Photo: Photo tweeted by Nabeel Rajab while he was detained at Cairo Airport April 2011

20 December 2012

The Imprisoned human rights defender Nabeel Rajab has filed last month a law suit against the Egyptian Authorities after being banned from entering Egypt on 11th April 2012.

Nabeel Rajab who is now sentenced to 2 years in prison for peacefully protesting (1), was invited by the Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies and was intending to participate in a number of meetings and events to highlight the ongoing human rights violations happening in Bahrain. Those events and meetings were with arab and international human rights organizations among the participants are Margaret Sekaggya, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Maina Kiai, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association, Reine Alapini-Gansou, the ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa, and June Ray from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.(2)

After arriving Cairo International Airport on 11th April 2012 at 12:30 pm, an Airport Security Officer seized Rajab’s passport without providing valid reasons. The airport authorities then stated that Rajab would be deported in the next available flight to Bahrain. The Airport Authorities told the Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies that Nabeel Rajab’s name was in the ban list, without providing any further details.

Rajab’s attorney Ahmed Ragheb to lodge an appeal against each of the Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Prime Minister Hisham Qandil and Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin, before the Administrative Court for illegally banning Nabeel Rajab from entering Egypt. (3)

The first session in Egypt was on 27th November 2012 and the Egyptian government attorney requested to postpone the session till they gather more information.

Photo : Maryam Al-Khawaja

In a similar scenario, Maryam Al-Khawaja, Acting President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights was too banned from entering Egypt in August 2012 and was almost deported from Egypt on April 2012 and was allowed after spending 12 hours inside the Cairo International Airport.

It’s believed that the Bahraini Authorities are complicit with the Egyptian Authorities in banning Bahraini activists from entering Egypt and is aimed to cripple Human Rights Defenders from exposing the continuous violations in Bahrain.

References: 1. BBC: Bahrain activist Nabeel Rajab's prison sentence reduced – from 3 years to 2 years 2. CIHRS : “Authorities Detain Nabeel Rajab at the Cairo International Airport “ 3. Russia Today : محامو نبيل رجب يطعنون بقرار منعه من دخول مصر

Right: Taimoor Karimi, Left: Ebrahim Karimi

18 Dec 2012

Last month on 7 Nov 2012, the Ministry of Interior in Bahrain issued a statement revoking the nationality of 31 citizens without any prior notice and without judicial process, in contrary to customary international law. It announced then: “the affected persons have the right of appeal.” (see BCHR report bahrainrights.org/en/node/5505)

According to information received by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, the citizens who tried to appeal the decision at the court were prevented from doing so. On 11 Dec 2012, Ebrahim Karimi, one of the 31 citizens stripped from nationality was prevented from finalizing the process to appoint a lawyer to raise the appeal against the citizenship provocation on his behalf. He was told that the information system rejects his application.

Another citizen who was stripped from nationality, lawyer Taimoor Karimi, was banned starting 14 Nov 2012 with an order from the minister of justice from pleading at the court and attending as a lawyer on behalf of clients.

By not being able to appoint a lawyer the 31 are not able to appeal against the decision to revoke their Bahraini nationality. (List of 31 citizens who had their citizenship revoked)

The BCHR calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and all other close allies to Bahrain and international institutions to put pressure on Bahraini authorities to:

1. Reverse this provocative decision that is in direct contrast with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of [their] nationality." 2. Immediately stop the systematic and widespread human rights violations against the citizens of Bahrain

This comes just one day after Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa gave a speech stating that: “Bahrain is a country of Law and Freedom” yet repression continues

Photo:“ Arbitrary arrest of an elderly man (Haji Majeed) in Manama”

18 December 2012

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses grave concern in regards to the security forces’ excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests of peaceful pro-democracy protestors and the continuous harassment of Human Rights activists.

The February 14th Coalition called for a mass protest in the capital of Bahrain, Manama on 17th December which has been marked by the people since 1994 as “Bahrain’s Martyrs Day” following the extra-judicial killing of two Bahrainis during the 90’s uprising. As a reaction, Bahrain authorities closed off most streets leading to Manama, not allowing Bahrainis to enter in an attempt to prevent a large number of participants in the protest. Despite the lock-down, protests started in Manama and were attacked by the security forces with excessive use of force and resulting in the arbitrary arrest of 27 peaceful protestors (3 women and 25 men). (List of names below)

Amongst those arrested is BCHR’s Acting Vice President and Head of Documentation Unit Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha who attended the protest to monitor and document the situation. The BCHR believes that the arrest of Al-Muhafdha is part of an ongoing systematic targeting, harassment and detention of human rights defenders in Bahrain, and in particular those associated with the BCHR. After the arrest and severe torture of co-founder Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, the sentencing of the President Nabeel Rajab to 2 years on charges of illegal protesting now Said Yousif Al-Muhafdha is arrested again after being released last month. Said Yousif will be held until presented to public prosecution. He was charged with broadcasting false information through Twitter.

Photo: “Said Yousif Al-Muhafdha while arrested in Manama”

Photo : Arrest of a female protester in Manama

Despite Hamad Bin Isa AlKhalifa’s claims that Bahrain will always be the nation of tolerance and liberties in his speech on 16th December, (the day he celebrates his “sitting on the throne”), the use of excessive force and arrests continues against peaceful protests.

Graphic Photo: Injury due to Sound Bomb being thrown from a short distance

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights strongly condemns the continuous crackdown on civilians who choose to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The BCHR also calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the UN and all other allies and international institutions to put pressure of the Government of Bahrain to:

1. Stop its use of excessive force in response to the continued peaceful protests, and to consider a meaningful solution to resolve the persistent political issues of instability in the country. 2. Immediately release detained human rights defender Sayed Yousif AlMuhafdhah and drop all charges against him. 3. Immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience and activists including leading human rights defenders Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Nabeel Rajab, Zainab Al-Khawaja.

17th December 2012, Manama Protest detainees (Name-Village):

Women:
 1. Khadija Al-Ghanami - Dair 2. Fatima Al-Ghanami – Dair 3. Mona Abduljalil – Sanabis Men:

1. Hassan Ali Abd-Ethnashari - Duraz 2. Mohammed Jawad Abdulkarim - Duraz 3. Yasser Abdulhussain Al-Haddad - Duraz 4. Ahmed Al-Omran - Al-Hoora 5. Yaser Al-Haddad – Al-Hoora 6. Adel Salem – Al-Hoora (released) 7. Jabir Al-Haddad – Al-Hoora (released) 8. Said Yousif Al-Muhafdha – Manama 9. Hussain Al-Kkhoor – Manama 10. Reyadh – Manama 11. Haj Majeed – Dimistan/Ras Ruman 12. Abu Jameel – Al-Qadam 13. Hassan Jaber – Dimistan 14. Hussain Abbas – Al-Musallah 15. Abdulzahra Mohammad – Aali 16. Elyas Hussain – Manama 17. Fayadh Mohammed Jaffar – Barbar 18. Hussain Ahmed – Barbar 19. Mohammed Redha Juma – Muhazza 20. Ali Redha Juma – Muhazza 21. Ali Abdulemam Fakhar – Daih 22. Sayd Haidar Ali Al-Ghuraifi – Nuaim 23. Yaser Al-Shuaikh 24. Khalid Sultan Al-Mutawa – 28 years –

YouTube Videos :

- Peaceful Protests in Manama on 17th December while being attacked

- Father of Mahmood Abu Takki giving a speech (in English at minute 1:05)

- Police extensive presence in Manama while integrating a man in his car

Read More

1. Bahrain: Three days after release of BCHR Report on Impunity, Arrest of Acting Vice President Sayed Yousif AlMuhafdhah

2. Bahrain: As Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa Celebrates Sitting on the Throne, Serious Injuries amongst Protesters Documented

17 Dec 2012

The Bahrain Center for Human rights expresses grave concern over the ill-treatment of Activist Mohamed Al-Tal who is being held in solitary confinement for more than 12 days according to information received by the Center. Activist Mohamed Al-Tal has been in detention since 14 Oct 2012 when he was summoned for interrogation on the charge of “participating in illegal gathering” in reference to the Friday protest in Manama (12 October 2012) titled “Self determination”. He was held in the Dry Dock detention center until the beginning of Dec 2012 when several prisoners were subjected to abuses and attacks following the formation of a coalition of Prisoners of Conscience (see BCHR report here bahrainrights.org/en/node/5539). Al-Tal was then moved to the West Riffa police station where he was put in solitary confinement according to his lawyer, Mr Mohamed Al-Marzooq. He was not informed of the reason for this transfer or why he is being held in solitary confinement.

Al-Tal has been previously detained for several weeks following his arrest from a previous protest in Manama. He is already standing trial in a different case on similar charges in which he is accused of participating in illegal gathering in Manama. The next hearing of his trial will be on 14 Jan 2013.

His lawyer has requested the release of Al-Tal while guaranteeing his place of residency to avoid losing his job as a teacher, and to allow him to attend his medical appointments.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights believes that the placement of Al-Tal in solitary confinement is in violation with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, article 30 “(1) No prisoner shall be punished except in accordance with the terms of such law or regulation, .. (2) No prisoner shall be punished unless he has been informed of the offence alleged against him and given a proper opportunity of presenting his defence. The competent authority shall conduct a thorough examination of the case.” And article 32. “(1) Punishment by close confinement .. shall never be inflicted unless the medical officer has examined the prisoner and certified in writing that he is fit to sustain it.”

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights believes that activist Mohamed Al-Tal is targeted because of his peaceful exercise of freedom of assembly in accordance with the universal declaration for human rights.

Based on the above, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the government of Bahrain to immediately put an end to the solitary confinement of Mohamed Al-Tal. The BCHR also calls for Al-Tal’s immediate release and dropping of all trumped up charges against him and all other detainees who are being held for exercising their freedom of assembly.

(As received, translation from Arabic by BCHR)

17 Dec 2012

A delegation from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights visited "Jaw Prison" and met with the 13 prisoners also known as "Bahrain13" which they last met in December 2011. During the trip, the delegation also met with other political prisoners. This came at the end of a 6-day visit for the delegation to Bahrain which started on December 2nd until December 6th 2012, and in the short time allocated to the political and human rights activists "Bahrain13" who are accused in the case known as "Alliance for the Republic", the prisoners of conscience raised the following points to the representatives of the OHCHR:

First: The struggle of the people of Bahrain has been ongoing for decades, and that the call for pro-democracy has been ongoing for more than seventy years. The insistence of people on democracy and rights is the only reason behind being targeted by the regime and is the reason behind being accused of fabricated charges, discredited and being the victims of revenge.

Second: The Authorities in Bahrain is using a repressive apparatus, arbitrary laws and the non-independent judiciary system (including prosecutors) to reduce the area of freedom and to target the opposition and activists. It is crucial that there be a valid mechanism for the selection of judges, and to ensure the integrity and independence of the judiciary system. There also needs to be a mechanism to monitor and hold judges accountable, as well as improvement of trials and penal laws to be in line with international commitments and standards for human rights; noting that currently the selection of judges in Bahrain depends on political loyalty first and then family and religious affiliation.

Third: the events and violations witnessed in Bahrain during the past two years are dangerous and so deep that it cannot be contained by providing training or technical support to it's current institutions. This is due to the fact that the same institutions and agencies are already involved in such violations and that radical reform of those institutions and holding them responsible is an integral requirement which has been stated in recommendations of the BICI report and was also mentioned in the pledges Bahrain took before the Human Rights Council at the United Nations.

The fact that Bahrain has witnessed a deep political and social split and is now under a systemic crisis, the reform cannot be carried out using the current legal, judicial and administrative tools, but through the mechanisms of transitional justice and mutual consent between all relevant representatives, and with the help of the international community such as the United Nations.

Fourth: the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will not be able to provide technical support or real contribution to the promotion of human rights in Bahrain without a constant presence on the ground to address the various issues in the political, security and social complex transitions.

Fifth: The stages of the Bahrain13's case and the deep violations amounting in all those stages including how Bahraini courts have ignored what was stated in the BICI report in the conclusions and recommendations, is an ideal example of the inability to implement those recommendations through the same institutions which lack judicial independence and are still being controlled by a political agenda.

The Office of the High Commissioner is invited to make a comparison between the findings the BICI report on this issue, and the sentence of the latest appeal in the Supreme Court which ignored the violations committed during the arrests, arbitrary detention, psychological, physical and sexual torture, reports of the National Security Service, and the military prosecutor who are all involved in the violations. The latter approved the trials in the "Military National Safety Court" for this group.

The thirteen political and human rights activists "Bahrain13" have prepared a series of reports on their cases and conditions of imprisonment, but the prison administration initially prevented them from carrying the reports with them to the meeting, and when the Bahrain13 refused the meeting protesting the condition, the prison administration imposed on the delegation of the United Nations not to receive any papers directly from the group.

Thirteen detainees activists - Jaw Prison

1-Abdulwahab Hussain ( life sentence imprisonment) 2-Ebrahim Sharif ( 5 Years imprisonment) 3-Hassan Mushaima( life sentence imprisonment) 4-Abdulhadi Al Khawaja ( life sentence imprisonment) 5-Abduljalil Al Singace.( life sentence imprisonment) 6-Mohammed Habib Al Miqdad ( life sentence imprisonment) 7-Saeed Mirza AlNouri ( life sentence imprisonment) 8- Abduljalil Al Miqdad ( life sentence imprisonment) 09-Abdullah Isa Al Mahroos.( 5 years imprisonment) 10-Salah Hubail Al Khawaj.( 5 years imprisonment) 11-Mohammed Hassan Jawad.( 15 years imprisonment) 12-Mohammed Ali Ismael. ( 15 years imprisonment)) 13-Abdul Hadi AlMukhodher ( 15 years imprisonment)

17 Dec 2012

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights followed with great concern the details of the arrest of the Bahraini citizen Munira Sayed Habib - 27 years old - who was reportedly arrested in a violent way in the early morning hours – 3 am - on Wednesday, 28 November 2012, when her house was raided in Al-Ghuraifa. Her home was raided by groups of special security forces backed with armed and masked civilians. Her detention continued until 1 December 2012 before being released.

The Monitoring Committee of BCHR met Munira Sayed Habib after her release by the Public Prosecution, to determine the merits of her detention, its causes and the charges against her. The Monitoring Committee recorded a number of violations committed by the security forces and their inhumane manner of detention which continues since the beginning of the mass protests in Bahrain on 14th February 2011. Despite numerous promises by the heads of the Bahraini authorities that civilians will not be targeted because of practicing their rights; systematic violations and arbitrary arrest or detention because of expression of opinion and peaceful assembly, which are guaranteed by all the local laws and international conventions, continue.

The investigation undertaken by Bahrain Center for Human Rights and which documented the case of the detainee Munira Sayed Habib included the following:

Damage during the house raid, details of the arrest:

The house of the citizen Munira Sayed Habib after inspection by the security forces and masked civilians

The arrest occurred violently and in the early morning hours, when a large number of security forces backed by armed civilian militias raided the Munira Sayed Habib’s home. The security men together with masked civilians ransacked the contents of her home after they they broke into the house by force. In addition, a number of computers and mobile phones were confiscated from the house. This systematic method of arrest and entrance into people’s homes during the hours of dawn was described in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry reports; and violates the local laws as well as international human rights covenants.

Solitary confinement and the early hours of investigation:

Since the early morning hours Munira Sayed Habib was subjected to cruel and degrading treatment, and there was reticence on the place of her detention and with whom she was withheld. Munira Sayed Habib was reportedly left alone in a small and extremely cold room, and banned from contact with the outside world, her lawyer and her family who were in the Criminal Investigations Department looking for her. She was kept in total isolation for approximately nine hours, after which she was interrogated by male police officers without the presence of female police and whom Munira could not identify. She was not informed of the charges against her, and she was not allowed to call her lawyer. The police officers proceeded in their interrogation asking questions relating to personal, religious and political matters. The interrogation reportedly continued until the evening after which she was transferred from the Criminal Investigations Department to the women's prison in Isa Town and kept in solitary confinement. She was then transferred back to the Criminal Investigations Department and placed in the same room as that morning, after which she was interrogated again in the same way as the first time. Munira Sayed Habib was then transferred to the General Prosecution, which ordered her release after being charged with "participating in a demonstration, and monitoring the way for demonstrators".

Immediately after Munira’s release, people gathered to welcome her, and were attacked by security forces who used tear gases in order to disperse them, and they shot teargas inside one of the women's religious buildings “matam”.

Based on the above, Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and all other allies and international institutions to put pressure on the Bahraini authorities to:

- Immediately drop all charges against Munira Sayed Habib because they are to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. - Immediately stop the continuous violent methods of dawn raids on houses that violate the rights of citizens, which causes constant terror amongst residents in certain areas in anticipation of house raids. - Launch an independent investigation regarding the unlawful raid on Munira Sayed Habib’s home and all other homes subjected to similar raids. - Stop violating citizen’s right to freedom of assembly, peaceful demonstration, and freedom of expression guaranteed by domestic law and international conventions ratified by Bahrain.

Photo: (Left: Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa, Right : injured Protesters)

16 December 2012

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses concern by the continued use of excessive force by the authorities in Bahrain during attacks on peaceful protestors. The latest cases of serious injuries (including two eye injuries) were documented on the 16th of December; the day Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa celebrates his “sitting on the throne”.

Photo: Cycling for Freedom Event in Bahrain on 15th December 2012

16th December is celebrated by the Bahraini regime as the “National Day” which marks this year the 13th anniversary since Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa “sat on the throne” ruling Bahrain. Meanwhile there were many protests that started on the 15th December in preparation for a major protest being planned in the capital Manama on 17th December 2012. Among the protests was an innovative event “Cycling for Freedom” which was called for by the 14th Feb Youth Coalition which took place in a number of villages and areas around Bahrain.

Photo: Protests in Bahrain on 16th December

December 17th, since 1994 has been marked by the people as “Bahrain’s Martyrs Day” following the extra-judicial killing of two Bahrainis during the 90s uprising. In preparation for the 17th of December many villages protested and faced extensive use of force using teargas, pellet shotguns and sound bombs that have caused severe and critical injuries among protesters.

Graphic Photo: Direct Shot by shotgun on the face

The BCHR documented a number of face injuries by the pellet shotgun that has lead to loss of sight in the injured eye for the two protesters (photo above). It appears from the injuries that security forces were aiming at protesters heads and upper bodies when attacking protests. Read More: (Young Man Severely Injured By Direct Shot to the Face; Excessive Force During Arrests Continues in Bahrain)

Photo: Shotgun injury on the back and stomach of a protestor

Photo: Home-based Clinics to help an injured protester

Despite Hamad Bin Isa’s claims that Bahrain will always be the nation of tolerance and liberties in his speech on 16th December, the use of excessive force is escalated against peaceful protests and the BCHR regularly receives a large number of reports of shotgun injuries, most of which are treated in private homes out of fear of being arrested from the hospital.

The BCHR also calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the UN and all other allies and international institutions to put pressure of the Government of Bahrain to stop its use of excessive force in response to the continued peaceful protests, and to consider a meaningful solution to resolve the persistent political issues of instability in the country.