Front Line registers Bahrain Center for Human Rights activists as “Human Rights Defenders”

Front Line registers Bahrain Center for Human Rights activists as “Human Rights Defenders”
Left: Sayed Yousif Al Mohafdah, Right: Laywer Mohammed Al Jishi
18th July 2011

In an international recognition of the efforts of the human rights defenders in Bahrain, a number of members of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) received certificates from Front Line registering them in the organization as “Human Rights Defenders”. The registered members were Sayed Yousif Al Mohafdah (board-member in BCHR) and Lawyer Mohammed Al Jishi (attorney for detainees in political cases).

Front Line is an international foundation operating from Dublin for the protection of human rights defenders globally. According to its definition of “Human Rights Defenders” they are individuals who through peaceful means work for the preservation of rights declared by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and others. Front Line strives to provide rapid and practical support to human rights defenders who are in danger and works to increase their identification and recognition as individuals under threat. Front Line has a Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations [1].

“Human rights defenders are people who make extra-ordinary sacrifices, often putting their lives at risk for the human rights of others. They are usually either on the move or on the run and they are the people who change society – that is why they need and deserve our support and why Front Line is so pleased to welcome this cross party support for human rights defenders today” said Mary Lawlor, Director Front Line [2].

Andrew Anderson said that the foundation granted membership to human rights defenders to encourage them to continue their brave work in shedding the light on human rights abuses in Bahrain and to provide some sort of international cover for them due to the dangers they are faced with. Moreover, the foundation installed a security system on the house of the Head of BCHR Nabeel Rajab which was attacked with tear-gas twice in the past two months.

Registering these human rights defenders is considered a recognition and appreciation of their brave work in defending human rights despite the dangers of assault and arrest faced by them. Particularly with them being constantly targeted such as the attempt to arrest Sayed Yousif Al Muhafdah who became active in recent years as a defender of human rights in Bahrain and a human rights blogger. His house was raided in the early hours of the morning and he was banned from travel and was delayed in other instances. Moreover, Lawyer Mohammed Al Jishi was also previously banned from travel and went through interrogation with other lawyers working in cases that were brought before the Military Prosecution in relation to participation in a lawyers’ demonstration at Lulu Roundabout demanding the rule of law on those responsible for the death of many young men in the past February. This comes after a long list of assaults they went through (see BCHR detailed statement [3]) and continued their activities despite them to document the abuses made by the Bahraini regime who took advantage of the “State of National Safety”. …more