Bahrain: Human Rights Associations plays Suspicious Roles in Handling National Issues
Falsifying GCDD Report
Smearing Political and Human Rights Activists’ Reputation
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) was alerted by the report issued by Gulf Center for Democracy Development (GCDD)[1], which included the names of the human rights associations practicing suspicious roles in handling some national issues.
Human Rights associations and the suspicious role:
The report issued by Gulf Center for Democracy Development mentioned that some human rights associations; registered at the Ministry of Social Development play suspicious roles through pushing some issues to work for the favor of governmental authorities. The report clarified that these associations receives money for doing this. The report is enhanced with official documents including without limitation to bank checks signed by the directors of the above mentioned associations. Some daily newspapers published parts of the report showing the conspiracy between these associations and government officials with the purpose to achieve the governmental goals which harm the interests of the citizens and the country. One of the human rights associations mentioned in the report issued a press release offending Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, and Bahrain Center for Human Rights.
Bahrain: Human Rights Associations plays Suspicious Roles in Handling National Issues
Falsifying GCDD Report
Smearing Political and Human Rights Activists’ Reputation
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) was alerted by the report issued by Gulf Center for Democracy Development (GCDD)[1], which included the names of the human rights associations practicing suspicious roles in handling some national issues.
Human Rights associations and the suspicious role:
The report issued by Gulf Center for Democracy Development mentioned that some human rights associations; registered at the Ministry of Social Development play suspicious roles through pushing some issues to work for the favor of governmental authorities. The report clarified that these associations receives money for doing this. The report is enhanced with official documents including without limitation to bank checks signed by the directors of the above mentioned associations. Some daily newspapers published parts of the report showing the conspiracy between these associations and government officials with the purpose to achieve the governmental goals which harm the interests of the citizens and the country. One of the human rights associations mentioned in the report issued a press release offending Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, and Bahrain Center for Human Rights.
Falsifying the Report of Gulf Center for Democracy Development:
Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights succeeded to catch a false report distributed by unidentified body on daily newspapers via mail. The report included the same content of the original report issued by Gulf Center for Democracy Development with changing some names. The false report replaced the names mentioned in the original report with names of patriot and faithful political and human rights activists.
BYSHR Head is claimed to receive funds from governmental authorities:
The false report included the name of the Head of Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights; Mohamed Al-Maskati among those who receive funds from governmental authorities with the purpose to achieve governmental goals which harms the interest of citizens and the country. The false report mentioned that Al-Maskati receives 1000 Dinars (equivalent to US$ 2700) per month. The report also mentioned that the governmental authorities paid for Al-Maskati to attend a regional seminar in Cairo[2].
The names of political and human rights activists mentioned in the false report[3]:
The false report included the names of some political and human rights activists, showing that they are funded by governmental authorities. They are:
1. Hadi Khawaja; Chairman of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights
2. Nabil Rajab ; vice-chairman of Bahrain Center for Human Rights
3. Abd al-Jalil Sanakis; Director of Media and International Relations in Bahraini HAQ movement
4. Jalal Fairuz, Coordinator of Liberties Committee of the Association of Islamic National Reconciliation
5. Abbas Omran; Human rights activist and member of Bahrain Center for Human Rights
6. Mohammed Al Mutawa; Lawyer and member of the Bahrain Society for Human Rights
7. Abdel Nabi al-Akri; Member of the Bahrain Society for Human Rights
8. Jalila Al-Sayed; Lawyer and human rights activist
9. Ibrahim Sharif, Chairman of the Democratic Action – Waad
Who falsified GCDD original report?:
According to the information received by BYSHR, the doers of such falsification are those who were exposed in the original report of Gulf Center for Democracy Development. They attempted to turn the charges announced against them to non-governmental associations. The purpose of this is to smear the reputation of Bahraini political and human rights activists.
The demands of Bahrain youth Society for Human Rights Information:
1. The formation of a committee to investigate the content of the original report issued by Gulf Center for Democracy Development, which contained information seriously affecting the security of the Bahraini citizen
2. Removing the officials mentioned in the GCDD original report until the end of investigations. Particularly, the parliamentary elections date is so close and the election fraud is highly expected
3. Disclosure of those who prepared the false report and sent it to the Bahraini daily newspapers.
Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights
27 September 2006
[1] Dr. Salah Albandar; the Secretary-General of the Gulf Center for Democracy Development, and the ex-Chairman of the Strategic Security Cabinet. Prosecutors excluded him from Bahrain to UK due to holding British citizenship.
[2] The costs of the seminar attended by Mohamed Al-Maskati in Cairo are paid by Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies which held the seminar
[3] The false report included other names in addition to those mentioned in Society statement herein.
