication companies to keep records of everyone's phone calls, e-mails and the websites they visit in Bahrain, has been attacked by human rights activists and MPs.

It has been drafted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which wants the information to be stored for up to three years.

Charges Against 35 Political Opponents Also Marred by Lack of Evidence, Overbroad Laws, Trials in Absentia
March 23, 2009
(New York) - Bahrain's use of televised, coerced testimony and other serious flaws in the criminal trial of an opposition leader and others shows contempt for the right to a fair trial, Human Rights Watch said today.

Published on Menassat (http://www.menassat.com)

By ALEXANDRA SANDELS
Created 23/03/2009 - 16:40

BEIRUT, MARCH 23, 2009 (MENASSAT) – In January, local newspapers in Bahrain made public a ministerial order by Bahrain’s new Minister of Media and Culture, Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, that called on telecommunications companies and Internet service providers to tighten their measures in preventing access to websites previously banned by the ministry.

(BCHR/IFEX) - The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) is alarmed by the widening scope of a censorship and internet blocking campaign, led by Mai Al-Khalifa, Minister of Information and member of the ruling family, targeting dissident voices about Bahrain. This campaign has extended to social networking sites such as Facebook, blocking any discussions the authorities consider subversive.

In the Bahraini government's ongoing crackdown on free expression, blogs and social networking websites have been censored, union leaders have been slapped with defamation suits and human rights activists are facing up to 10 years or even life in prison, report the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Human Rights Watch and ARTICLE 19.

Nondiscrimination and Access to Justice: 2.2
Autonomy, Security, and Freedom of the Person: 2.6
Economic Rights and Equal Opportunity: 3.1
Political Rights and Civic Voice: 2.3
Social and Cultural Rights: 2.9
(On a scale of 1-5, with 1 representing the least rights and 5 representing the most rights available)

INTRODUCTION

(BCHR/IFEX) - The High Criminal Court, presided over by Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khalifa, a member of the ruling family, has said that it will come to a decision on 24 March 2009 regarding the case brought by officials from the Bahrain Ministry of Health against Rola Al-Saffar, the president of the Bahrain Nursing Association (BNA), and Ibrahim Al-Demistani, the BNA's secretary.

Published on Front Line (http://www.frontlinedefenders.org)
Egypt: 11 human rights organisations declare their support for human rights defenders in Bahrain
By jimloughran
Created 2009/03/12 - 13:09

Human Rights Watch
Bahrain: Drop Charges Against Rights Defender
Related Materials:
Bahrain: End Threats to Rights Activists
“Speaking out harshly against a country’s rulers should not be a crime. A government that claims to be promoting democracy and human rights, as Bahrain does, shouldn’t be putting people in jail for what they say and write.”

BCHR expresses its concern over the aggressive attitude of the local authorities towards journalists, writers and columnists, as many of them are prosecuted for exercising their professional right to report on issues of public interest.

On the occasion of International Women's Day 2009, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights would like to draw attention to the case of a female migrant worker struggling for justice and for her rights in the Bahraini court system.

Bahrain: Dangerous Statistics and Facts about the National Security Apparatus:
Its role in the escalation of violence

5th March 2009

6 Feb 2009

Posted on 2009/03/02

Human rights defenders in Bahrain are facing increasing repression. The authorities have sought to target independent human rights defenders and their organisations and restrict human rights activities.

Bahrain: Special Forces Attack a Shia Procession Composed of Children

Situation faces more deterioration as more Shia activists are detained and prosecuted

2008 Human Rights Report: Bahrain
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

February 25, 2009

Lord Avebury, the Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group

Cordially invites you to a Press Conference on

Bahrain: Paradoxes of the Kingdom of Silence

The ongoing popular uprising has exposed disturbing realities evidenced by neutral monitors at recent trials of opposition figures who had ventured to speak out. 12.00 PM, Wednesday 8th April 2009 . Room 134, Millbank House (Annexe to The House of Lords, London SW1P

For further information please contact: Lord Avebury: 020 7274 4617, Email: ericavebury@gmail.com