Posted on 2010/09/10
The Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) has learned that it has been made subject to an effective take-over by the Ministry of Social Development.
On 8 September 2010, the BHRS received a Ministerial Order demanding the dissolution of its Board of Directors and appointing a temporary administrator, who is an employee of the Ministry, with the mandate to manage BHRS’ affairs, draw up financial and managerial reports, open membership to all categories of Bahraini society and call a General Assembly during which a new Board of Directors will be elected. The BHRS is an organisation licensed since August 2001 to promote human and civil rights in Bahrain. It was appointed by the government to monitor elections in 2006.
Posted on 2010/09/10
The Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) has learned that it has been made subject to an effective take-over by the Ministry of Social Development.
On 8 September 2010, the BHRS received a Ministerial Order demanding the dissolution of its Board of Directors and appointing a temporary administrator, who is an employee of the Ministry, with the mandate to manage BHRS’ affairs, draw up financial and managerial reports, open membership to all categories of Bahraini society and call a General Assembly during which a new Board of Directors will be elected. The BHRS is an organisation licensed since August 2001 to promote human and civil rights in Bahrain. It was appointed by the government to monitor elections in 2006.
On 2 September 2010, the Ministry of Social Development published a statement in local newspapers listing an inventory of activities carried by human rights organisations, alleging breaches of legal and administrative provisions, which had been carried out by its Directorate of NGOs. The statement alleged that “the BHRS has failed to speak impartially on behalf of all components of the Bahraini society, prompting a lot complaints rapping the line adopted by its board members”, and that investigations of BHRS’ activities showed that it was contravening the activities it was licensed to carry out. It was reported that some of these complaints had been received from a group of journalists who had been “humiliated and insulted” by members of BHRS.
BHRS is accused of irregularities under the Societies Act No. 21 of 1989, in particular in relation to provisions requiring it to call a General Assembly and elect a Governing Council, and to notify its members and the concerned administrative authorities. In addition, the organisation allegedly coordinated with a number of illegal entities and reported these contacts on its website.
Front Line believes that the Ministerial Order to take over the Bahrain Human Rights Society is a direct result of its human rights activities, and in particular its current defence of the rights of recently imprisoned activists and human rights defenders who have been denied proper access to their attorneys and families. Front Line considers the take-over of BHRS as forming part of an ongoing crackdown against civil society in Bahrain, and is extremely concerned regarding recent harassment, intimidation and imprisonment of human rights defenders.