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Andrew Anderson en route to Bahrain following the recent clamp down & arrest of former colleague Abdulhadi Alkawaja

Andrew Anderson is on his way to Bahrain following the recent clamp down there and the arrest of former Front Line colleague and friend Abdulhadi Alkawaja.

Mohammed al- Tajer, a prominent human rights lawyer has also been arrested - http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/14839 "I met the distinguished Mohammed al-Tajer last year, his arrest shows the authorities are abandoning all pretence of the rule of law. Heading to Bahrain in the morning, the situation looks bleak. And very worried for friends in Syria too."

Keep checking for updates!

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Bahrain: Arrest and detention of human rights lawyer Mr Mohammed Al-Tajirposted on: 2011/04/18

On 15 April 2011, human rights lawyer Mr Mohammed Al-Tajir was arrested at his home by Bahraini police officers. Mohammed Al-Tajir is a prominent defence lawyer who has worked with more than 25 lawyers to defend human rights defenders and political activists held in incommunicado detention during the ongoing crackdown. He was one of the lead lawyers involved in the trial of 23 opposition and rights activists arrested during security sweeps last August and September and accused under Bahrain's counter-terrorism laws.

Bahrain: Fear of torture of human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Alkhawaja while in incommunicado detentionposted on: 2011/04/11

On 9 April 2011, human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja was arrested and beaten unconscious by police in Al-Manama, Bahrain. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a former Protection Co-ordinator for Front Line and former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR). His current whereabouts, along with that of two of his sons-in-law, remains unknown and he is believed to be at high risk of torture.

Bahrain: Beating and arrest of human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Alkhawajaposted on: 2011/04/09

On 9 April 2011, human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja was arrested and beaten unconscious by police in Al-Manama, Bahrain. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a former Protection Co-ordinator for Front Line and former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR). His current whereabouts, along with that of two of his sons-in-law, remains unknown and he is believed to be at high risk of torture.

Bahrain: UPDATE - Latest information on the situation of human rights defenders in Bahrainposted on: 2011/04/08

Further to the Front Line Urgent Appeal dated 6 April 2011, Front Line has received the following new information concerning human rights defenders in Bahrain:

Further Information

On 7 April 2011, human rights defender and blogger Mr Mohammed Al-Maskati was released, having spent one week in detention. It is not yet known whether any charges have been brought against him.

However, the authorities' crackdown on teachers and medical workers associations has continued. On 5 April 2011, Mr Mahdi Abu Deeb, President of the Bahraini Teacher's Association was arrested. He is reportedly being investigated for "incitement of hatred of the political regime" and "advocating regime change through the use of force".

Bahrain: Widespread crackdown on human rights defendersposted on: 2011/04/05

Over the past two weeks, human rights defenders in Bahrain have been subjected to an intensifying campaign of arrests, raids, threats and harassment as the authorities have cracked down on dissent following large-scale pro-democracy protests in February 2011.

Bahrain: UPDATE - Human rights defender Mr Mahmood Al-Yousif releasedposted on: 2011/04/01

On the night of 31 March 2011, human rights defender Mr Mahmood Al-Yousif was released from detention following a brief investigation. No charges were brought against him.

Further Information

Further to the Front Line Urgent Appeal dated 31 March 2011, Front Line has received the following new information concerning human rights defender Mr Mahmood Al-Yousif

On the night of 31 March 2011, human rights defender Mr Mahmood Al-Yousif was released from detention following a brief investigation.

Bahrain - Arrest and detention of human rights defender Mr Mahmood Al-Yousifposted on: 2011/03/31

On 30 March 2011, human rights defender Mr Mahmood Al-Yousif was arrested at his home in Duraz, Manama. His current whereabouts remains unknown. Mahmood Al-Yousif, a 50 year-old father of three, is an IT businessman and is a prominent blogger who has written extensively in favour of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Bahrain. He is also administrator of a website named 'Just Bahraini', which campaigns for unity between the Shia and Sunni communities in Bahrain under the slogan “Not Shia, Not Sunni, Just Bahraini”.

Bahrain: Reports of further threats against human rights defenders in context of escalating violenceposted on: 2011/03/15

Front Line is very concerned by reports of escalating violence and threats against human rights defenders following the announcement of the State of Emergency and the intervention by Saudi Arabia.

Further Information

These concerns have been exacerbated by the death threats circulated in recent days against prominent human rights defenders, In addition to the threats against Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Mohammed Al-Maskati and Naji Fateel raised in the Urgent Appeal of 11th March Front Line has also received reports of threats made against Nabeel Rajab and Maryam Al-Khawaja.

Bahrain: Fear of violent clampdown by the authorities as v escalates

At the moment there are many unconfirmed reports of heavy firing in Bahrain as the police open fire on demonstrators near the royal palace. Just last night we received reports of death threats against three prominent human rights defenders,Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Mohammed Al-Maskati and Naji Fateel. Abdulhadi Al Khawaja is a former staff member of Front Line - he was Front line's Protection Coordinator for the Middle East region. It would be a tragedy if the ongoing political negotiations were to end in all out violence.

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