Bahreïn: libération de trois défenseurs des droits humains

Your Excellency,

I welcome the release of three human rights defenders: Shaker Mohammed Abdul- Hussein Abdul-Aal, Majid Salman Ibrahim Al-Haddad, and Nader Ali Ahmad Al-Salatna. The three men are members of the Unemployment Committee. They were among eleven human rights defenders arrested between 21 and 28 December 2007 by the Special Security Forces (SFF) following demonstrations which were held on 17 December 2007, in Manama and other regions in Bahrain, in which a protester, Ali Jessam Mekki, was killed. The demonstrations were organised by members of the National Committee of Martyr and Victims of Torture to mark the 13th anniversary of the death of two young Shiite men killed by Security Forces while participating in a demonstration calling for restoration of democracy.

Eight human rights defenders remain in custody: Abdullah Mohsen Abdulah Saleh, member of the Unemployment Committee; Naji Ali Fateel, member of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (SYSHR); Mohammed Abdullah Al Sengais, head of the Committee to Combat High Prices; Maytham Bader Jassim Al-Sheikh, member of the Unemployment Committee; Ahmad Jaffar Mohammed Ali, member of the Unemployment Committee; Hassan Abdulnabi, Board member of the Unemployment Committee; Hassan Abdelnabi Hassan, member of the Unemployment Committee;and Ebrahim Mohamed Amin-Al-Arab, founding member of the Martyrs and Victims of Torture Committee. Both Hassan Abdelnabi Hassan and Ebrahim Mohamed Amin-Al-Arab have been arrested in the past. All eleven human rights defenders have been accused of having taken part in an ‘illegal gathering and rioting’ and of ‘theft of a weapon and ammunition and possession of a weapon and ammunition without permission’.

According to reports received, the human rights defenders did not have access to their lawyers until approximately 10 days after they were detained. They are all being detained at the Criminal Investigations Department, (CID) in Adliya.

I urge the authorities in Bahrain to:

Grant the immediate and unconditional release of the eight remaining human rights defenders:Abdullah Mohsen Abdulah Saleh, Naji Ali Fateel, Mohammed Abdullah Al Sengais, Maytham Bader Jassim Al-Sheikh, Ahmad Jaffar Mohammed Ali, Hassan Abdulnabi, Hassan Abdelnabi Hassan and Ebrahim Mohamed Amin-Al-Arab as they are being detained solely on the basis of their legitimate non-violent human rights work;

•Take measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the eight remaining human rights defenders while in detention and ensure their freedom from ill treatment and torture, as is their right under Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

•Ensure that the treatment of the eight human rights defenders in custody adheres to all those conditions set out in the ‘Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners, adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990’;

•Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders and organisations are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment;

•Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the killing of the protestor, Ali Jessam Mekki, with the results made public and those found responsible brought to justice in accordance with international standards;

•Take measures to ensure that all human rights defenders in Bahrain, carrying out their legitimate work in human rights, are able to operate free of restrictions and harassment.

Yours sincerely,