Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Bahrain Center for Human Rights | Defending and promoting human rights in Bahrain

Amnesty International: Bahrain’s human rights record is still heavily tarnished.

12 December 2011

Amnesty international UK Campaigns Director Tim Hancock said:

“David Cameron’s meeting with King Hamad Al-Khalifa today is an opportunity for the Prime Minister to make it clear that Bahrain still has lot to do to repair the damage of its crackdown on the protests this year. There should be no death sentences and no ‘revenge’ convictions. Bahrain’s human rights record is still heavily tarnished.”

As Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa visited the UK, Amnesty International issued the following summary of its human rights concerns on the country.

Submitted by admin on 13. December 2011 - 19:41. -->

Ongoing Human Rights Violations in the Trial of Leaders of the Teachers Association in Bahrain

Beirut, December 12, 2011 - On Sunday, December 11, 2011, the Supreme Court of Appeal held its first hearing to consider prison sentences issued by a military tribunal against two human rights defenders. On September 25, the Court of National Security has sentenced Mr. Mahdi Abu Deeb, President of the Teachers Association of Bahrain to 10 years in prison. His deputy, Mrs. Jalila Al-Salman, was sentenced to 3 years in prison. According to Bahraini law, both Abu Deeb and Salman should be tried in a civil court, not a military tribunal.

Submitted by admin on 13. December 2011 - 19:10. -->

The Bahraini Government Must Provide the Adequate Protection to all Human Rights Defenders

Beirut, 12 December, 2011 --- The Gulf Centre for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights express their deep concern regarding the ongoing threats and harassment of some human rights defenders in Bahrain. They are: Ms. Lamis Dhaif, journalist and human rights defender, Mr. Nabeel Rajab, director of the Bahrain center for human rights, Mr. Mohammed Al-Maskati, president of the Bahrain youth society for human rights, Mr.Yousef Al-Mahafdha, the monitoring and follow-up officer at the Bahrain center for human rights, Mr. Yousef Abdulrasool, member the board of directors of the Bahrain youth society for human rights, and Mr. Ahmed Abbas, member of the Bahrain youth society for human rights.

Submitted by admin on 13. December 2011 - 18:33. -->

Bahrain: Infant suffocated to death with tear gas


12 Dec 2011

Infant Sajida Faisal died in her home on Sunday 11 Dec 2011 as a result of inhalation of tear gas fired by riot police.

Her father told BCHR the village has been tear gassed for three days (Wed to Fri) and it was very heavy on Friday night, the whole village was covered in tear gas. His other daughter Sarah (3 years old) also suffocated from tear gas and her mother couldn't do anythin but put pepsi on her face.

Submitted by admin on 13. December 2011 - 0:46. -->

Bahraini woman in jail for more than 8 months for playing revolutionary songs in her car


A Military court initially sentenced Fadhila Al Mubarak in absence of legal defense

Despite all published information that confirmed arrests happened on back of exercise of legitimate rights to express opinion, no action taken to release prisoners of conscience


10 Dec 2011

Fadhila Al Mubarak, a 38 year old mother of a 9 year old, is still in jail after she was sentenced in an unfair military trial of charges related directly to exercising her right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. She was detained and prosecuted at military court for playing revolutionary music in her car, trying to save her son and nieces, participating in peaceful protests in Pearl Roundabout and writing a poem to her son about the revolution, freedom and fighting for his future. The available information on the conditions of her detention is very worrying and her family has raised concerns over her health.

Submitted by admin on 10. December 2011 - 14:15. -->

NY Times Reporters briefly detained, tear gassed

On 09 Dec 2011, New York Times columnist Nick Kristof was detained by police while covering a protest in Bahrain on Friday. Kristof and his videographer, Adam Ellick, were held in two separate police cars as tear gas was fired on protesters. The two journalists were also tear gassed. The camera man Adam was roughly handled. His camera damaged.

Submitted by admin on 9. December 2011 - 23:28. -->

Middle East Scholars Give Academic Freedom Award to Bahraini Resistance


[Washington, December 3, 2011] – The Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) awarded its 2011 academic freedom prize:

“To all faculty, students and staff of Bahraini institutions of higher education who, by speaking out, documenting abuses, and engaging in myriad other forms of resistance have struggled against a range of brutal assaults by the Bahraini government upon academic freedom and upon the autonomy and integrity of the country's educational institutions"

Submitted by admin on 9. December 2011 - 23:20. -->

Freedom House: International community’s abandonment of Bahrain: One of Worst Human Rights Developments of 2011


December 09, 2011
by Mary McGuire and Sarah Trister*

The year 2011 will be remembered as one of immense political and social change around the world, particularly the Middle East. On this International Human Rights Day, Freedom House looks back at a few of the best and worst developments of the year with respect to their long-term implications for the global state of human rights.

The international community’s abandonment of Bahrain:

Despite the concerted international action to protect peaceful protesters in other parts of the Arab world, there have been no UN resolutions or sanctions on Bahrain , where protesters’ calls for political reform have been met with excessive force, torture, extrajudicial killings

Submitted by admin on 9. December 2011 - 23:17. -->

Education International (EI): Bahrain: The situation for teachers remains concerning


09 December 2011

Education International (EI) has launched a new Urgent Action Appeal on Bahrain, calling on its member organisations to contact their national government as well as the Bahraini diplomatic representations in their country to urge the Bahraini authorities to review the charges and convictions and commute sentences of all teachers, teacher unionists and students charged with offences related to exercise of freedom of speech and right to assemble.

Submitted by admin on 9. December 2011 - 23:10. -->

BYSHR: Ministry of Human Rights dissolves democratically elected board of directors of Bar Association


December 9th, 2011

Ministry of Human Rights dissolves democratically elected board of directors of Bar Association in Bahrain.

Election of the board of directors was held on November 26, 2011 and observed by Human Rights Society.

Submitted by admin on 9. December 2011 - 21:36. -->