Sheikh Mohamed Ali AlMahfoodh : Secretary General of Amal Society http://www.amal-islami.net . One of the widely known clergymen around the Islamic world and one of the opposition symbols in the country, a leader of a major civil society organization elected freely by its members. A father of 2 sons and 3 daughters. He was arrested on May 3rd 2011 , within the government crackdown on recent uprising in Bahrain. Almahfoodh two sons , (Hassan 17 years old and Hussain 26 years old ) and his son in law were arrested too.

Bahrain Trials Bear Marks Of ‘Political Persecution,’
Saturday, 25 June 2011, 2:12 pm
Press Release: United Nations

Bahrain Trials Bear Marks Of ‘Political Persecution,’ SAYS UN Human Rights Office

New York, Jun 24 2011 10:10AM
The United Nations human rights office today spoke out against the harsh sentences, including life imprisonment, handed down this week to several activists in Bahrain, saying their trials bear the marks of “political persecution.”

On Wednesday, Bahrain sentenced 21 activists and opposition leaders reportedly for plotting to overthrow the Government, which has been has engaged in a violent crackdown against protesters calling for greater democracy, as witnessed in other countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, is writing to King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa of Bahrain to convey her concerns, her spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, told reporters in Geneva.

“There are serious concerns that the due process rights of the defendants, many of whom are well-known human rights defenders, were not respected and the trials appear to bear the marks of political persecution,” said Ms. Shamdasani.

She added that, according to reliable sources, the Lower National Safety Court has convicted more than 100 individuals since March this year, mostly for crimes allegedly committed during the protests.

“We urge the authorities to act in strict accordance with their international human rights obligations, particularly regarding the right to due process and a fair trial,” Ms. Shamdasani said.

“We call for an immediate cessation of trials of civilians in the Court of National Safety, and an immediate release of all peaceful demonstrators who were arrested in the context of the protest movement in February.”

Up to 1,000 people reportedly remain in detention, according to the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), which has received “worrying” reports about the way they are being treated.

Ms. Shamdasani noted in particular that four individuals previously arrested reportedly died in detention due to injuries resulting from severe torture. She called on the Government to urgently conduct an independent investigation into these allegations.

OHCHR’s comments echo those of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who voiced his deep concern at the sentences handed out this week. In a statement issued yesterday by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban urged Bahraini authorities “to allow all defendants to exercise their right to appeal and to act in strict accordance with their international human rights obligations, including the right to due process and a fair trial.”
Jun 24 2011 10:10AM

Bahrain’s Anti-union Repression
ITUC-CSI-IGB

23 August 2011: The authorities in Bahrain are stepping up repression of the country’s trade union movement, with further suspensions and sackings of workers due to their actual or suspected participation in trade union and political actions earlier this year.

Government workers in particular are being targeted, including in health, education and municipal services, as the authorities seek to cleanse the public sector of workers who hold political opinions of which it does not approve.

Dismissals have in fact increased since June, and government workers facing dismissal report having to appear before disciplinary boards with no opportunity to mount a defence of any kind. There is little question that the outcomes of these hearings are predetermined. Minister of Labour, Jamil Humaidan, has disclaimed any responsibility over the public sector, effectively giving a green light to the on-going dismissals.

This year, some 2,600 workers in both the public and private sector have been fired, with an additional 361 workers suspended. Despite numerous promises to the contrary, the government has largely failed to reinstate workers illegally dismissed. According to the General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions (GFBTU), only 134 workers have been reinstated to date. Many of these workers had to agree to unacceptable, indeed illegal, conditions in order to get their jobs back – including agreeing not to take part in any future political activity, waiving the right to participate in legal cases against the government and agreeing not to re-join their trade union.

Six members of the GFBTU Executive Board remain dismissed as well as 44 Executive Board members of GFBTU-affiliated unions. Of great concern, the Vice-President of the Bahrain Teachers Association, Jalila al Salman and Roula al-Saffar, head of the Bahrain Nursing Society, are to stand trial before a military tribunal next week, despite the fact that they are both civilians. It is highly unlikely that either will get a fair trial on the dubious charges related to the protests earlier this year. The two were only recently released on bail after being jailed for months, where they were reported to have been subjected to torture and degrading treatment during their detention. …more

Bahrain’s anti-union repression escalates

Despite growing international pressure, the Bahraini authorities have stepped up the repression of the country’s trade union movement, sacking more than 100 government employees in recent weeks.

In total, more than 2,600, workers have been sacked since the pro-democracy uprising earlier this year. According to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), ‘Despite numerous promises to the contrary, the government has largely failed to reinstate workers illegally dismissed. According to the General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions (GFBTU), only 134 workers have been reinstated to date. Many of these workers had to agree to unacceptable, indeed illegal, conditions in order to get their jobs back – including agreeing not to take part in any future political activity, waiving the right to participate in legal cases against the government and agreeing not to re-join their trade union.’

The TUC is supporting an international appeal by Education International and Amnesty International to secure the release of two leaders of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association (BTA). While Jalila al Salman the Vice President of the BTA has been released on bail over the weekend, she is due to face trial before a military tribunal next week where it is ‘highly unlikely’ that she will get a fair trial according to the ITUC and Amnesty. Roula al-Saffar, head of the Bahrain Nursing Society is also standing trial.

Please sign Education International’s urgent action appeal calling on the Bahraini authorities to drop the charges against the BTA leaders and to respect the human rights of all workers in Bahrain. …more

Bahrain Bleeds for Liberty
3 March 2011 – By Mamoon Alabbasi – LONDON

Just before the Arab revolt erupted across the region there was much talk about how minorities in the Middle East we being mistreated. Of course such concerns were not unfounded, but many vocal critics never really cared for finding real solutions nor did they give much attention to the plight of minorities elsewhere around the world. In fact, they often were the very same people who encouraged abusing minorities in Europe and the US.

Minorities in the Arab world (and elsewhere) continued to suffer. However, what has really been missed was that the majorities in most Arab countries felt they were discriminated against more than anyone else. The signs were always there but few bothered to report it till the uprisings that swept the region left no room for doubt.

In Bahrain, a persecuted majority has literally been bleeding for equality and now, after days of anti-regime protests, dare dream of democracy. Unfortunately, many mainstream media outlets and so called analysts have failed to report the protests in Bahrain as a people’s struggle for democracy and equal rights.

Instead, they sought to stress the sectarian divides of the country, even though the protesters were calling for Sunni-Shiite unity against dictatorship. Analysts were also too preoccupied with the implications a democratic Bahrain would have on Saudi Arabia (negative) and on Iran (positive) – as if it is OK to deny Bahrainis their basic human rights just because that might not sit well regionally.

The role of the US in all of this is, of course, also crucial. The Fifth Fleet, a major US Navy base, has been in Bahrain for 63 years. As seven Bahrainis were killed following police crackdown on protesters, the US praised the monarchy for taking “positive steps” to reach out to demonstrators. During a visit to Bahrain, the top US military officer Admiral Mike Mullen reaffirmed Washington’s support for King Hamad’s “handling (of) the popular crisis” and “strong commitment” to Bahrain’s army. Mullen said his visit to the Gulf was aimed at “reaffirming, reassuring and also trying to understand where the leaderships of these countries are going, and in particular in Bahrain.”

Despite US calls for “restraint”, I do not see the people of Bahrain being reassured.

Some analysts fear that a democratic Bahrain would give Iran more influence in the region. This is ironic since many of those who claim to want total democracy for Iran do not wish that same privilege for the people of Bahrain, Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq (and elsewhere) precisely because they think that would benefit Iran. But why would a free and democratic Bahrain threaten anyone’s ‘legitimate’ interests? Freedom and equality in Bahrain serve first and foremost the people of Bahrain. The majority of the people of Bahrain are the legitimate voice of Bahrain; they cannot – by default – betray Bahrain. Nor do they wish any trouble in the region.

Saudi Arabia urged Bahraini’s opposition “to be reasonable in proposing their ideas, and accept what was offered by the government.” This is the same Saudi Arabia that said it rejects foreign intervention in Bahrain’s affairs and pledged its backing to the regime in Manama. But which of the opposition demands or slogans by protesters at Pear Square run against the interest of the people of Saudi Arabia (or any people for that matter)? None. Read some of them for yourself:

-“No Sunni, no Shiite, we are Bahraini!”
-“We are brothers, Sunnis and Shiites. We shall not abandon this country.”
-“Did you hear anybody raising a sectarian demand, or a demand for one part of the people of Bahrain?”
-“The time has come for true unity.”
-“We want a real consitutional monarchy”
-“We want an elected government.”
-“We want the people to write their constitution themselves through an elected council.”
-“The people should choose their government.”
-“We want a parliamentary, democratic regime — a regime with a free parliament elected by the free will of the people, and this parliament will form a government.”
-“People here are demanding democracy, and fair distribution of wealth, and these demands are for all the people.”

Mamoon Alabbasi (MA in applied linguistics) is a news editor and translator based in London. His op-eds, reports, poetry, and reviews have appeared in a number of media outlets.

21 prominent activists Appeal on 6th of September before a Military court
August 24th, 2011 – BYSHR

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned about the appeal hearing of the 21 prominent activist before a military court.

The BYSHR lawyer said that “the hearing for the final pleading.”

On the 22th of June 2011, Military Court judge issued a sentence on 21 defendants:

1-Abdulwahab Hussain Ali ( life sentence imprisonment)
2-Ibrahim Sharif Abdulraheem Mossa ( 5 Years imprisonment)
3-Hassan Ali Mushaima.( life sentence imprisonment)
4-Abdulhadi Al Khawaja ( life sentence imprisonment)
5-Abduljalil Abdullah Al Singace.( life sentence imprisonment)
6-Mohammed Habib Al Safaf. ( Mohammed Habib Miqdad) ( life sentence imprisonment)
7-Saeed Mirza Ahmed. ( Saeed AlNouri) ( life sentence imprisonment)
8-Abduljalil Mansoor Makk. (Abdul Jalil Miqdad) ( life sentence imprisonment)
9-Al Hurra Yousif Mohammed.( 2 Years imprisonment)
10-Abdullah Isa Al Mahroos.( 5 years imprisonment)
11-Salah Hubail Al Khawaj.( 5 years imprisonment)
12-Mohammed Hassan Jawad.( 15 years imprisonment)
13-Mohammed Ali Ismael. ( 15 years imprisonment))
14-Abdul Hadi Abdullah Mahdi Hassan ( Abdulhadi AlMukhodher) ( 15 years imprisonment)

Defendants ( not being arrested yet) :

15-Akeel Ahmed Al Mafoodh.( 15 years imprisonment)
16-Ali Hassan Abdullah.( Ali Abdulemam) ( 15 years imprisonment)
17-Abdulghani Ali Khanjar.( 15 years imprisonment)
18-Saeed Abdulnabi Shehab.( life sentence imprisonment)
19-Abdulraoof Al Shayeb.( 15 years imprisonment)
20-Abbas Al Omran.( 15 years imprisonment)
21-Ali Hassan Mushaima.( 15 years imprisonment)

Attached information about the Defendants – Click Here

…more