UA: 116/11 Index: MDE 11/018/2011 Bahrain Date: 18 April 2011
URGENT ACTION
DEFENCE LAWYER DETAINED IN BAHRAIN
A prominent defence lawyer was detained on 15 April in Bahrain’s capital, Manama. Amnesty International believes he is a prisoner of conscience and he may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Nearly 500 people have been now been detained in Bahrain since March.
Mohammed al-Tajer, a prominent Bahraini defence lawyer who has defended many cases of opposition and human rights activists, was arrested at his house in Manama on the night of 15 April. According to his wife, over 20 security officers entered their house in the middle of the night.
UA: 116/11 Index: MDE 11/018/2011 Bahrain Date: 18 April 2011
URGENT ACTION
DEFENCE LAWYER DETAINED IN BAHRAIN
A prominent defence lawyer was detained on 15 April in Bahrain’s capital, Manama. Amnesty International believes he is a prisoner of conscience and he may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Nearly 500 people have been now been detained in Bahrain since March.
Mohammed al-Tajer, a prominent Bahraini defence lawyer who has defended many cases of opposition and human rights activists, was arrested at his house in Manama on the night of 15 April. According to his wife, over 20 security officers entered their house in the middle of the night. Some were in uniforms, some were in plain clothes and all except one were wearing masks. They searched all the bedrooms and confiscated personal items, such as mobile phones, laptops and papers. Following the raid Mohammad al-Tajer was arrested without any explanation. No arrest order was shown to him or his family. He called his family for two minutes on 17 April to let them know he was in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Manama’s al-‘Adliya district, and wanted them to bring him clothes. When the family asked him what the charges against him were he replied that he did not know.
According to local human rights groups, 499 people have been detained since March, including opposition and human rights activists, teachers, doctors and nurses, for their participation in the February and March protests calling for far-reaching political and other reform in Bahrain. The whereabouts of the great majority of detainees remain unknown; many are believed to be held by the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF). If prosecuted, they may face unfair trials before the National Safety Court of First Instance and a National Safety Appeal Court, established under the State of National Safety (SNS) (martial law) declared by the King of Bahrain on 15 March.
Mohammad al-Tajer is well known for defending political opposition activists. He was the leading defence lawyer in the case of 25 opposition activists, including two charged in their absence, who were tried between October 2010 and February 2011 on charges of plotting to overthrow the government using “terrorism” and other means. The 23 were released on 23 February following an amnesty by the King of Bahrain. Some of them, including Abdul Jalil al-Singace, have been recently re-arrested for their participation in the protests.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Arabic, English or your own language:
-Call on the authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Mohammad al-Tajer and all other people detained in connection with the recent protests and allow them prompt, regular access to their lawyers and families.
-Express concern that Mohammad al-Tajer is a prisoner of conscience detained for his legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and other human rights;
-Urge the authorities to release Mohammad al-Tajer immediately and unconditionally and to protect him from torture or other ill-treatment
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 30 MAY 2011 TO:
King
Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555
Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 17664587
Salutation: Your Majesty
Prime Minister
Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 17533033
Salutation: Your Highness
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khlaifa
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs,
Fax: +973 175 31 284
Salutation: Your Excellency
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
UA: 116/11 Index: MDE 11/018/2011 Issue Date: 18 April 2011