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Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja Letter from Prison February 2012posted on: 2012/02/13

Open Letter written by Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja to Danish Foreign Minister on the eve of his hunger strike in which he demanded his freedom and that of the other detainees.

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Dublin/London: International Mission to Bahrain Report "Justice Denied in Bahrain: Freedom of Expression and Assembly Curtailed" says promises for reform unfulfilled, while situation deteriorates posted on: 2012/01/24

The report from a six-member mission of international organisations to Bahrain last November called out Bahraini authorities for failing to deliver on promises of reform, despite a highly-touted commission of inquiry which made numerous recommendations.

International Mission to Bahrain Report: "Justice Denied in Bahrain"posted on: 2012/01/23

The following report documents the findings of a delegation comprised of representatives from six international rights groups (three members and three partners of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, IFEX), which carried out a fact-finding mission between 20-30 November, 2011, in order to gain an understanding of the state of free expression and the status of human rights defenders in Bahrain.

Bahrain: National Day, 16 December, Free Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja – End the Violence against human rights defendersposted on: 2011/12/16

On the occasion of Bahrain's National Day Front Line Defenders renews its call for the release of human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-khawaja with the unveiling of a 2,500 square foot banner in St Stephen's Green in the centre of Dublin.

"It requires no commissions or lengthy deliberations to set free those who have been systematically tortured and denied a fair trial," said Front Line Defenders' Executive Director Mary Lawlor in Dublin today, as she called on King Hamad to free Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, the organisation's former Protection Coordinator for the Middle East who was sentenced to life imprisonment after a grossly unfair trial during which the judge refused to deal with the issue of his brutal torture while in custody.

"Front Line Defenders is also deeply concerned at reports received today of excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators during which Zainab Al-Khawaja, daughter of Abdulhad was arrested. We call for her immediate release", added Ms Lawlor.

This latest violent crackdown further underlines the urgent need for King Hamad and the Government of Bahrain to end the violent repression of human rights defenders and begin the process of reform.

King Hamad has made a commitment to implement significant political and social reforms in response to the findings of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Enquiry (BICI) report which confirmed the systematic torture of detainees and the denial of basic fair trial measures but there has been little progress on practical implementation until now.

“Front Line Defenders is calling on the King to release all human rights defenders currently in detention or facing charges on the basis of their peaceful activities,” said Ms Lawlor. "Sentences handed down against medical professionals following grossly unfair trials should also be quashed."

Front Line Defenders welcomed the publication of the BICI report and the Bahraini Government's proclaimed commitment to implement reforms to end torture. The Government has replaced the Head of National Security and instigated investigations into the behaviour of some low level officials. They have also sought to appoint a National Commission to implement the recommendations of the BICI report, however, until now they have not been able to get broad engagement with this process.

The brutal repression of regular protests has continued. “The credibility of King Hamad's commitment to reform is undermined by the continued detention of human rights defenders whose sentences were based on confessions extracted under torture and secret evidence which was not made available to the defence lawyers for rebuttal”, said Ms Lawlor.

A case in point is the 28 November hearing in the proceedings against the doctors (three of whom trained in the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin) who had been sentenced to prison terms of between 5 and fifteen years because of their work treating injured demonstrators. The hearing was adjourned as the prosecution attempted to introduce new evidence for the prosecution in breach of all accepted trial procedures.

“If King Hamad does not honour his commitment to reform his statements to date will be seen as mere public relations. The first step to establishing the credibility of his commitment is to order the release of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja”, concluded Ms Lawlor.

For further information please contact:

Jim Loughran, Head of Communications - Front Line Defenders

Tel +353 1 212 37 50 – Mob +353 (0)87 9377586

BAHRAIN: INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION CALLS FOR AN END TO FREE EXPRESSION VIOLATIONS & HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS TO BE FREEDposted on: 2011/12/01

All human rights defenders and those in detention as a result of the National Safety laws enacted in Bahrain should be freed immediately, said a delegation of six international rights organisations visiting the country this past week to investigate freedom of expression.

Bahrain: Appeal of doctors in Bahrain adjourned as prosecution attempts to introduce new evidence for the prosecution in breach of normal trial proceduresposted on: 2011/11/28

Front Line Defenders' Adam Shapiro was an observer today at the latest stage in the appeal by the 20 doctors and health professionals, including Irish trained Dr Ghassan Daif, Dr Basim Daif and Dr Ali Al Ekri, who were appealing against their sentences of between 5 and 15 years.

The appeal hearing resumed this morning at the courtroom of the Ministry of Justice in Manama, and ultimately was adjourned until 9 January.

As the appeal hearing got underway today the prosecution attempted to introduce new evidence which had never been presented in the original hearing. “The court proceedings today gave a strong indication that the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) led by Professor Cherif Bassiouni was having little impact on the proceedings.

Despite finding that the medics, among others, were subject to unfair trial practices, and despite a commitment by the Public Prosecutor to uphold standards of fair trial, what transpired in the courtroom amounted to a virtual side show” said Adam Shapiro.

After Dr.

Adam Shapiro in Bahrain - "She can’t recall how many times she has breathed in the tear gas of the riot police or hid in a home"

It is Friday night in Bahrain. The interior of the franchise coffee house is the same as it is anywhere in the world, with necessary local flourishes added for flavor. In addition to standard fare cappuccinos and cakes, are added Shish Taouk wraps and other such efforts at appealing to a local palette. But that is where any similarity ends between this coffee house and its sisters in New York, London or Dubai.

At tables scattered throughout the cafe, there are hushed conversations over coffee whilst smartphones and laptops are being held and everyone tries to keep an eye on what is going on outside. Across the street, two riot police SUV are parked in an empty lot off a roundabout adjacent to a Bahraini village with their headlights fixed on the first row of homes. One policeman in full riot gear stands outside the vehicle and stares ahead, monitoring the flow of cars into the village.

Back inside the café, Zainab Al-Khawaja conducts her work as a human rights defender and opposition activist on the front lines.

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"I tried to do my best" Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja

Even though I knew Abdulhadi, our friend and former colleague was tortured, it was truly awful to read about the barbaric treatment he got. The Bahrain Independent Committee (BICI) forensic team included details of his treatment in the report launched yesterday.

Yes we knew he had been beaten so badly that he had to have a 4 hour operation on his face.He had four broken bones.

But what we didn't know, was that in hospital, he had been blindfolded and shackled to the bed for about seven days . When he asked the hospital staff to loosen the cuffs, they refused.The doctor told him that he needed three weeks of care but he was taken to Al Qurain Prison a week later. We didn't know he spent two months in solitary confinement in a small cell measuring approximately 2.5m x 2m.

Eight days after his surgery,the beatings started again. Masked guards cursed him and hit him in his head and hands, causing swelling. . He was also beaten on the soles of his feet (falaka) and on his toes. He was sexually abused and threatened with execution.

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Dublin/Bahrain: BICI report confirms systematic use of torture posted on: 2011/11/24

Front Line Defenders welcomes the launch of the report of the Government appointed Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) BICI Report which confirms the systematic torture of human rights defenders including medical professionals in Bahrain and calls for those responsible to be held accountable.