Activists on trial for holding up pictures of detainees
2 December 2010
The BCHR expresses concern for the continued targeting of public freedoms by the authorities especially the freedom of opinion and expression and their criminalization by making them into security cases or linking them to terrorism. The BCHR has received information that four young men are on trial for carrying a banner, in the capital Manama, with pictures of some of the detainees who are also political activists and human rights defenders. The authorities claim that carrying such banners is an act of inciting hatred against the regime, which raises the number of those on trial in cases related to freedom of expression to 19 people in the last three months.
Activists on trial for holding up pictures of detainees
2 December 2010
The BCHR expresses concern for the continued targeting of public freedoms by the authorities especially the freedom of opinion and expression and their criminalization by making them into security cases or linking them to terrorism. The BCHR has received information that four young men are on trial for carrying a banner, in the capital Manama, with pictures of some of the detainees who are also political activists and human rights defenders. The authorities claim that carrying such banners is an act of inciting hatred against the regime, which raises the number of those on trial in cases related to freedom of expression to 19 people in the last three months.
On September, Hassan Abdullah Al-Qassim (20yrs old) and Ahmed Ali Yousef (20yrs old) were arrested. At the same time the authorities are trying to arrest two other young men, the brothers Ahmed Radhi amd Hasan Radhi, for hanging a banner at the end of August with pictures of some of the detainees, they have been charged with “publicly inciting hatred against the ruling regime”. Their trial started in October but has been adjourned until the 5th of December. It should be noted that the first defendant Hassan Abdulla has previously been convicted in another case related to freedom of expression, in which he was also charged with “inciting hatred against the regime” after he distributed leaflets which revealed violations committed by the authorities and the torture of citizens, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment on the 27th of October. This trial is one of 5 cases in court, which includes at least 19 people, in a series of trials which target the freedom of opinion and expression since the beginning of the security campaign 3 months ago:
1- 11 activists among the defendants are accused of being part of the so-called “organized network”[1] and they are being charged with “inciting hatred against the regime” and “distribution of false information and possession of publications containing rumours”. Amongst these defendants is the activist and blogger, Ali Abdulemam, who is also the founder of Bahrain Online, the popular site which has been publishing news of arrests and ongoing violations in the country especially since the start of the crackdown, and which the authorities have been trying to block by all means possible[2].
2- Mohammed Mshaime’ and Hussain Aldurazi are on trial for “propagating negative images to foreign news agencies and channels”, this came after the BBC (Arabic) broadcast films which show riot police attacking civilians during a peaceful gathering[3].
3- The activist Hassan Abdullah has been sentenced to one year imprisonment for distributing leaflets revealing government violations and torture of citizens under the pretext of “inciting hatred against the regime”[4].
4- Mrs Fakhriya Al-Singaice still faces the same charge of “inciting hatred against the regime” after she was arrested for a day last august for holding up a banner which stated Article 9 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in one of the shopping malls.[5]
According to the penal code the defendants in these cases face upto 2 years imprisonment, however sentencing them under the terrorism act which is condemned by international organizations could raise the sentence to life imprisonment.
The BCHR sees that referring such cases related to freedom of expression to the special tribunals which were formed a few weeks before the security crackdown reveals the existence of legal gaps in the vague and unclear legal articles which allow the criminalization of citizens basic rights like the freedom of opinion and expression. This also reveals a sharp decline in these freedoms in a country where even the possession or hanging of pictures of the detainees is considered a crime, namely the crime of inciting hatred against the regime. These trials are a grave violation of international charters and covenants related to human rights, specifically Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
Based on all this, the BCHR calls on the Bahraini authorities to:
– Immediately release all the prisoners and detainees who are on trial in cases related to the freedom of opinion and expression.
– Immediately stop using the terrorism law which is internationally condemned for its lack of guarantees for a fair trial.
– Stop all measures that restrict freedom of opinion and expression or prevent the transmission of information.
– Stop the special tribunals which were formed to look into cases of a political nature, and return the jurisdiction power to the normal judiciary.
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[1] According to the list related to the “Organized Network” these 11 defendants are charged with “inciting hatred against the regime by distribution of false information and possession of publications containing rumours”:
1. AbdulJalil Abdulla Yousif AlSingaise, 48yrs
2. Shaikh Mohammed Habeeb AlSaffaf (Almuqdad), 48yrs
3. Hassan Ali Hassan Mshaime’, 62yrs
4. Saeed Abdulnabi Mohammed Alshehabi (residing in London), 56yrs
5. Shaikh Saeed Mirza Ahmed Ali (Alnouri), 37yrs
6. Mohammed Saeed Moosa AlSahlawi, 37yrs
7. Shaikh Abdulhadi Abdulla Mahdi Hassan Juma Almkhouder, 42yrs
8. AbdulGhani Isa Ali Isa AlKhanjar, 38yrs
9. Shaikh Abdulla (Mirza) Isa AlMahrous, 45yrs
10. Jaffer Ahmed Jassim AlHesabi, 38yrs
11. Ali Hassan Abdullah AbdulImam (blogger), 32yrs
[2]Prominent Bahraini Blogger and Online Activist Under Arrest
[3]Arresting and Torturing Activists due to Transmitting Photos & Info about the Incidents in Bahrain to News Channels & Agencies
[4]A Year’s Imprisonment for a Citizen on the Charge of Distributing Information that Reveals the Violations Practiced by the Security Apparatuses
[5]manamavoice.com
Article 9 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.