A statement signed by 26 NGOs
22/09/2010
The undersigned organizations are deeply concerned about and harshly condemn the growing campaign of repression in Bahrain, which so far has entailed the arrest of hundreds of political activists, human rights defenders, and Shiite religious figures- many of whom have been tortured. We also condemn the ongoing campaign to smear political dissidents and human rights defenders as inciters of terrorism.
A statement signed by 26 NGOs
22/09/2010
The undersigned organizations are deeply concerned about and harshly condemn the growing campaign of repression in Bahrain, which so far has entailed the arrest of hundreds of political activists, human rights defenders, and Shiite religious figures- many of whom have been tortured. We also condemn the ongoing campaign to smear political dissidents and human rights defenders as inciters of terrorism.
The undersigned organizations monitor with profound concern the international community’s silence about the repressive measures taken in Bahrain, which only encourages the authorities to continue with actions that are clearly aimed at stifling or shutting down independent rights groups; many of which are potential monitors to the parliamentary elections scheduled for next month. These elections are widely expected to be subject to flagrant manipulation to undermine the voters’ will, part of a long-standing policy to maintain the political marginalization and invisibility of Shiite and Liberal opposition.
In the face of this fierce security and media campaign, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights have been compelled to temporarily relocate their administrations to Europe. Although the Bahraini authorities dissolved the Bahrain Center for Human Rights in 2004, the organization has bravely continued its work and acquired the reputation as one of the most prominent human rights organizations; known for its regional and international activities. As for the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, it has been denied a permit of operation by the government, and its chair has been prosecuted for engaging in rights work without authorization.
As part of the assault on rights groups, the Ministry of Development and Social Affairs has also dissolved the board of the Bahrain Human Rights Association, dismissed its elected president, and turned over administration of the group to a ministry employee. This was done to allow for new membership in the Association as a step to hold elections which would guarantee the government’s direct control over it. The association is currently the sole independent rights group in Bahrain with legal status, while other legalized human rights organizations are known to be closely affiliated with the Government. These measures were taken on the grounds that the group was coordinating its activities with “illegal” entities, referring to unregistered organizations and committees. The authorities also accused the association of using its activities to promote the interests of only one segment of the citizenry after it expressed its solidarity with victims of the crackdown, most of which belong to the Bahraini Shiite community.
The Bahraini authorities have further invalidated the newsletter license of two chief political associations – Al Wefaq Society, which is considered to be the largest political association in Bahrain, and the National Democratic Action Society, a liberal oppositional association.
Moreover, numerous websites have been blocked. Amongst which were the websites of Al Wefaq Society, the Islamic Action Society and the website of prominent political opponent Abdel Wahhab Hussein, thus, denying a number of political organizations their most efficient weapons a few days before the elections.
We, the undersigned organizations, express our full solidarity with human rights defenders in Bahrain and reiterate the right of advocacy organizations to continue their work independently of all arbitrary government interference. We stress the international community’s responsibility for curbing the security campaign aimed at silencing human rights defenders and concealing the grave abuses committed by the authorities against the citizenry, particularly the Shiite community, to pave the way for wide-ranging election fraud.
In particular, the undersigned organizations urge the UN Human Rights Council to consider appropriate measures to encourage the Bahraini authorities to comply with internationally recognized guarantees for the protection of human rights defenders. We also appeal to the Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights defenders; torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; and the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism to intervene with the competent authorities to stop these abuses. We further urge them to arrange urgent country visits to Bahrain to investigate current conditions, and monitor and assess due process standards in trials conducted under the counterterrorism law.
The undersigned organizations further stress that legitimate fears of political and social violence in Bahrain are only heightened and fostered by the kingdom’s retreat from its reform project, and the authorities’ increasing crackdown on the different forms of expression and peaceful association and assembly. This is in addition to the government’s growing tendency to set the law aside in favor of naked force, detention, the torture and abuse of peaceful opponents, and the maintenance of a policy of systematic discrimination and marginalization of the Shiite majority.
1) Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
2) Al Nadim Center for Treatment and Psychological Rehabilitation for Victims of Violence, Egypt
3) Arab Foundation for Civil Society and Human Rights Support, Egypt
4) Arab Network for Human Rights Information, Egypt
5) Association for Human Rights Legal Aid, Egypt
6) Bahrain Center for Human Rights
7) Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights
8) Center for Alternative Development Studies, Egypt
9) Center for Trade Union and Workers Services, Egypt
10) Committees for the Defense of Democracy Freedom and Human Rights, Syria
11) Committee for the Respect of Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia
12) Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies
13) Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement
14) Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights
15) Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
16) Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
17) Group for Human Rights Legal Aid, Egypt
18) Habi Center for Environmental Rights, Egypt
19) Hesham Mubarak Law Center , Egypt
20) Human Rights First Society, Saudi Arabia
21) Iraqi Human Rights Association, Denmark
22) Land Center for Human Rights, Egypt
23) Palestinian Center for Human Rights
24) Sister’s Arab Forum for Human Rights, Yemen
25) Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
26) Yemeni Organization for the Defense of Rights and Democratic Freedoms