Response by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights
7 July 2004
In an interview with Al Arabiya satellite TV channel, on 30th June, 2004, the minister of labour and social affairs Dr. Majeed Al-Alawi, threatened once again to close the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights because of what he described as “political activities”.
The minister reaffirmed the threat made by his ministry to close the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) “if some of its members do not stop practicing roles, which are not permitted by the law”.
Response by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights
7 July 2004
In an interview with Al Arabiya satellite TV channel, on 30th June, 2004, the minister of labour and social affairs Dr. Majeed Al-Alawi, threatened once again to close the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights because of what he described as “political activities”.
The minister reaffirmed the threat made by his ministry to close the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) “if some of its members do not stop practicing roles, which are not permitted by the law”.
He stressed that the BCHR is a political opposition body that has adopted a political agenda, adding that this would harm and impair its neutrality. He pointed out that the human rights bodies should not call for demonstrations, because that would tern it to a political body.
When asked if the ‘threat’ was an appropriate manner to deal with the BCHR, the minister replied ”no”, claiming that for two years the centre has been carrying out many political activities, thus the ministry previously notified the centre that if it does not comply with its internal regulation and objectives, legal action will be taken against it.
When asked about the BCHR current activities, he said that the BCHR is merely writing articles and sending letters to organizations abroad, and not pursuing professional work like that of the Bahrain Human Rights Society which is engaged in providing training for public employees.
When asked if he considered the BCHR to be preoccupied with the opposition, he replied “yes”, hinting that the BCHR is clearly anti-government.
Response by the BCHR:
The BCHR considers the accusations stated by the minister as unfounded, noting that the ministry failed until now to officially respond to letters by the center recommending a written clarifications of the such accusations.
The BCHR considers the minister’s threats as a part of a campaign by the authorities to discredit the BCHR, and to hinder the center’s amounting role in monitoring violations of human rights.
The center had staged effective awareness and advocacy campaigns specially. in issues such as discriminations, corruption, privileges enjoyed by members of the ruling family, impunity for perpetrators of torture, defects of the political and judicial system, and the laws that restrict and criminalize the practice of basic freedoms such as the freedoms of association, assemble and expression.
The BCHR is highly concerned in regard to the threats to be closed down, and stresses on the importance to amend the penal code and the law on societies which caould be used effectively by the authorities to restrict, influence or close human rights societies for not complying with its policies and undefined criteria of what should human rights activists do and not do.