Syrian journalist Ayham Ghazzoul dies under torture – NGO
1 February, 2013 – KUNA

PARIS, Feb 1 (KUNA) — Imprisoned Syrian journalist Ayham Mustafa Gazzoul has died while being tortured at the hands of the Syrian Regime, Press NGO Reporters Without Borders (RWB) reported Friday.

Ghazzoul, 45, was a contributor to the Damascus-based Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) and was arrested on November 5, 2012, a statement said.

“We strongly condemn Ghazzoul’s murder and our thoughts go out to his family and friends as well as to his SCM colleagues who are still detained,” RWB secretary general Christophe Deloire said.

“We call for an investigation by the international peace envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, and for the release of all prisoners of conscience currently held in Syrian jails.” Ghazzoul was already arrested in February 2012, before being released after being convicted of possession of illegal documents damaging to the State.

He was blamed for playing an important role with the SCM in documenting atrocities and human rights abuses by the regime of Bashar Al-Assad.
He died in detention at the Air Force Intelligence headquarters. …source

Bahrain: Right to Defense Denied, Mother of Two Sentenced to Prison in Politically Motivated Trial
1 February, 2013 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its deep concern regarding judicial system, which lacks independence and fairness.
Siddiqa Al-Basri, (25 years old) a mother of two, was arrested from court on the 28th of January after she had her 6 months prison sentence upheld by the Court of Cassation for allegedly insulting a police officer and disobeying orders. Al-Basri was never presented with the opportunity to defend herself at any stage of the trial and appeal process.

During the state of martial law that was in place during April 2011, Al-Basri passed through a security checkpoint in her car where police officers inspected her and her car without justification or warrant. She was insulted, humiliated and mistreated by the officers. When she tried to leave the car and walk away, the officers pursued her, assaulted and finally arrested her on the charge of disobeying their orders and insulting the security forces for reportedly saying: “I’m from Sitra and I fear only God.”

Moreover Al-Basri was accused by the military prosecution of illegal gathering, causing a riot, and inciting hatred against regime at the same time. Her ID card was taken by police officers, and she was detained for ten days before she was released and referred to the military court (National Safety Court), which sentenced her on 21 June 2011 to two years of imprisonment in the second session of the trial. This sentence took place in the absence of a lawyer and without hearing her defence. She was released on bail of 200 Bahraini dinars pending appeal.

On 1 March 2012 the court of appeal denied Al-Basri’s right to present an appeal, and proceeded with passing a sentence of six months imprisonment. Her lawyer (Mohsin Al-Alawi) was denied requests to present his defence and question prosecution witnesses, such as the police officer who attacked her. Requests were also denied for the video recording from the Ministry of Interior’s security camera at the checkpoint.
The last hope for Al-Basri was the court of cassation, which has, unfortunately, upheld the sentence despite the blatant disregard for due process during the appeal trial. She was immediately rearrested from the court and is due to serve the next 5 months and 20 days in prison.

The Bahraini Constitution states in Article 20, that an accused person is innocent until proved guilty in a legal trial in which he is assured of the necessary guarantees to exercise the right of defence at all stages of the investigation and trial in accordance with the law.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the US, UK, the UN and all other ally governments and international institutions to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to:

– Immediatly release Siddiqa Al-Basri, review the court’s decision, and drop the politicaly motivated charges against her.

– Immediately suspend all politically motivated trials that are still ongoing for hundreds of the Bahraini people who are suspected of supporting or sympathizing with the uprising of February 14.

– Establish an independent judicial system, that is neutral and transparent and that ensures the conditions of a fair trial for all defendants according to international standards.

– Immediately hold accountable those responsible for corruption in the judiciary and in the provisions of unfair and unjust courts.

– Adhere to international and Bahraini law, which provides for the right of the accused to have fair litigation and an adequate defense.

– Enable lawyers to practice their work in defending the accused in the courts free of harassment and targeting. …more

Eight Medical Professionals Dismissed from Bahrain Ministry of Health
31 January, 2013 – Physicians for Human Rights

(PHR) condemns today’s decision by Bahrain’s Ministry of Health to dismiss from their ministry jobs eight medical professionals convicted in connection with providing medical care to protesters during the Arab Spring of 2011.

Of the eight people dismissed—seven physicians and one nurse—four are also serving prison sentences ranging from one to five years.

“These medical professionals were arrested simply for carrying out their ethical duty to treat injured people,” said Richard Sollom, deputy director of PHR. “They were then tortured, forced to confess to crimes they did not commit, convicted on trumped-up charges, and imprisoned unjustly. For them now to be forced out of their government jobs merely continues a long chain of baseless abuse by the regime.”

Sollom added: “These medical professionals should be treating patients, not languishing in jail or forced to seek alternate employment. They have lost not just their freedom but their jobs, their income, and their standing in the medical community. These additional penalties may be intended as an additional warning to physicians that treating protesters might jeopardize their careers.”

PHR calls on the health ministry to reinstate the doctors and nurse in their jobs immediately with compensation for lost wages, and also to compensate those who were tortured while in custody.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is an independent organization that uses medicine and science to stop mass atrocities and severe human rights violations against individuals. We are supported by the expertise and passion of health professionals and concerned citizens alike.

Since 1986, PHR has conducted investigations in more than 40 countries around the world, including Afghanistan, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, the United States, the former Yugoslavia, and Zimbabwe. …more