Bahrain: Convictions Tainted by Claims of Abuse
Verdicts Follow Allegations of Torture, Coerced Confessions in Detention
(New York, July 16, 2008) – Repeated allegations that confessions were obtained by abuse cast doubt on sentences that a Bahraini court has handed down this week to opposition political activists over violent protests in 2007, Human Rights Watch said today. The convictions of the men rested in part on confessions obtained during their interrogation and detention.

03/07/2008 By Edward Burke

Bahrain’s top-down reforms, initiated by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in 2001, were a welcome respite for a population weary of the violence and state repression that characterised much of the preceding decade. King Hamad’s relatively benign treatment of CSOs and his tolerance for a wider degree of freedom of expression has won international praise, most effusively from the United States.

Just over a month after the Bahrain government said it would eliminate prison sentences for journalists and lift some bans on censored publications, it has done a massive U-turn. Authorities in the country are cracking down on opposition journalists, websites and even mosque leaders for apparently stirring up sectarian tensions and threatening national security, reports the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR).

Reporters Without Borders -Press release- 3 July 2008 - BAHRAIN

Press law amendments hailed but journalists still face jail and websites risk closure

Reporters Without Borders has welcomed some amendments to the press law in Bahrain but voiced concern about some remaining failings that leave journalists and publications exposed to risk.

HAQ: Movement of Liberties and Democracy- Bahrain

حق: حركة الحريات والدموقراطية- البحرين

الـحـقـوق للـجـمـيـع .. Rights for All

www.haaq.org, Email: HAAQ.Bahrain@gmail.com, HRB.BAHRAIN@gmail.com

مـكـتـب حـقـوق الإنـسـان Human Rights Bureau

Urgent Press Release

HAQ concerned about indirect torture- detainees exposed infectious disease inside prison

HAQ: Movement of Liberties and Democracy- Bahrain

حق: حركة الحريات والدموقراطية- البحرين

الـحـقـوق للـجـمـيـع .. Rights for All

www.haaq.org, Email: HAAQ.Bahrain@gmail.com, HRB.BAHRAIN@gmail.com

مـكـتـب حـقـوق الإنـسـان Human Rights Bureau

Bahrain: In the first case hearing, State-militia car detainees spell out suffering of torture

UNITED
NATIONS
A
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/HRC/8/19
22 May 2008
Original: ENGLISH
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Eighth session
Agenda item 6
UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review
Bahrain ∗
∗ Previously issued under the document symbol A/HRC/WG.6/1/BRA/4; minor revisions
have been added under the authority of the secretariat of the Human Rights Council, on the basis of
editorial changes made by States through the ad referendum procedure. Annex is circulated as
received.
GE.08-13607
A/HRC/8/19
Page 2
-CONTENTS

Bahrain: the Establishment of a Youth Human Rights Organization is a Charge Punishable by Law

Maskati under Threat of Prosecution Once Again

Manama- 6th June, 2008

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights has, with regret, been following up on the Ministry of Justices decision, to inform, through an official notification, Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati, university student, 21 years, President if the BYSHR and a member of the Norwegian Defense International, that he is to be present as a criminal suspect for a court hearing before the 4th Lower Criminal Court on the 6th of November 2008. The charges are related to the working in a Society before it has been officially registered. The Ministry of Social Affairs is behind these allegations and should Mr. Al-Maskati be found guilty, he may be imprisoned for a period of no more than 6 months and/or a fine of 500 Bahraini Dinars.

NGO Submission by NCMVT Related to Bahrain for the Session scheduled April 2008 - 20 November 2007
To: UPRsubmissions@ohchr.org

A Focus on Torture and Impunity in Bahrain
A Submission by: The National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture

Content:

• Shadow report to the UN Committee Against Torture
• Government reaction to CAT’s Recommendations
• NGO’s reactions and related consequences
• Independence of the judiciary
• Arrest and Detention
• Prison and Detention Center Conditions
• Impunity
• The work of NGO’s

KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
Head of State King Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Head of government Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Death penalty retentionist
Population 0.8 million
Life expectancy 75.2 years
Under-5 mortality (m/f) 15/15 per 1,000
Adult literacy 86.5 per cent

Isolated incidents of repression of human rights defenders, journalists and internet sites were reported. Courts passed two death sentences, but no one was executed.

Background
In February demonstrations were held after three people were arrested and protesters clashed with security forces. The three arrested – ‘Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, President of the dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights;