More restrictions imposed on freedom of expression by the Bahraini regime
22 July, 2013 – ABNA

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – The National Democratic Opposition Parties in Bahrain condemned the arbitrary measures taken by the regime against the people by banning pro-democracy protests and imposing more restriction on the right of assembly to prevent the people from calling for their rights.

The opposition parties stated that the right to protest in the capital Manama has been absolutely banned by the regime as it is now completely forbidding the people from their right to protest and assemble.

On Friday 19th, the regime banned two peaceful protests organized by the opposition parties in Bahrain. By this, tge regime is imposing more suffocating measures on the freedom of expression in the country.

The opposition parties stressed the ban on protests is unlawful and unconstitutional and is a form of oppression where the law used to punish dissidents. This is completely unacceptable, the opposition said.

The right to protest is a humanitarian right that is guaranteed by international covenants and laws and cannot be confiscated by the Authority nor any other party, the opposition democratic parties added.

The ban comes in the context of the repressive security escalation and campaign of incitement.

The opposition parties pointed out that all Bahrainis have the right to protest and to express their opinons. The regime adds more human rights violations to its shameful record by the people from exercising their basic humanitarian right to protest for democracy.

Thus, the international community is demanded to take a clear stance on this systematic escalation taken by the regime against the people of Bahrain.

19July 2013

Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society (AlWefaq)

National Democratic Action Society (Waad)

National Democratic Gathering Society (AlQawmi)

Unitary National Democratic Assemblage (Wahdawy)

Ekhaa National Society (Ekhaa)

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Bahraini authorities raid homes and torture suspects for confessions
24 July, 2013 – albawaba

(AFP/MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH) Bahraini protestors run for cover during clashes with riot police following a protest against the ruling regime.

Security forces in Bahrain have been raiding dozens of homes each day since April, arbitrarily arresting young men, and torturing them to force confessions to some crime, a local rights group said on Tuesday.

Plainclothes police, some of them dressed in neon-colored vests and black ski masks, knocked down doors of houses in at least 10 villages across the tiny Gulf monarchy on Monday and arrested several people, Yousif al-Muhafda, deputy-head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), said.

In the latest home invasions on Tuesday, Muhafda documented raids in at least four villages including al-Shakhtoura, Sehla, Nabi Saleh and Ma’ameer with a number of arrests.

“In one day, there are at least 30-35 house raids,” the rights activist told Al-Akhbar.

“Many times they aren’t looking for specific people. They just storm a house and ask the family if they have any young men,” Muhafda added.

In a period of five days from July 17 – 21, the BCHR documented over 60 arrests, 140 injuries from birdshot, and 150 house raids.

Hundreds of others have been arrested in a recent escalation of house raids, which began during a massive crackdown on activists ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix in the capital Manama in April.

Some of those taken into custody included persons with physical and mental disabilities. For example, Qassem Ghaloum Ahmad, who suffers from a mental disability, was detained last week in arbitrary arrests. Before him, security forces had arrested blind and deaf youths.

“Bahrain is now living under martial law,” Muhafda said. “The house raids never stop. For 24 hours yesterday (Monday), they went from one village to the next.”

Once arrested, the mostly-young Bahrainis are held in Dry Dock Prison where they are routinely beaten and tortured with no access to family or a lawyer.

Afterwards they are sent to the criminal investigation office where they are blindfolded and asked to sign a document confessing to a crime. If they refuse, or ask to see a lawyer, they are sent back to Dry Dock for more beatings.

Such was the case with prominent activist Naji Fateel who has been imprisoned since May on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization and attending an illegal gathering, Muhafda, who is familiar with the incident, said.

Authorities in western-backed Bahrain have been attempting to crush a popular pro-democracy uprising that erupted in February 2011. …more

Bahraini Opposition Vows to Continue Protests
28 July, 2013 – FARS

TEHRAN (FNA)- Bahrainis will continue their protests against the government because the ruling regime has failed to propose a political solution to meet people’s demands, a top Bahraini opposition figure said.

Mohammed al-Motawa, a senior official of the Unity Democratic Gathering Society (Wahdawy), told al-Alam on Saturday, the revolutionary people of Bahrain have not received a clear and transparent answer from the regime yet and are still waiting to see what the king has to offer for ending the crisis in the country.

Al-Motawa said the regime tried to silence the voice of revolutionaries and imprison political activists instead of listening to their demands.

Bahraini regime enjoys enormous military tools and green light from regional and international powers, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the US, to clampdown popular protests, he added.

The politician urged Manama regime not to be afraid of respecting people’s rights and avoid killing innocent activists.

Bahraini political parties offered their demands and proposals in a meeting with a group of government representatives on Saturday but Manama regime has refused to answer the request yet.

Bahrain is in the middle of a popular uprising that erupted in mid-February 2011 in the small Persian Gulf island nation, with demonstrators calling for democratic reforms.

The Manama regime promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces from neighboring states to help them silent the protests.

Dozens of people have been killed in the crackdown, and the security forces have arrested hundreds, including doctors and nurses.

A report published by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in November 2011 found that the Al Khalifa regime had used excessive force in the crackdown and accused Manama of torturing political activists, politicians, and protesters. …more

Bahraini forces escalate house raids, arbitrary arrests: NGO
23 July, 2013 – Al Akhbar

Security forces in Bahrain have been raiding dozens of homes each day since April, arbitrarily arresting young men, and torturing them to force confessions to some crime, a local rights group said on Tuesday.

Plainclothes police, some of them dressed in neon-colored vests and black ski masks, knocked down doors of houses in at least 10 villages across the tiny Gulf monarchy on Monday and arrested several people, Yousif al-Muhafda, deputy-head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), said.

In the latest home invasions on Tuesday, Muhafda documented raids in at least four villages including al-Shakhtoura, Sehla, Nabi Saleh and Ma’ameer with a number of arrests.

“In one day, there are at least 30-35 house raids,” the rights activist told Al-Akhbar.

“Many times they aren’t looking for specific people. They just storm a house and ask the family if they have any young men,” Muhafda added.

In a period of five days from July 17 – 21, the BCHR documented over 60 arrests, 140 injuries from birdshot, and 150 house raids.

Hundreds of others have been arrested in a recent escalation of house raids, which began during a massive crackdown on activists ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix in the capital Manama in April.

Some of those taken into custody included persons with physical and mental disabilities. For example, Qassem Ghaloum Ahmad, who suffers from a mental disability, was detained last week in arbitrary arrests. Before him, security forces had arrested blind and deaf youths.

“Bahrain is now living under martial law,” Muhafda said. “The house raids never stop. For 24 hours yesterday (Monday), they went from one village to to the next.”

Once arrested, the mostly-young Bahrainis are held in Dry Dock Prison where they are routinely beaten and tortured with no access to family or a lawyer.

Afterwards they are sent to the criminal investigation office where they are blindfolded and asked to sign a document confessing to a crime. If they refuse, or ask to see a lawyer, they are sent back to Dry Dock for more beatings. …more

Bahrain: Horrific torture tales at Alkhalifa kangaroo court
29 July, 2012 – SHAFAQNA

SHAFAQNA (International Shia News Association) – The past few days have witnessed one of harshest campaigns, collective punishment and en-mass trials in the country. Scores were kidnapped from their homes, offices or the street, taken to torture chambers and subjected to most horrific treatment. The towns of Samaheej, Duraz, Sitra, Karzakkan and others were raided by armed security men and hooded militias to induce fear in the hearts of Bahrainis. Those detained suffered great deals of torture to the extent that the regime’s torture personnel have denied that they had arrested some of them, leading to fears that some prisoners may have perished in the torture chambers. This campaign of state-terrorism started at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadhan to disorientate the people and divert them from the path of worship and struggle.

At the same time the Alkhalifa kangaroo courts resumed their sessions to send more Bahrainis to prison on trumpeted charges. On Thursday 25th July scores of Bahrainis were brought into these courts only to be humiliated by the Alkhalifa judges. Among them was Raihana Al Mousawi, one of two women arrested during the Formula 1 race in April. At her last appearance two weeks ago she told the court that she had been subjected to torture, abused and stripped off her clothes. The judge refused to document her torture complaints and failed to take any action to investigate these heinous crimes.

The group which is being tried is accused of being members of the 14th February Coalition. Among those present were Jihad Mohammad Ali and Ali Habib who were limping as they entered the court room due to the severe torture they had endured. A third person was Abd Ali Al Singace whose hand and neck had wrappings indicating the extent of torture. The fourth was Naji Fateel who had removed his shirt in the last session to expose the horrific wounds due to severe beating and hanging from the hands and legs. Another person was Hamid Al Safi who became furious when he saw Raihana Al Mousawi at the court again after her first ordeal two weeks ago. The judge ordered his removal from the court. Three others were also brought; Jaffar Al Jamri, Mohammad Ali Ashoor and Abd Ali Mohammad Khair. The Bahraini patriots started detailing their torture ordeals , but the judge kept interrupting them and asking them to stop talking. The ruling family had prevented a representative of Front Line Defenders and a Bahraini human rights activist, Mohammad Al Masqati from attending in order to keep the lid on those tales of horror. The session was abruptly brought to an end when the defence team refused the presence of one of the Alkhalifa members and the son of a prominent regime’s crony as judges. The families of the Bahraini victims were not allowed into the court room. …more

Bahrain: No Justice for Human Rights Defenders
28 July, 2013 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights

The Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR) and Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) express their grave concern over the lack of justice in Bahrain. Bahraini citizens, including human rights defenders and journalist, have been victims of the judicial system where trials do not meet the international standards and follow the due process. Human rights defenders, Naji Fateel, and Nazeeha Saeed, are just two examples of the unfair judicial system, which is used to create false charges against human rights defenders and activists.

Naji Fateel, a board member of the Bahrain Youth Human Rights Society (BYHRS), was arrested on 2 May 2013 from his home in Bani Jamra and held incommunicado for 3 days before being transferred to the Dry Dock prison. The Public Prosecution Office ordered his detention for 45 days. On 23 May 2013, Naji was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for “illegal assembly”. On 12 June 2013, Bahrain national television aired names and photos of Bahraini citizens it claimed that they are behind the set up of the so-called “Coalition of 14 February”, Naji was one them.

Naji Fateel faces the alleged charged of “establishing a terrorist group for the purpose of disturbing public security, disabling constitution and law, preventing public institution and authorities from performing their duties, attacking public and personal rights, and harming national unity”, under the internationally condemned ‘Terrorism Law’. In his first court hearing, which was held on 11 July 2013, Naji talked publicly about the torture he was subjected to and took his shirt off to show the torture marks on his back. However, instead of taking immediate action and carry out an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the allegations of torture, the judge did not allow the defendants to complete their testimonies and refused to take note of their allegations.

On 26 July 2013, the second hearing of the trial was held, and yet in another violation to his legal rights, Naji Fteel was not brought to court, which is believed to be due to his public allegations that he had been tortured during his interrogation and detention. BCHR’s head of documentation, Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafadha, has attended the trial on behalf of BCHR and GCHR. He stated that “the investigation with Naji Fateel and others involved in the case was not about the “Coalition of 14 February”, rather about their participation in protests, the Pearl roundabout, and other activities.” He added that “the court took an illegal decision when postponed the hearing to 5 September 2013 in order to call the witnesses, although the lawyers did not request that.” He concluded by saying “it is clear that this court is violating the international standards for fair trials as they want to continue this ‘mockery of justice’ without the lawyers and defendants.”

The lawyers in the “Coalition of 14 February” of which Naji is one of the defendants, have submitted a letter to the court explaining the reasons why the judge Ali Khalifa Al-Dhahrani should step down. The letter stated that the defendants are accused of aiming to “prevent the public institution and authorities from performing their duties” and no doubt the House of Representatives is one of these institutions which is headed by Khalifa Al-Dharani, the father of judge Ali Al-Dhahrani who is heading the court which deals with this case. This, in addition to the fact that the House of Representative and its members have publicly stated their pro-government positions in relation to the case which may influence the court, thus a conflict of interest is present here, according to article 221 of the code of criminal procedure law. The letter was submitted on 25 July 2013, however, the lawyers did not receive any response as yet.

The second case is that of human rights defender and journalist, Nazeeha Saeed, Bahrain correspondent for France 24 and Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya, who was subjected to torture in Riffa police station at the hand of security personnel in 2011. Describing her torture Nazeeha stated that “she was blindfolded, kicked, punched, and slapped. Her hair was pulled, she was whipped with plastic tubing, had a shoe forced into her mouth and her head dunked into a toilet. An unknown, caustic liquid said to be urine was poured onto her face, she was repeatedly insulted and mentally abused and asked to make a false confession.” …more

Bahrain press hails new ‘anti-terror’ powers
29 July, 2013 = Agence France Presse – The Daily Star

DUBAI: Bahrain’s pro-government press on Monday hailed tough new powers given to the authorities to address what they say is an upsurge in “terrorist” violence linked to Shiite-led pro-democracy protests.

The loyalist-dominated parliament, which is boycotted by the Shiite opposition, gave authorities powers to revoke the citizenship of anyone “recognised as guilty of committing or inciting an act of terrorism.”

At an extraordinary session on Sunday requested by King Hamad in the midst of a parliamentary recess, MPs also recommended “a ban on gatherings and rallies” in the capital.

It called for emergency law to be declared in the Sunni-ruled Shiite-majority Gulf kingdom if the need arose in the run-up for a major opposition demonstration called for mid-August.

MPs urged authorities to prosecute political groups that “incite and support acts of violence and terrorism,” as well as those that use media social networks to “spread false information.”

The Al-Ayam newspaper described the recommendations as “historic,” and a reflection of a “national consensus to fight terrorism” in the kingdom.

The authorities say there have been a growing number of shootings and bombings targeting police stations and patrols in Shiite villages outside the capital in recent months, which they blame on “terrorists.”

But they have often used the term in the past to refer to Shiite demonstrators who have kept up pro-democracy protests despite a 2011 crackdown backed by Saudi-led Gulf troops, sparking repeated clashes with security forces.

A car bomb exploded outside a Sunni mosque, close to the royal court in Rifaa, south of Manama, on July 17 without causing any casualties, officials said. There have since been three arrests.

In mid-February, a police officer was killed by a petrol bomb during clashes with protesters, after a teenager was shot dead during a demonstration marking the second anniversary of the launch of the protests.

At least 80 people have been killed in Bahrain since the protests erupted, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.

Strategically located across the Gulf from Shiite Iran, Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and is an offshore financial and services centre for its oil-rich Gulf Arab neighbours.

…more