Front Line is concerned following reports of the recent judicial proceedings against Mohamed Abdul Nabi Al-Maskati, Director of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), an organisation that organises training workshops and monitors human rights violations.
Further Information
Posted 20/12/2007 On 27 November, 2007, Mohamed Abdul Nabi Al-Maskati was called to present himself at the Fourth Minor Criminal Court on charges of “activating [...an...] unregistered association before issuing the declaration of registration”. The trial of Mohamed Abdul Al-Maskati has been postponed until the next session of the court on 21 January 2008. If convicted, Mohamed Abdul Al-Maskati could face up to six months in prison and/or a fine of 5,000 dinars.
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights originally applied for registration as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in June 2005, but has never received an official response from the Bahraini government. Prior to the arrest of Mohamed Abdul Nabi Al-Maskati, the BYSHR received notification from the Ministry of Social Affairs that the organisation's leader would be prosecuted if they did not cease their activities.
Such charges are made under the Bahraini Penal Code of 1976 and the Association Law of 1989, which require NGOs to register with the authorities. In practice, this legislation affords the authorities the opportunity to impede the activities of human rights organisations and civil society movements.
Front Line believes that the presence of free and functioning civil society movements underpins any democratic society and believes that the charges brought against Mohamed Abdul Nabi Al-Maskati may be directly related to his work, and that of his organisation, in defence of human rights, and fears that it may form part of an ongoing campaign against civil society organisations and human rights defenders in Bahrain.
Action Finished:
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
