The Gulf Center for
Human Rights (GCHR) and Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) express their
serious concern over the ongoing campaign of judicial harassment against human
rights defenders in Bahrain who cooperate with the UN system. In the
recent days, Human rights defender Mohamed Al-Maskati was interrogated
on charges related to freedom of expression, while another 2 defenders of his
organization, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), are currently
behind bars.
On 22 October 2013,
human rights defender, co-founder and president of the BYSHR Mohamed Al-Maskati was
summoned to Al-Khamis Police Station where he was interrogated on charges of
“inciting hatred against the regime” in relation to a speech he made on 8
September 2013 in Jidhafs Town, where he talked about the concept of
nonviolence and the importance of demanding rights through peaceful techniques
as well as human rights as set in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Defender Al-Maskati was
released after he signed a pledge to appear before the Public Prosecution
office upon request. His case may be transferred to court at any time.
Mohamed Al-Maskati is a
renowned human rights defender, an advocate of non-violence and a trainer of
Digital Security for human rights defenders. He has been actively cooperating
with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in recent
years and has visited the Special Rapporteurs in August 2013. He also met
several diplomatic missions in Geneva in coordination with many regional and
international Human Rights organizations.
This summon comes at the
end of a long list of judicial and extra-judicial harassment to human rights
defender Al-Maskati. Since June 2013, he is going through a trial at the Lower
Criminal Court, facing possible prison sentences on charges of “participation in illegal protests” in
relation to his participation in a peaceful protest entitled “Self
determination”. The next hearing will be on 9 December 2013.
Last year, on 16 October
2012, Al-Maskati was detained for about 24 hours and questioned at the Public
Prosecution office on charges of “rioting
and participating in an illegal gathering” few weeks after he
delivered an oral intervention at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva,
where he informed the (HRC) about the massive intimidation campaign against
him. Although he was released after interrogation but the charges
remained pending since then. After tweeting about his attendance at the
21st session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva in September
2012, Al-Maskati received
continuous threats via anonymous phone calls. He was threatened with
death if “he damaged Bahrain’s reputation in Geneva”, and he was also a target
of a smear campaign run by a pro-government newspapers following his return
from Geneva.
Another two members of
BYSHR are currently behind bars. Human rights defender and BYSHR co-founder Naji
Fateel is detained since May 2013 and has been sentenced on 29 Sep 2013 to
15 years in prison after a show trial
that fails to live up to fair trial standards. He was reportedly subjected
to torture in detention. Human rights defender and member of BYSHR, Hussain
Abdulnabi, is still detained
while facing a trial since 6 Sep 2013. Some reliable reports confirmed that the
security forces have a plan to target other members of the BYSHR.
The GCHR and BCHR
believe that human rights defender Mohamed Al-Maskati has been targeted solely
due to his co-operation with the UN system and in particular his role in
documenting and reporting the continued human rights violations. In addition
the GCHR and BCHR are concerned that the ongoing targeting of BYSHR members
aims to hinder the work of the active and internationally renowned human rights
organizations in Bahrain.
The GCHR and BCHR urge
the UN, US administration as well as other governments that have influence
in Bahrain including the UK government, the EU and the leading human
rights organizations to put real pressure on the Government of Bahrain in
order to:
1. Immediately stop the
judicial harassment of human rights defenders and drop all charges against them
and release the detained human rights defenders including Naji Fateel,
Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Nabeel Rajab and stop the exploitation of the
judiciary for political purposes;
2. Immediately stop the
daily human rights violations as well as escalating attacks on human rights
defenders;
3. Guarantee in all
circumstances that all human rights defenders in Bahrain are able to carry out
their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of
all restrictions including judicial harassment.
The GCHR and BCHR
respectfully remind the government of Bahrain that the United Nations
Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs
of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9
December 1998, recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights
defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their
activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention
to Article 5 (b) which states that: “For the purpose of promoting and
protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right,
individually and in association with others, at the national and international
levels: (b) To form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations,
associations or groups;” and to Article 12.2, which provides
that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the
protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in
association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto
or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a
consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the
present Declaration."
Dear Friends,
The
Arabic version will be published on our Web Site later on.
You
can get our news at:
1.
Web Site: www.gc4hr.org
3.
Twitter: @GulfCentre4HR
4.
E-mail: info@gc4hr.org
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Thank
you so much,
The
Research team
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