and political activists
2010/09/29
Vincent Forest, Head of the EU office of Front Line – the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders based in Dublin, Ireland – today completed a mission to Bahrain to assess the current situation for imprisoned human rights defenders and political activists in light of the recent clampdown.
In particular Mr Forest was following up on the case of imprisoned blogger and human rights defender Ali Abdulemam who had previously worked with Front Line in Dublin. Ali Abdulemam is the director of online news forum Bahrainonline.org.
and political activists
2010/09/29
Vincent Forest, Head of the EU office of Front Line – the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders based in Dublin, Ireland – today completed a mission to Bahrain to assess the current situation for imprisoned human rights defenders and political activists in light of the recent clampdown.
In particular Mr Forest was following up on the case of imprisoned blogger and human rights defender Ali Abdulemam who had previously worked with Front Line in Dublin. Ali Abdulemam is the director of online news forum Bahrainonline.org.
Following a 2-hour meeting with representatives of the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Justice & Social Development Mr Forest reiterated Front Line’s concern about the personal security of Ali Abdulemam and other detained defenders particularly in the light of new and credible reports of torture.
“Although the allegations of ill-treatment and torture are denied by the Ministry of Interior, Front Line is deeply concerned for the safety and security of Ali Abdulemam given that he has been held incommunicado for more than 3 weeks, without any contact with his family, not even a phone call despite the fact this is specifically allowed for under Bahraini law” said Mr Forest in Manama today.
“Despite the fact that the authorities claim that like all other detainees Ali Abduleman was brought before the Public Prosecutor soon after his arrest, when Ali’s brother went last week to the Prosecutor’s office he was told that they had no file or record of Ali Abdulemam’s arrest. Therefore there are doubts that he has ever been brought before the Prosecutor as prescribed by domestic law, and consequently any investigation that has effectively started without access to a lawyer is illegal”, said Mr Forest.
Under the 2006 “Law to Protect Society from Acts of Terrorism” – the legislation cited with regard to the recent arrests of Ali Abdulemam and at least 23 other Bahraini activists and opposition leaders for an alleged “terrorist plot” – the security forces have the right to detain individuals for a maximum period of 15 days before either bringing them before the Public Prosecutor, or releasing them.
“Ali Abdulemam’s initial 15-day period of detention expired on Sunday, 19 September. His detention now appears to continue in contravention of the applicable Bahraini legislation. In addition, the authorities are currently unable to provide details on the exact charges that Ali Abdulemam and the other detained human rights defenders will face” said Mr Forest.
As part of the government clampdown the Bahrain Human Rights Society, an independent human rights NGO, has effectively been taken over by the Ministry of Social Development which claimed that it has “decided to appoint a temporary manager from the Ministry to make sure the BHRS can continue its work smoothly and effectively”.
The Bahraini authorities have announced that the families of the detained human rights defenders can visit them at the National Security Agency’s detention centre on a weekly basis from the week of 27 September onwards. Front Line will continue to monitor the situation to see whether this announcement becomes reality. Indeed, it is not known who will be allowed to meet with the detainees.
Front Line demands that Ali Abdulemam and other detained human rights defenders be either released or charged with a recognisable offence under international law. Ali Abdulemam should as a matter of urgency have access to his lawyer and family, said Mr Forest. “All allegations of ill-treatment and torture should be independently and impartially investigated”.
Front Line is further concerned by reports that Ali Abdulemam has allegedly been fired by his employer Gulf Air. Front Line also calls on the relevant authorities in Bahrain to immediately lift travel bans imposed on those human rights defenders who are targeted on the basis on their legitimate and peaceful human rights work.
For further information please contact Jim Loughran Head of Communications Front Line Tel +353 1 212 37 50 Mob +353 (0)87 9377586 jimloughran@frontlinedefenders.org
Vincent Forest, Head of Front Line’s EU Office Tel +32 2 2309383 Mob +32 486 368760 Email vforest@frontlinedefenders.org