Country/Topic: Bahrain
Date: 22 January 2007
Source: Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR)
Person(s): M. Al Sahlawi, H. Al Hebshi
Target(s): other
Type(s) of violation(s): arrested , charged , imprisoned
Urgency: Flash
(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a 20 January 2007 statement from BCHR, an interim member of IFEX:
http://ifex.org/en/content/view/full/80539/

Severe infringement on freedom of expression in Bahrain
On January 31st, two detainees face a possible verdict of up to seven years imprisonment

On November 16, 2006, Dr M. Al Sahlawi (Dentist, age 35) and Mr. H. Al Hebshi (Insurance sales executive, age 32) were arrested by Bahraini authorities after being found in possession of a publication deemed by the authorities to be "subversive literature". This publication, downloaded from the Internet, called on Bahrainis to boycott the parliamentary elections held in November 2006.

Government forces attack demonstration for the release of the Leaflet Detainees; one person hospitalized

19 January 2007

Government paramilitary police on Friday afternoon attacked a peaceful demonstration, including women and children, calling for the release of the "Leaflet Detainees".

The sit-in commenced peacefully near the Bahrain Mall in Sanabis. However, after the sit-in ended, government forces dispersed the demonstrators forcefully, firing rubber bullets and tear gas at the crowd. One man, Ibrahim Habib from Isa Town, was injured and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

The sit-in was organized by the families of the "Leaflet Detainees", Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi and Hussain AbdulAziz Al Hebshi. The two prisoners of conscience have been detained by Bahrain authorities since 16 November 2006, on charges of possessing internet-downloaded publications calling for the boycott of the last election, deemed by the government as "subversive literature". If convicted, they face a prison sentence of upto seven years. For details and background of this case, see BCHR Ref:07010801, Ref: 06120601, and Ref: 06111900.

More photographs from the sit-in are below.

Bahrain Center for Human Rights
20 January 2007
Ref: 07012001

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights has launched a public petition to His Majesty the King, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, calling for the release of the 'Leaflet Detainees', Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi and Mr Hussain AbdulAziz Al Hebshi.

The two prisoners of conscience have been detained by Bahrain authorities since 16 November 2006, on charges of possessing internet-downloaded publications calling for the boycott of the last election, deemed by the government as "subversive literature". If convicted, they face a prison sentence of upto seven years. For details and background of this case, see BCHR Ref:07010801, Ref: 06120601, and Ref: 06111900, or browse through the Leaflet Detainees archive.

The case has already set a very dangerous precedent for freedom of expression in Bahrain. Therefore, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on concerned individuals in Bahrain and around the world to support the demand for the release of detainees by signing the petition below.

A young man reported having head injury

Committee of Solidarity with Activists and Detainees of Conscience in Bahrain
19 January 2007

Aftermath a peaceful sit-in called upon by the families of prisoners of opinion, "Mohammed Hussein" in collaboration with the people detained "Kumail Abdelhasan" from the village of Maameer, the heavily armed Special Security Forces attacked and dispersed the protesters by force.

The sit-in, which was convened by the Committee on for the period from 3:30 until 4:30 this afternoon in front of the Bahrain Center "Geant", was attended by a number of women, children and activists. After the sit-in finished, a large number of cars "jeep" loaded with special forces landed quickly and attacked with batons on the attendees including women and children.

Pair 'sharing jail with Aids patients'
By Mohammed Aslam
Published: 15 January 2007

TWO BAHRAINIS arrested for allegedly distributing subversive literature are being forced to share a cell with hardened and diseased prisoners, they claimed in court yesterday.

"We have been placed in a cell with drug addicts, criminals and prisoners who are sick and are suffering from dangerous diseases like Aids, hepatitis and other communicable diseases," said one of the defendants, a 35-year-old dentist.

"We request the court to shift us from this cell to another cell."

Lower Criminal Court judge Ahmed Abdulkhaliq rejected the plea, saying it was not the court's responsibility.

A Call to Attend Public Activities and Prosecution Sessions for Possession of Publications

The second session for prosecuting the activists Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi (dentist-35 years), Hussain AbdulAziz Al Hebshi (employee-32 years) will be held at 9am tomorrow at the Lower Criminal Court at the Ministry of Justice in the capital Manama to face charges of possession publications calling for boycott of last election.

Dr Mohamed and Mr Husain were abducted from a public place and have been detained since the afternoon of Thursday November 16th, 2006. The Public Prosecution accused them of "favouritism and promotion of the changing systems of the State through illegal means and without a legitimate reason" and "spreading false news and exciting rumors, which would cause disruption of public security, and damage public interest". These charges are based on Articles (160), (161) and (168) of the Bahraini Penal Code (Decree law no. 15 of 1976), which fall under articles on the External State Security. According to these articles, the two activists could face upto seven years imprisonment because of acquisition of the said internet-downloaded publications.

Relatives of two Bahraini detainees arrested last November for possession of anti-government leaflets protested in Manama on Friday calling for their release.

They were joined by MP Jalal Fairooz of the Islamist Shiite Al Wefaq 17-member bloc, who called the prolonged detention unnecessary and offered to post bail.

Dentist Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi, 35, and 32-year-old insurance company employee Hussain AbdulAziz Al Hebshi were arrested for possession of leaflets.

"The leaflets only expressed a point of view, which is a right guaranteed under the constitution," Fairooz said. "I am willing to post bail for both until they appear in court. They are productive members of the community and represent no danger to anyone."

Families, activists and supporters held a demonstration on on Friday, January 12, 2006, in front of the Bahrain Mall in Sanabis to demand the release of the Leaflet Detainees, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi and Hussain AbdulAziz Al Hebshi.

The two prisoners of conscience have been detained since 16 November 2006, on charges of possessing internet-downloaded publications calling for the boycott of the last election, deemed by the government as "subversive literature". If convicted, they face a prison sentence of upto seven years. For details of this case, see BCHR Ref:07010801.

More photographs from the demonstration are below.

Leaflets pair deny charges
By MOHAMMED ASLAM
Published: 8 January 2007

TWO Bahraini men appeared in court yesterday accused of possessing and distributing subversive literature.

They are also accused of encouraging people to seek changes to the country's political system through illegal means.

The two defendants, a 35-year-old dentist and a 32-year-old insurance sales executive, denied the charges when they appeared at the Lower Criminal Court yesterday. The court adjourned the case until next Sunday, to give defence lawyer Mohammed Ahmed time to study the papers and to prepare his defence.

Bahrain Center for Human Rights
7 January 2007
Ref: 07010801

BCHR:Activist Detained at Criminal Interrogations

Yesterday was the first court session of what has been locally dubbed as the "Publication Detainees" case. The prisoners of conscience, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi (dentist, age 35) and Hussain AbdulAziz Al Hebshi (insurance sales executive, age 32) attended Lower Court at the Ministry of Justice this morning, along with their lawyer Mr Mohamed Ahmed.