Cairo on: December 4, 2007
Urgent Action
Bahrain
Commencing The Trial Of The Human Rights Activist Mohammad Al-Maskati
Cairo on: December 4, 2007
Urgent Action
Bahrain
Commencing The Trial Of The Human Rights Activist Mohammad Al-Maskati
Authorities in the Arab region still have the legal repertoire of which daily take out laws to chase human rights activists. These legal tools are always kept in reserve for muzzling human rights activists, violating their basic rights and freedoms and prohibiting their peaceful human rights activities in which they disclose the black human rights record in all Arab countries from the Atlantic ocean to the Arab gulf. In this framework, the Bahraini authorities presented the human rights activist Mohammad Al-Maskati, head of the Bahraini youth organization for human rights (under establishment) for trial in front of the fourth elementary criminal court on Tuesday 27th of November 2007 in charge of “running an NGO before having its registration statement in accordance with the Bahraini punishment and NGOs laws.
The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists (APHRA) uneasily observes the developments of this lawsuit against one of the Arab human rights activists in Bahrain. With full recognition of the exclusiveness of the Arab gulf states in the human rights record, their legislative framework, their strong horror and rejection of all peaceful human rights activities and the countless violations of human rights they make, APHRA is insisting on showing its full solidarity with human rights activists in the Arab gulf states. The people “without nationality” is an example of these violations made against big group of people in several Arab gulf states, including Bahrain. In spite of this self-locked nature of these states regarding human rights activities and citizens’ participation in public affairs, APHRA will not cease supporting human rights activists in Bahrain and all Arab gulf states.
APHRA emphasizes that presenting Al-Maskati trial for these frail charges utterly contradicts with Bahrain’s international commitments. The international covenant on civil and political rights, which guarantees the right to free association, was approved and signed by Bahrain. Moreover, the Bahraini constitution secures this right without any limitation. Thus these legal documents approved by the Bahraini government must be respected, particularly the international covenant on civil and political rights whose article no. 22 warrants the right to free association. This action by the Bahraini government also violates articles 1, 3 and 5 of the international declaration of human rights defenders.
the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists (APHRA) asks the Bahraini government to stop prosecuting Al-Maskati, drop all charges brought against him and to immediately set him free. APHRA also invites authorities in Bahrain to revise their laws and regulations to be in accordance with the international conventions signed by Bahrain, including the international covenant on civil and political rights.
In defense of human rights and human rights activists and for effecting international human rights conventions, APHRA also implores to all concerned Arab and international organizations to support Al-Maskati and join forces to set him free.