On 28 October human rights defender Ali Abdulemam and 10 other defenders were put on trial in Manama, Bahrain charged with being part of an alleged “terrorist network”. All of the defendants denied such charges. All but one of the defendants claimed that they had been tortured during their period in detention. The trial was adjourned until 11 November.
Prior to the commencement of the trial, lawyer Hassan Radhi spoke on behalf of all the defendants’ lawyers stating that they had not been allowed access to their clients since their arrest, a breach of both Bahraini and international law .
On 28 October human rights defender Ali Abdulemam and 10 other defenders were put on trial in Manama, Bahrain charged with being part of an alleged “terrorist network”. All of the defendants denied such charges. All but one of the defendants claimed that they had been tortured during their period in detention. The trial was adjourned until 11 November.
Prior to the commencement of the trial, lawyer Hassan Radhi spoke on behalf of all the defendants’ lawyers stating that they had not been allowed access to their clients since their arrest, a breach of both Bahraini and international law .
Mr Radhi requested time to consult with the clients before the beginning of the trial. The judge then ordered that the courtroom be cleared of everyone except the lawyers and the detainees, and permitted the lawyers 30 minutes to converse with their clients before the proceedings commenced. During the trial each of the detainees addressed the court and denied all charges filed against them. All but one of the detainees alleged that they had been tortured while in detention.
The judge ordered that the detainees be removed from the National Security Apparatus and be placed in a different detention facility. He also stated that five of the detainees should be seen by a physician. The judge also granted the detainees access to their lawyers and instructed that they be allowed visits from their families.
There are 25 people on trial, 11 of whom are human rights defenders:
1. Ali Abdulemam, arrested on the 4th of September 2010, owner of bahrainonline.org;
2. Dr. Abduljalil Al-Sengais: arrested on 13 August 2010, spokesman and Director of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy ;
3. Abdul-Ghani Khanjar: arrested on 15 August 2010 is spokesperson for the Bahraini National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture;
4. Suhail Al-Shehabi: arrested on 19 August 2010 is active in a number of associations including the Committee of the Relatives of Detainees and the Committee of the Unemployed;
5. Ahmed Jawad Al-Fardan: arrested on 19 August 2010 is a member of the Committee of the Relatives of Detainees in Karzakan;
6. Ali Jawad Al-Fardan: arrested on 20 August 2010 is a member of the Committee of the relatives of Detainees in Karzakan;
7. Salman Naji: arrested on 21 August 2010 is a member of the Committee of the Unemployed;
8. AbdulHadi Al-Saffar: arrested on 22 August 2010 is chairman of the Committee Against High Prices and actively involved in other associations including the Committee of the Relatives of Detainees;
9. Hassan Al-Haddad: arrested on 23 August 2010. He is member of the Committee of the Unemployed;
10. Mr Jaffar Al-Hessabi, independent human rights defender supporting the rights of detainees in Bahrain, arrested on 16 August 2010;
11. Dr Mohammed Saeed arrested on 17 August is a board member of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.
Front Line welcomes the decision by the court to move the defendants from the National Security Apparatus to a different detention facility. Front Line also welcomes the judge’s decision to provide five of the detainees with access to medical care and permit the detainees access to their lawyers and family .
Front Line calls on the Bahraini authorities to guarantee the human rights defenders a fair trial as stipulated under international law. Front Line also urges the Bahraini authorities to conduct an independent, impartial, and thorough investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment during detention with a view to publishing the findings and bringing those responsible to justice.
please see the previous update of 18,October 2010 of Front Line