Human Rights Activist Fired after Exposing Corruption
Threats of Arrest by Police after 24 hour sit in
www.bahrainrights.org
BCHR Ref: 08091600
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) is highly concerned upon receiving news that the prominent human right activist and unionist Mr. Abbas Al Omran, member of the Bahrain Centre for Human rights and former member of the BAPCO www.bapco.net Workers Union, was fired today from his job. The Centre fears that this step taken by BAPCO (Bahrain Petroleum Company) comes as retaliation to Mr. Abbas’s activities and is related to Mr. Abbas’s exposure of members of the workers union and his allegation that they were receiving bribes from the company. In 2006 Mr. Abbas sent a letter to the company with information about these alleged bribes demanding answers, and he has been harassed ever since.
Human Rights Activist Fired after Exposing Corruption
Threats of Arrest by Police after 24 hour sit in
www.bahrainrights.org
BCHR Ref: 08091600
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) is highly concerned upon receiving news that the prominent human right activist and unionist Mr. Abbas Al Omran, member of the Bahrain Centre for Human rights and former member of the BAPCO www.bapco.net Workers Union, was fired today from his job. The Centre fears that this step taken by BAPCO (Bahrain Petroleum Company) comes as retaliation to Mr. Abbas’s activities and is related to Mr. Abbas’s exposure of members of the workers union and his allegation that they were receiving bribes from the company. In 2006 Mr. Abbas sent a letter to the company with information about these alleged bribes demanding answers, and he has been harassed ever since.
In a recent letter about the harassments he has been exposed to, Mr. Abbas wrote “My isolation in this situation makes me exposed to revenge and spiteful actions especially considering my trade union activities and my insistence on exercising my rights.”
Since the news of his dismissal, Mr. Abbas has been holding a sit in outside the company as a protest to the unjust decision. The police observing the sit-in have already threatened to arrest Mr. Abbas, they have denied him the right to display his banners, and will not allow more than three family members or supporters to join him.
“Targeting human rights activists and unionists and cutting off their income because of their activities, and then fabricating reasons for those unjust actions, is not only uncivilized but also immoral and does not beseem a big and known company which should respect the rights of their employees. This will have a very negative influence on the company’s reputation.” Nabeel Rajab, president of the BCHR
The BCHR requests your urgent intervention in insuring the safety of Mr. Omran and calls for the following:
1. That Mr. Omran be reinstated immediately.
2. That his allegations of corruption are investigated by an objective third party
3. That human rights activist and unionists are protected
4. That the police cease to harass activists and avoid intervening on behalf of the company.
5. That the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions speaks out and be actively involved in defending the rights of unionists.
For further information and details on this case kindly contact
1. Nabeel Rajab, president of BCHR on (00973) 39633399
2. Abbas Al-Omran, (00973) 39875458