Habib Kadhim Almulla, 60 years old, died on morning of Feb 29, 2012 due to teargas suffocation. Last friday, teargas was shot inside his home in Sehla, it broke the window and made him suffocates, and he was moved to to Salmanya hospital. His brother told BCHR that this was not the 1st time that Habib suffocates from the fired gases, but it was the 3rd time.

On Monday, February 27, 2012, the 19th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) was inaugurated at the council’s headquarters in Geneva; the session is slated to close on March 23, 2012.

This session comes as some nations, such as Tunisia and Libya, have taken their first steps toward democratization, while others in the region—notably Syria and Bahrain—have stumbled as a result of the might of authoritarian regimes or, like Egypt and Yemen, because of the failures of those overseeing the transition to democracy.

Politically Motivated Prosecutions Flagrantly Disregard Rights

FEBRUARY 28, 2012

(Beirut) – Bahrain has routinely convicted hundreds of opposition activists and others of politically motivated charges in unfair trials, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The government should void the convictions in trials before Bahrain’s military and civilian courts that fell far short of international fair trial standards, Human Rights Watch said.

28 Feb 2012

A Kuwaiti teenager arrested in Bahrain on 12 February 2012 is currently held in a police station in Bahrain and faces criminal charges. He said police beat him when he was arrested. He may be at risk of further torture or other ill-treatment.

Ali Feifel Sahad al-Ali, an 18-year-old Kuwaiti national, was arrested on 12 February outside a family friend’s house in the Shi’a village of Beni Jamra, just outside the capital, Manama. He and his family had arrived in Bahrain three days earlier to visit friends, and had intended to leave on the day he was arrested.

February 27, 2012

Washington, DC – Today, the 20 Bahrain medics who were detained, tortured and sentenced to long terms in prison after an unfair military court trial again had their appeal hearing postponed, this time until April 30. Human Rights First notes that this latest delay indicates that the Bahraini government has no intent to give the medics a fair appeal any time soon and is further proof of the ongoing human rights abuses in the kingdom.

“It’s very clear they just want to drag this on to infinity,” Dr. Fatima Haji told Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley after today’s hearing.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS
» Press freedom conditions hit their worst point since Bahrain gained its independence in 1971.
» Two journalists die in state custody; widespread arrests, assaults, detentions are reported.

The government waged a brutal multifaceted crackdown against independent news media covering the country’s months-long protest movement. Security forces subjected journalists to assaults, expulsions, detentions, politicized trials, prison terms, and lethal mistreatment in custody. Both international and local reporters were targeted: A journalist for the U.S. broadcaster ABC was beaten and his camera was confiscated in February; a photographer for the independent domestic daily Al-Wasat was beaten while covering a March protest. Authorities used live ammunition against protesters and reporters: The New York Times reported that two of its journalists came under helicopter fire in February.

The court issued its first verdict against a teacher who is charged for refusing to work (joining the strike) last year. The sentence is 3 months in prison but the court decided to suspend execution. The BICI report stated that the strike was legal. A sit-in protest took place in Al Wefaq Head Quarter, in soilidarity with activitist on hunger strike Abdulhadi Al Khawaja. A 2-days sit-in protest by the dismissed workers in front of the Ministry of labor was not authorized by Isa town Police Station.

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26 Feb 2012

The committee set by the Supreme Judicial Council revealed that 502 persons were convicted by the Military court up until Oct 2011 in 165 different cases, and another 437 cases which were referred from the Military Prosecution to the Public Prosecution in Oct 2011 are still open. Out of nearly a thousand cases, the committee reviewed only 30 cases and issued recommendation in only 11 cases:

Dropping the charges and excluding them from the daily precedents record for 5 defendants, taking into consideration only the penalty executed in relation to the four defendants, the exclusion of the charge in relation to one defendant, and dropping the charge for of the precedents record for one defendant.

Beirut, 25 February 2012 -- The Gulf Centre for Human Rights appeals to the King of Bahrain and the Bahraini government to intervene rapidly to release the founder of our centre, human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja immediately and without any restriction or condition and to grant him the full freedom to travel to the country of his choice in order to receive the medical treatment that he is in desperate need for at the present time.

As Received from International Affairs Department, Al Wefaq Society

Feb 25:

The day started with the news of the death to a 68 year old woman, Abdah Hussain Isa the cause of death was related to inhaling excessive amounts of tear gas which was filling the village (Sehla) which she lived in. Security forces continue using tear gas irresponsibly, as many cases are reported daily by victims of attempted injury or damage to properties by tear gas shots.

As Received from
International Affairs Department
Al Wefaq Society

Feb 20:

Matar was found innocent by the criminal court. After spending around 100 days in jail, 45 days in solitary confinement and facing various types of ill-treatment in custody, Matar was finally found innocent.

Despite that it is a step in the right direction, we are concerned that the selectivity in dealing with the political cases related to freedom of expression reflects a whitewash and a way to improve the image of the government rather than a real intention or seriousness in implementing all the recommendations of BICI.

19 Feb 2012

(Alwefaq) - Supreme Court of Appeal has postponed consideration of the issue head of teachers society, Mahdi AbuDeeb and the teachers to 2/ April, in order to set up a medical committee for the detection of the accused. Three cases of severe beating by security men were reported by protestors who were arrested among those who attempted entering Lulu square. Some of those were released on bail (BD 200) today, and the others are to be presented to the public prosecution.

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18 Feb 2012

An elderly man, Mansoor Salman, 85 years old from Sitra passed away today morning due to deterioration of his health as a result of inhalation of toxic gases shot by security forces on 2 Feb 2012. He was transferred to SMC after suffocating with toxic gases and he stayed there until he died yesterday. Mansoor's death due to toxic gases is the last of a series of similar incidents where people dies because of heavy shooting of tear (toxic) gas in residential areas.

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REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

(AFP) – 18 Feb 2012
DUBAI — Bahrain announced the deportation of four foreign activists for "taking part in illegal demonstrations," bringing to 12 the number expelled over the past week.

The four were deported for "lying on immigration forms" as their "visas were issued for the purposes of tourism but all were participating in illegal demonstrations," the official BNA news agency reported late on Friday.

February 17, 2012

Washington, DC – On Sunday, Feb. 19, Mahdi Abu Deeb and Jaleela Al Salman – President and Vice President of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association – will appeal their military court convictions for peacefully voicing their opposition to Bahrain’s ruling regime. Human Rights First is urging the United State to publicly call for their convictions to be overturned and the charges against them dropped.

In 2011, Al Salman and Abu Deeb were detained, tortured and ultimately convicted of unfounded charges and sentenced to prison by the discredited Bahrain military court.

17 February 2012
URGENT ACTION

Scores of activists were arrested on 14 February 2012 at a protest to mark the first anniversary of the beginning of the unrest in Bahrain. Dozens remain in detention and are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Several were badly beaten during their arrest.

Amin Jaffar Swar (22), Mutaher Saeed Taher Ahmed (18) and Mohammed Makky (22) were arrested on 14 February 2012 from their car, in the Seif district in Manama, Bahrain's capital. They were driving towards the GCC roundabout (also known as Pearl Roundabout), the heart of the demonstration. According to witnesses, the three men were beaten with batons by the police during their arrest

An American and a British activists were arrested along with other protestors during a women's march "STOP ABUSING OUR CHILDREN" that took place in the afternoon. The march was dispersed forcefully using tear gas and stun grenades. The journalists were deported and the detained women were released later the night. Security forces arrested a number of young men and women who attempted to march towards lulu, including the executive secretary on Al Wefaq, Abdulla Al Sebea. The total number of the arrested until 11:30 pm is 23, 12 of them are women.

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17 Feb 2012

Based upon principles of democracy and human rights, and for the sake of protecting the dignity of the individual, to respect all their rights whilst guarding and defending them. In order to constructively participate in upholding civil rights and spreading democracy. To monitor, document, and investigate cases of torture. To rehabilitate victims of torture, violence and human rights violations and provide them with legal counseling, medical and psychiatric treatment, social care and financial guidance. To advocate community values, and raise awareness of human rights violations, their cause and how to deal with them. To suggest various methods of reaching the truth, achieving justice and acquiring treatment.

17 Feb 2012

On 15 February Bahraini human rights defender Naji Fateel was subjected to an hour long interrogation by the Bahraini prosecution authorities following his arrested the previous day.

Mr Naji Fateel is board member of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and attended the Front Line Defenders 2010 Dublin Platform.

Khalid Ibrahim
Deputy Director, Gulf Centre for Human Rights

17 Feb 2012

Since the peaceful protests began on 14 February of last year and the Bahraini government continues targeting journalists with assault, detention, torture and murder sometimes, to restrict largely their freedom to access information and to obstruct coverage of important events that include the protests that taking place daily in the villages of Bahrain.

All what we have mentioned above is part of a systematic campaign by the authorities to restrict freedom of press and eliminate it completely. It should be noted that there is no free press in Bahrain since all newspapers are guided or owned in one form or another by the state, except Al-Wasat which is the only independent newspaper and this independence brought to its employees many problems.

16 Feb 2012

Families of martyrs in Bahrain have been suffering a punitive campaign of punishment since the start of the movement, as they have been targeted with arrests, intimidation, house raids and deliberate attacks by toxic gases. While none of the officials responsible for the protesters' deaths has been convicted at a court, and while the families should have been compensated both morally and materially for their losses, instead they are being attacked deliberately in an attempt of the Bahraini regime to punish them for openly accusing the regime with the murder of their sons and demanding to hold the officials accountable for these deaths. The families are being treated in a discriminative manner to force them and others into silence on the crimes of the regime. Many of the relatives have either been arrested or are in hiding in fear of an arrest.

Left: Naji Fateel, Right: Hasan Al-Jaber

16 Feb 2012

On February 14, 2012, at 16:20 the security forces in Bahrain arrested two human rights defenders, Naji Fateel and Hasan Al-Jaber, as they were participating in a march towards the Pearl Roundabout in Manama city, exercising their right to peaceful assembly to this symbolic Roundabout, which was the centre of last year protests. Human rights defenders, Naji Fateel and HasanA lJaber, have been kept in police custody at Noaim Police Station since then.

Photo: Mazen Mahdi

15 Feb 2012

Mass arrests and suffocating residential areas with tear gas on the morning of 14 February. Tens of protestors tried to reach Lulu early morning and got attacked by tear gas, stun grenades, shotguns. Many got arrested as they walked towards Lulu. Armored vehicles were reported to be seen in Budaiya highway and inside villages. Bahraini authorities arrests prominent activists Nabeel Rajab and Naji Fateel during their attempt to march towards Lulu roundabout.

Bahraini security forces continue to punish the villages collectively by excessive use of tear gas. Some of those villages didn't witness any marches or demonstrations. Many reports of tear gas being thrown into the houses causing suffocation specially to children and elderly.
Sitra, specifically was targeted for the second night in a row, young men were beaten in the street, taken away for unknown destinations, some were arrested. Some injuries were also reported.

Continue reading here

February 14, 2012

Washington, DC – Today marks one year since Bahraini protestors took to the streets to demand free and fair elections. The Feb. 14, 2011 protests were met with a brutal crackdown by the Bahraini regime that has since killed, detained, and tortured peaceful protestors. Human Rights First has learned that Bahraini protestors participating in today’s anniversary events have faced tear gas and many have been arrested. In addition, hospitals and clinics are being closely watched by the security forces and injured protestors who seek medical treatment face arrest and worse.

14 Feb 2012
While thousands of Bahraini people are expected to meet on 14 February 2012 to mark the first anniversary of the start of pro-democracy protests, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is publishing a position paper on the situation of human rights since the release of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report on 23 November 2011 [1]. On the basis of the information received from reliable sources [2], FIDH points out that key recommendations in the BICI report have not been effectively implemented, and human rights violations recorded in the said report continue unabated.

14 Feb 2012

Freedom House is appalled by the Bahraini government’s relentless repression of activists before and on the one-year anniversary of the “Pearl Roundabout.” Three human rights activists were detained on February 14 – Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Naji Fateel and Hassan Jaber. On February 12, human rights activist Zainab Alkhawaja, who has documented the protest movement on Twitter using screen name “Angry Arabiya,” was arrested.

13 Feb 2012 - Washington

One year after the start of Bahrain’s February 14 “Pearl Roundabout” protests, Freedom House remembers those who have been injured and killed in the subsequent crackdown, urges the Bahraini government to allow peaceful protests to take place without interference, and continues to call for an end to abuses and the implementation of comprehensive reforms.

Bahraini citizens have been broadly engaged in protests since February 2011, to call for a more representative government and to denounce ethnic-based inequities

15 February 2012 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern today about reports of fresh clashes in Bahrain between security forces and demonstrators, a year after widespread civil protests first emerged in the Middle East country.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson Mr. Ban called on all sides to show maximum restraint and said he expected Bahrain’s authorities “to act in accordance with their international human rights obligations.

Beirut, 14 February, 2012 --- A Bahraini Blogger and activist, Zainab Al-Khawaja (@angryarabiya) -28 years old- was arrested on February 12, 2012, while marching peacefully towards the Pearl Roundabout in Manama. It is the second time in which she was arrested by the security forces in Bahrain during the last two months. Reports confirmed that Zainab Al-Khawaja has been questioned by the Public Prosecution Office and charged with "illegal gathering of more than five people". She will be kept in police custody for7 days pending investigation.

Cairo, 14 February 2012

The Bahraini revolution which kicked off on 14 February 2011 has completed its first year. However, the protests have not stopped, and neither has repression. Peaceful protesters are still facing excessive violence by security services. Meanwhile, the authorities have not fulfilled its repeated promises of reform, amid shameful Arab and international silence.

On the first anniversary of the revolution, ANHRI calls on the international community and the Arab League to take swift actions pressuring the Bahraini authorities to cease the violence used against peaceful protests

13 FEBRUARY 2012

The authorities in Bahrain are still dragging their heels over allowing foreign journalists into the country in the run-up to the first anniversary of the uprising in the Gulf kingdom on 14 February, when demonstrations are expected.

In a statement published on 8 February, the head of the Information Affairs Authority cited the safety of journalists and the “abnormally high volume of requests” between 11 and 18 February as reasons for the failure to grant visas.

13 February 2012

The Bahraini government remains far from delivering the human rights changes that were recommended by an independent international commission, Amnesty International said today.

Amnesty International warned that the government risked falling short of meeting its self-imposed deadline of the end of February to implement the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI)’s recommendations.