Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja

Front Line has renewed concerns for the physical and psychological safety of Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, after sources reported that he may have been ill-treated while being forcibly carried into court on 7th November 2004. Observers have described Abdul Hadi as bare-chested and visibly bruised. Front Line calls on the Bahraini authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja as his detention is arbitrary.

Front Line is concerned that the situation for human rights defenders in Bahrain is 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.

Front Line is deeply concerned at the decision of the Labour and Social Affairs Minister Majid al-Alawi to dissolve the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR). The BCHR was reportedly closed for “activities contravening the Associations Law of 1989”. This decision took effect as of 29 September 2004. A governmental order was delivered to the BCHR, which also named an official to audit its accounts and activities. The order prohibits the BCHR human rights defenders in resuming all activities and freezes all funds.

The BCHR is a leading human rights organisation in Bahrain and the Gulf region. It is one of the two human rights NGOs to have been authorised in Bahrain when King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa gradually introduced political reforms after becoming ruler in 1999. One of BCHR’s major projects is “The Migrant Workers Group” which protects the rights and interests of its migrant workers, and was due to open a shelter for migrants who were victims of abuse, especially house maids.