Bahrain: Abduction and beating of human rights defender, Mr Jaafar Kadhim

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the abduction and beating of human rights defender Mr Jaafar Kadhim in Manama, on 7 May 2009. Jaafar Kadhim has worked for the Committee of Activists and Prisoners of Conscience since December 2007 and has helped to organise peaceful marches and protests for the rights of detainees. In 2007-2008 he hosted many meetings in his house between relatives of detainees and visiting foreign journalists and international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International. Front Line previously issued an appeal concerning the detention of Jaafar Kadhim on 5 February 2009.

On 7 May 2009, at approximately 8.45pm, Jaafar Kadhim was abducted by a group of men in plain clothes driving two separate cars, a red Tida and a grey Lancer. Jaafar Kadhim was driving his own car near Jidhafs Medical Center, west of Manama, when his car was stopped by the men in the two cars. They pulled the human rights defender out of his car and blindfolded him. He was then driven for about 10 minutes to an unknown destination where he was severely beaten until he eventually lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness he managed to find his way to the nearby house of his friend Mr Hassan Mushaima from where he was transferred to hospital by ambulance.

Front Line is deeply concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Jaafar Kadhim and believes that the abduction and beating of this human rights defender is an attempt to sanction him for his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights.