Threats to prosecute its Members
26 March 2006
Threats to prosecute its Members
26 March 2006
The Ministry of Social Development in Bahrain has warned that it is going to recommend legal measures against the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) if the Centre continues its activities. The warning, which was announced on the 8th of March, was based on the final ruling of the Cassation Court on the 22nd of February 2006, according to which the BCHR has lost its appeal against its dissolution. According to the Societies Law, members of the BCHR could be sentenced for up to 6 months imprisonment and/or pay a fine of up to BD500.
The BCHR has continued its activities since its closure in September 2004. It has denounced the restrictive Law on Societies according to which the BCHR was closed and highlighted the lack of judicial independence.
The BCHR calls for securing its right to operate freely, protecting the rights of its members as human rights defenders, and to take all the necessary measures to secure freedom of societies and the independence of the judicial system in Bahrain.
Attachments:
- “Rights group loses appeal”: (Source: Gulf Daily News – 8 March 2006)
- The US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- March 8, 2006 – (Clauses related to the closure of BCHR)