The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) is gravely concerned about the continued clamp down on freedom of opinion and expression in Bahrain which resulted in preventing Sheikh Salah Al-Jowder from distributing his sermons for Friday prayers to the local newspapers.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) is gravely concerned about the continued clamp down on freedom of opinion and expression in Bahrain which resulted in preventing Sheikh Salah Al-Jowder from distributing his sermons for Friday prayers to the local newspapers.
The head of the of Sunni Endowment (Waqf) Department of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, a member of the Royal family, sent an ultimatum to the Qalali Mosque Imam, Sheikh Salah Al-Jowder because of his “political” sermons in Friday prayers, as well as to its dissemination to the public in Bahraini newspapers.
Sheikh Salah Al-Jowder sent a statement to the press briefing the instructions passed to him, and asking to stop publishing his speeches starting last Friday. It is to be mentioned in earlier occurrence, Sheikh Al-Jowder had suspended his speeches in Tariq ibn Ziyad Mosque, without explaining the reasons behind his move. Sheikh Al-Jowder was then transferred to the present Mosque.
It is worth mentioning that Sheikh Salah Al Jowder, in addition of being a writer in Al-Ayam newspaper, is one of the distinguished reformist speakers among Sunni Bahrainis. His speeches have emerged over the past years touching over issues of concern to the public and society. He is known for his consistent call for religious tolerance, religious rapprochement between people with different religious, ideological, ethnic backgrounds as well as of his disapproval to hatred and sectarian sedition. Al-Jowder also has distinct relationship with all other sects and various societal groups. Last week and in with reference to the Bahraini Press Code, Sheikh Al Jowder stated that: «We want a modern press law, not a law which imposes royalties and fines for muzzling mouths and tongues.”
Nabeel Rajab- President of BCHR- commented on this case, stating that “Such practice is a blatant violation of freedom of expression and breach of the second paragraph of Article 19 of the ICCPR which states that “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice”. “The Authorities should left its clamb on freedom of expression and allow reformists, writers, and activists to freely express their views and communicate with public in any means they deem viable”, Mr Rajab added.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the Bahraini Authorities asking for:
1 – lifting the ban (legal, administrative or otherwise) on freedom of expression of reformists, writers, activists
2- permit Sheikh Salah Al Jowder to publish his sermons in the local media.
APPEALS TO:
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa
Cabinet Prime Minister
Manama, Bahrain
His Excellency Sheikh Khalid Al Khalifa
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Manama-Bahrain
Fax: +97 3 1 721 1363
