Bahreïn: le procès de sept défenseurs des droits humains est reporté

Your Majesty,

I am concerned following reports of the postponement of the court hearing of the seven human rights defenders: Maytham Badar Jassim Am-Sheikh, Hassan Abdelnabi Hassan, Abdullah Mohsen Abdulah Saleh, Ahmad Jaffar Mohammed Ali, members of the Unemployment Committee, Naji Ali Fateel, member of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), Mohammed Abdullah Al Sengais, head of the Committee to Combat High Prices, and Ebrahim Mohamed Amin-Al-Arab, founding member of the Martyrs and Victims Committee.

The court session was scheduled for 4 February 2008, at the High Criminal Court. On 4 February 2008, at approximately 10.00am, without the presence of the human right defenders, the presiding judge informed the lawyers of the defendants that the court session would be postponed until 3.00pm. At 3.00 pm, the court hearing went ahead without the presence of their lawyers. The trial was further adjourned until 24 February 2008.

The aforementioned human rights defenders were among a group of human rights defenders arrested by the Special Security Forces (SFF) between 21 and 28 December 2007, following demonstrations in Manama on 17 December 2007. They are currently being detained in the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB). Three were released without charges on 10 January 2008. The remaining seven human rights defenders face charges 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’. Ebrahim Mohamed Amin-Al-Arab- has been charged with ‘possession of a weapon and ammunition without permission’.

I believe that Abdullah Mohsen Abdulah Saleh, Naji Ali Fateel, Mohammed Abdullah Al Sengais, Maytham Bader Jassim Al-Sheikh, Ahmad Jaffar Mohammed Ali, Hassan Abdelnabi Hassan and Ebrahim Mohamed Amin-Al-Arab have been detained and subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading forms of ill-treatment and torture as a result of their legitimate and peaceful activities in defence of human rights.

I urge the authorities in Bahrain to:

• Grant the immediate and unconditional release of the seven 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 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 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 and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

• Ensure that the treatment of the 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;

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

Yours sincerely,