Athletes are still taken to prison for exercising legitimate rights
11 Jan 2012
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights condemns the continuing arrests and unfair trials against hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain due to their exercise of legitimate rights like freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. This includes Bahraini car racing champion Mohammed AlKhunaizi, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment just a few days after the confirmation of the placement of Bahrain in the Formula One race calendar for 2012.
Athletes are still taken to prison for exercising legitimate rights
11 Jan 2012
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights condemns the continuing arrests and unfair trials against hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain due to their exercise of legitimate rights like freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. This includes Bahraini car racing champion Mohammed AlKhunaizi, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment just a few days after the confirmation of the placement of Bahrain in the Formula One race calendar for 2012.
On December 13, 2011, the Criminal Court in Bahrain ruled against 40 year old car racing champion Mohamed AlKhunaizi with two years imprisonment on charges of illegal gathering and inciting hatred against the regime. These charges are ones which the military prosecutor and later the public prosecution did not stop pressing against the majority, if not all, of the hundreds of pro-democracy detainees. This goes in conflict with the essence of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Mohammed AlKhunaizi is a professional speed car racer since 1998, and also the founder and team leader of “Khunaizi Racing Team”. Heis winner of several local and international tournaments and has achieved unique records in the Middle East. He also runs a special garage for race car maintenance, and he is one of founders of the Bahrain Automobile Club. Furthermore, he is a father of two children.
Mohammed was arrested on Friday, September 16 2011 after participating in the funeral of martyr Sayed Jawad Ahmed Hashim, who died due to excessive tear gas inhalation [1]. Security forces attacked mourners at Sitra, covering the area with tear gas. Mohammed had taken refuge in the roof of a nearby building after security forces attacked and chased the crowds. Some of the forces went to the roof of the building where he was taking refuge and they assaulted him. They punched him in the face then rolled him down on the stairs and hit him in the car, which resulted in several bruises on his face and body which remained visible even after three weeks of the incident. The injuries were documented in a medical report. Mohammed was arrested and taken to the police station of the Central Governorate while still bleeding. He was then released at a later time on Friday night with an order to check back at the public prosecutor on Sunday. On September 18 2011, when he went to see the public prosecutor, he was re-arrested and accused of illegal gathering, assault on security men and incitement of hatred towards the regime. On December 13 2011, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Photo taken 3 weeks after his arrest, marks of beating still visible on his face
Mohammed was then transferred to Jaw central prison after his sentencing, which is a place known for its poor conditions [2]. His case is presently at the court of Appeal.
The verdict comes on the car race champion Mohamed AlKhunaizi at the time of confirming Bahrain’s placement on the 2012 Formula One calendar, following the cancellation of the race in 2011 as a result of political unrest and severe violations of human rights. The Formula One race has been confirmed for 2012 despite the fact that the same violations are still under way in Bahrain, including arrests, torture and unfair trials due to the exercise of legitimate rights. Also, despite confirmed reports by independent human rights organizations as well as the Commission appointed by the King regarding the arbitrariness of the provisions given to the demonstrators who have exercised their legitimate rights. However dozens of them are still in prison, including at least eight local and international Bahraini athletes (see list below).
The arrest and detention of race car champion Muhammad AlKhunaizi comes to confirm the continuous targeting of pro-democracy figures in the sports sector in Bahrain. In addition, violations are still taking place in the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) which is the host of the Formula One race in Bahrain. Many of the 23 staff members of BIC who had been beaten, arrested from their offices and detained last March are now either still suspended from work or have already received dismissal letters(*). The Director of Mechanical works at the BIC, Mr.Kamel AlTaan is one of these staff who was subjected to arrest and torture, and he has received his dismissal letter a few days ago. At the same time those who were behind these violations have never been held accountable.
[* following publishing this report BIC announced reinstatement of its sacked workers, however it’s not confirmed to BCHR yet.] The Bahrain Center for Human Rights considers the continuity of the courts to issue these provisions as a direct violation of human rights conventions that guaranteed the right of peaceful assembly to Bahrainis. These provisions are nothing more than retaliation and an attempt to quell mass protests, which are continuing since last February despite cruel repression. This is a serious indicator of the regime’s lack of seriousness in reform as it did not take any practical steps for the release of hundreds of political prisoners. On the contrary, it continues to detain and arrest people as a punishment for exercising their legitimate rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. While the authorities have announced dropping charges against over 100 athletes, facts confirm the existence of some in prison while the Court continues to send more to prison.
Sports champions and Athletes STILL in Jail:
1) Mohamed AlKhunaizi: 40 year old race car champion, arrested September 16 2011 from the funeral of a martyr, and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for “illegal gathering”.
2) Yousif Abdullah a drag race driver, was arrested from his house in Salmabad on early hours of 7 Jan 2012. He is now detained in Dry Dock detention center for 45 days pending investigation.
3) Sayed Hadi Nasser Alawi: 21 year old Bahrain Racing Marshall who was active in all Formula One races in Bahrain and participated in UAE F1 in 2010. He was arrested on March 27 2011, accused of murder and illegal gathering and sentenced by a military court to life in prison.
4) Saleh Mahdi: Basketball player for Muharraq club, detained since March 2011 and sentenced by the military court to 2 years imprisonment on charges of “illegal gathering”.
5) Ali AlMolani: Handball player, university student, arrested from a checkpoint for having a text message in his phone saying “They have attacked lulu”. He has been sentenced by the military court to 3 years imprisonment for “illegal gathering”.
6-7) Mohamed Salman and Ali Salman: Handball players of the national team. They were accused of burning down a farm, each sentenced by military court to 15 years imprisonment.
8) Mohamed Ali Jawad AlFardan: a beach handball player. He was accused of burning down a farm and sentenced to 15 years by the military court.
9) Mohamed Mirza: 37 years old, award-winning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) trainer. He was arrested on 16 March 2011 from a checkpoint. He was accused of kidnapping a policeman and sentenced by the military court to 20 years imprisonment.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights demands the following from the Government of Bahrain and responsible bodies:
1 – Immediate release of Mohammad AlKhunaizi and all political detainees who were arrested and tried due to their exercise of legitimate rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
2 – To stop the policy of retaliatory arrests and trials which are still being applied to hundreds of pro-democracy citizens.
3 – All those responsible for abuses and in particular those responsible for torture and mistreatment of detainees must be held accountable and be brought to justice.
4 – The government of Bahrain to apply serious and urgent steps to stop its ongoing violations and start the implementation of the recommendations that came in the reports of local and international organizations.
5 – Must act immediately to reinstate all dismissed workers who lost their jobs after their exercise of legitimate rights, including the staff of the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), host of the Formula one races.
6 – The supervisors of the international Formula One race should seriously consider the feasibility of organizing a Formula One race in Bahrain in light of the records of human rights violations recorded in the country, which still continue under the policy of impunity.
More details about the sports activities of Muhammad AlKhunaizi (according to his family):
– Started his career in the field of motor sports since the beginning of the 90s. His first official participation was in 1998 in a Datsun ZX 280 1978 imported from the U.S and equipped in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
– Participated in local and international tournaments.
– Achieved Second place in the Qatar International Championship for the sprints in the Japanese Super Street Outlaw class in 2010
– Achieved third place in the Qatar International Championship for the sprints in the category of Top Speed Man in 2010
– Named Champion of the season in the Super Street Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) in 2008
– Named Champion of the season in the category of Japanese Super Street (RWD) race in the UAE in 2008
– Achieved the best time in the class outlaw (FWD) at 8.75 seconds (271kilometers per hour), as it is one of the best times achieved in the Gulf and the Middle East as a whole.
– In the category of Japanese Super Street (RWD) 6 Cylinder he made a record timing of 7.6 seconds.
– Founder of the “Khunaizi Racing Team” in 2005 which is considered one of the first Bahraini specialized teams to participate in the Drag Race with 100% Bahraini cadres.
– Founder of the Bahrain Automobile Club.
Videos of Khunaizi Racing Team youtube.com/user/khunaiziracingteam/videos
Click to enlarge photo:
More Photos
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[1]bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/4640
[2]bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/4815