Arbitrary arrests following peaceful 'Car Parade' in Bahrain

Front Line is concerned that the situation for human rights defenders in Bahrain is rapidly deteriorating. From reports received approximately 30 people, including human rights defenders, have been arrested and charged under a number of articles of the penal code of 1976, a document which was widely condemned by the UN and human rights organisations throughout the 80s and 90s. Among those detained are Abdul-Raoof Al-Shayeb (Spokesperson) and Mahmood Ramadan (Board member) of the National Committee for Martyrs & Victims of Torture in Bahrain, and Jaffar Hassan Ahmed Isa.

The human rights defenders were arrested for their participation in a ‘Car Parade’ on 28th October 2004, in which over 300 people took to the streets to demonstrate their non-violent opposition to the impromptu closure of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and the arbitrary detention of its Executive Director, Mr Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja. A number of demonstrations have been organised since his arrest on 26th September 2004, but this last parade was a reaction to the most recent developments, notably, the denial of Mr Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja’s third request for bail by the Bahraini criminal court (25th October 2004). Protestors are also concerned by government threats to take punitive action against the BCHR and its members.

Front Line is calling on the Bahraini authorities to:

* Secure the physical and psychological integrity of the detainees, including the human rights defenders Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja, Abdul-Raoof Al-Shayeb, Mahmood Ramadan and Jaffar Hassan Ahmed Isa, and ensure that they are not tortured or ill-treated during their detention; * Order the immediate release of all arbitrarily arrested human rights defenders, including Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja, Abdul-Raoof Al-Shayeb, Mahmood Ramadan and Jaffar Hassan Ahmed Isa, unless legitimate charges are found and brought against them; * Remove any obstacles which prevent human rights defenders in Bahrain from carrying out their legitimate and important work of defending ad promoting human rights.