Groups face clamp
By Geoffrey Bew
Published: 8th December 2007
UP to 10 active, but unregistered, human rights groups and committees in Bahrain could be forced to close, according to activists. Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) president Mohammed Al Maskati was last week summoned to the Lower Criminal Court to answer charges of “activating an unregistered association before issuing the declaration of registration”.
Groups face clamp
By Geoffrey Bew
Published: 8th December 2007
UP to 10 active, but unregistered, human rights groups and committees in Bahrain could be forced to close, according to activists. Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) president Mohammed Al Maskati was last week summoned to the Lower Criminal Court to answer charges of “activating an unregistered association before issuing the declaration of registration”.
The 1987 Law of Organisations criminalises the formation of any group without the approval of authorities and the Social Development Ministry is said to have been requesting them to stop their activities or face prosecution.
Mr Al Maskati’s case was adjourned until January 21 and, if found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a BD500 fine.
The activist claims the ministry’s actions were contrary to the Bahrain government signing of the International Convention for Civil and Political Rights.
Mr Al Maskati said his organisation was not against registering with the government, but not through a law “that restricts its freedom of movement”.
“The law is like a securities law,” he said. “It puts all organisations under scrutiny, but they must have freedom to achieve their goals.
“We want to register and have a legal society, but not under this law because it is bad. If there is a new law we are willing to register.”
Mr Al Maskati said his organisation supported the amendments to a new law regulating civil societies that 26 government-registered NGOs recently presented to the Social Development Ministry.
The alternative law, replacing the 1989 civil societies law, proposed by five Shura Council members in 2004, is scheduled to be implemented by the end of the year.
“We do not want to be against the government or the law, but we are against too much security in the law,” said Mr Al Maskati. “If the government accepts the amendments we will get permission from them (to legally operate), but if they stick with the old law we will continue to work unofficially.”
The BYSHR earlier this year set up a campaign to teach villagers how to prevent violent clashes between police and demonstrators.
It also launched an investigation to expose the perpetrators of websites offering sex to customers in Bahrain and the Gulf.
Mr Al Maskati says vital contributions would be lost if such societies were forced to close.
He added the case against him would harm the country as it prepares for United Nations (UN) review of Bahrain’s human rights record, due in April.
“Despite the young age of its members, BYSHR played a great role in arranging training workshops, monitoring and documenting human rights violations, participating effectively in forming a regional network for young rights activists in eight Arab countries,” the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) said in a statement.
It was dissolved by the government in September 2004 for allegedly breaching the societies law, but has continued to operate unofficially.
The BCHR is one of groups that may be forced to close, along with Unemployed Committee, Committee for People Deprived of Citizenship, Committee in Support of Former Exiled Citizens, Committee of Reinstatement of Coasts, Islands and Public Lands, and National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture among others.
geoff@gdn.com.bh
? Gulf Daily News