Released prior to 2006 Elections to the Human Rights Council
AI Index: IOR 41/006/2006
1 May 2006
BAHRAIN
Under a new counter-terrorism law proposed by the government anyone convicted of committing or planning terrorist acts would face the death penalty. Human rights activists and members of Parliament have criticized the proposed law as an attempt to restrict freedoms excessively. In July 2005, Parliament also approved a new law to regulate political associations; human rights and other groups have criticized the new law as overly restrictive and have called on the King to cancel it.
Released prior to 2006 Elections to the Human Rights Council
AI Index: IOR 41/006/2006
1 May 2006BAHRAIN
Under a new counter-terrorism law proposed by the government anyone convicted of committing or planning terrorist acts would face the death penalty. Human rights activists and members of Parliament have criticized the proposed law as an attempt to restrict freedoms excessively. In July 2005, Parliament also approved a new law to regulate political associations; human rights and other groups have criticized the new law as overly restrictive and have called on the King to cancel it.
In February 2005, three men were arrested in connection with comments published on their website which were alleged to be critical of the government and offensive to the royal family. They were charged with “inciting hatred, defamation and spreading false information”. The three went on hunger strike during their detention and were released on 14 March 2005. By the end of 2005, it was not clear whether they were still awaiting trial.
A leading human rights defender, Ghada Jamsheer, appeared in court in June 2005 on charges of insulting the judiciary; defamation and slander of a family court judge; and slander of the husband of a victim of domestic violence. The first charge arises from petitions and articles issued between October 2002 and June 2003 by the Women’s Petition Committee, of which Ghada Jamsheer is the director. Ghada Jamsheer denied all the charges, all of which were subsequently dropped or dismissed by the courts.
In June 2005, the security forces reportedly used excessive force when dispersing peaceful demonstrators calling for more job opportunities. Many of the demonstrators were beaten and some required hospital treatment. About 30 were arrested, but released the same day without charge. In July, a further demonstration against unemployment resulted in more than 30 people being severely beaten by the security forces; some required hospital treatment.
Two Bangladeshi nationals, sentenced to death for murder in November 2004, had their death sentences upheld on appeal in December 2005.Recent Amnesty International reports:
· Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: Women deserve dignity and respect (AI Index: MDE 04/004/2005)
Bahrain’s cooperation with the Treaty Bodies and the Special Procedures
Ratification of International Human Rights Treaties
Treaty Ratification Reservations/ declarations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Optional Protocol to the ICCPR Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Ratified Entered Optional Protocol to the CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Ratified Entered Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) Ratified Entered Optional Protocol CAT Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Ratified Optional Protocol to the CRC on children in armed conflict Ratified Optional Protocol to the CRC on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography Ratified International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Signed Convention Relating the Status of Refugees Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees Compliance with reporting obligations
Total overdue 5 years overdue 10 years overdue Initial overdue 5 1 3 Cooperation with the Special Procedures
Extension of a standing invitation: No
Outstanding requests by the Special Procedures to carry out a visit :
- Special Rapporteur on migrants
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking (tentative date set for 2006)
Communications with the Special Procedures during the last reporting period
Special Representative on human rights defenders: “The Special Representative thanks the Government of Bahrain for its detailed and prompt responses to the communications sent. She welcomes the clarifications which they bring. In the case of Ghada Yusif Jamsheer she is encouraged by the steps reportedly taken by the Government as well as the assurances given with regards to the protection of women’s rights and women human rights defenders in Bahrain. She notes however, the the clarifications brought to her by the Government in its response do not entirely dispel her concerns with regards to the freedom that defenders enjoy with respect to criticizing existing institutions and demanding reforms in particular the Sharia courts and judge. She remains concerned in particular at the heaviness of the alleged sentence and she reiterates the principles enunciated, inter alia, by the Commission on Human Rights in its Resolution 2000/63, that criminal defamation laws should be repealed in favour of civil laws, and that sanctions for defamation should not be so large as to exert an alarming effect on freedom of expression. It is provided in the same Resolution that public figures are required to tolerate a greater degree of criticism than private citizens. With respect to the case concerning the ill-treatment of demonstrators in Manama, the Special Representative is encouraged by the commitment expressed by the Government to the principle of freedom of expression and assembly and its stated intention to ratify the ICESCR. She notes however, that the explanations provided by the Government of Bahrain on the general freedom of assembly do not entirely dispel the concern expressed in this particular case.”
Special Rapporteur on torture: one allegation letter concerning a group, including two named individuals, to which the government has provided a response.