Ali Saad detainee Bahrain

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its grave concern over the wellbeing of Ali Abdulla Saad, a 28 year old man suffering from visual impairment, who was detained from Al Daih village after his house was raided at dawn and he was arrested without a warrant. His family did not hear about him until 5 days after his arrest.

On the 14^th of May 2013, a group of security forces in civilian clothing raided the home of Ali Abdulla Saad at 3.20am and he was arrested without a warrant. His family inquired with the authorities numerous times about his whereabouts but with no avail. Five days later, Ali called his family and only managed to say he was fine before the line was cut. Ali Saad was previously arrested in Sep 2010 and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on political charges after which he was released in Feb 2011 on a royal pardon due to start of the mass pro-democracy protests. During his previous detention Ali was reportedly subjected to severe torture with electric shocks and hanging and beating all over his body. (see: http://bahrainrights.org/en/node/3543 ) According to his family, Ali suffers from chest inflammation and mental illnesses. The family, as well as BCHR, are concerned are raised about his wellbeing and health. Charges and reasons behind Ali’s arrest are not yet known. Ali lost sight in both eyes after a car explosion in 2009 as per a medical report.

Bahrain is signatory to the UN Convention of the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities since June 2007. Detaining Ali Saad is in violation with a number of articles, including article 14 which states that “States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others: (a) Enjoy the right to liberty and security of person; (b) Are not deprived of their liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily, and that any deprivation of liberty is in conformity with the law, and that the existence of a disability shall in no case justify a deprivation of liberty.” And article 15, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights calls on the international community and the governments of the US, UK and other close allies of Bahrain to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to immediately:

• Release Ali Abdulla Saad and all other people of disability including human rights activist, AbdulJalil Al Singace
• Allow Ali to contact his family and lawyer and update them of his case and well-being
• Provide adequate medical care for prisoners
• Put an end to illegal house raids, arbitrary arrests and detainment without a court issued warrant

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17 May 2013

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its deep concern over the Bahraini authorities’ escalated targeting of freedom of expression. Recently, five social media activists were sentenced to one year imprisonment for criticizing the King. In total, more than 106 months of imprisonment was collectively delivered last year on charges against twelve online users for charges related to freedom of expression over social network websites.

In March 2012, Mahdi AlBasri, Mahmood Taresh, Ammar AlAli, Hasan Abdali and Mohammed Abdali were arrested at dawn for messages they had uploaded to twitter; they were held on charges for criticizing the King. On 15 May 2013, the court sentenced five of the bloggers to 1 year imprisonment. As stated by the head of public prosecution, Naif Yousif, the five were charged for exercising their right to freedom of expression beyond the values and traditions of the Bahraini society against the King of the country through the social network website twitter (for more information, see: www.alwasatnews.com/3903/news/read/772574/1.html). Ali Al Shofa, 17 years old, was also arrested in March and detained for 2 months pending investigation. He was released on 8 May and is still on trial. The next hearing on his is case is on 8 June 2013.

The government’s targeting of freedom of expression has noticeably escalated in the past year, with at least 10 cases brought to court with sentences ranging from several months to one year imprisonment. Among these cases is Nabeel Rajab’s, President of the BCHR, who is currently serving a two year sentence in prison, and served a three month sentence last year for insulting a statutory body over twitter, tweeting about the unpopularity of the Prime Minister, and calling for an illegal gathering over twitter. Just a few days ago, Nabeel witnessed the torture of eight prisoners, he requested to talk to the International Committee of Red Cross to testify through family members on social media, however, he went missing and is reportedly kept in solitary confinement to silence him (Read: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/6121). Also, Said Yousif, Head of Documentation and Monitoring in the BCHR, has a case pending in court for disseminating false news over twitter. In November 2011, Abdullah Al Hashemi, Salman Darwish, Ali Watheqi and Ali Al Haiki were sentenced to terms from 1 to 6 months imprisonment for defaming the king over twitter after being arrested during house raids on 16 October 2012. (Read: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5507).

The BCHR believes that the authorities are escalating the repression on freedom of expression. We are witnessing a progression of harsher prison sentences compared to the cases sentenced last year. The BCHR believes that the government’s aim is to pressure citizens into silence, and particularly end freedom of expression when it’s related to criticism of the King, the Prime Minister and other high standing figures in the government, all of whom come from Al Khalifa family.

Based on the above information, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights demands that the Government of Bahrain:

1. Immediately release all activists sentenced to prison for their online activities, including Nabeel Rajab, as well as all other political detainees who are being held for practicing their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, which are guaranteed by international law.
2. Drop all charges related to freedom of expression in cases that are currently ongoing in court.
3. Withdraw all national and local laws that would restrict freedom of opinion and expression, or prevent the transmission of information.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR) express grave concern over the news of the removal of Nabeel Rajab from his cell to an unknown location.

Nabeel Rajab called his wife on 14 May 2013, telling her that he had witnessed the torture of young political prisoners at the hands of prison guards at Jaw prison. He raised his voice telling them to stop, and when they realized that he had witnessed what was happening, they quickly left. Nabeel Rajab asked his wife to request that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visit him in prison so he can give them his testimony of what he had witnessed. Rajab’s wife received a phone call that evening informing her that Nabeel was reportedly removed from his cell that night by prison guards and was not returned.

The BCHR and GCHR are very concerned that due to what Nabeel Rajab witnessed he is being silenced by being moved to solitary confinement. There is a serious concern of ill-treatment if he is moved to solitary confinement where he loses communication with his family and lawyer.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights had previously launched an appeal about allowing Nabeel Rajab access to adequate medical care which can be found here: http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5719.

The BCHR and GCHR hold the Bahraini authorities, including the Director of the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation in the Ministry of the Interior Mohammed Rashid AlHussaini, fully responsible for Nabeel Rajab’s health and well-being, and demand that his family be immediately informed of his whereabouts.

The BCHR and GCHR call on the Government of Bahrain to:

1. Immediately release imprisoned human rights defender Nabeel Rajab and drop all charges against him, as it is believed that he has been targeted solely due to his legitimate and peaceful work in the defense of human rights, and the exercise of freedom to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in accordance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

2. Immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience and activists including leading human rights defender A