Photo: Masooma Al-Sayed being arrested by policewomen during a Manama Protest
Update: 19 November 2012
Activist Masooma Al-Sayed was set to be released on 11th November 2012 yet on the same day she was accused of insulting a public officer. She was taken to the public prosecution on 14th November 2012, where her detention was extended until the 18th November 2012. On the 18th November, the public prosecution decided to renew her detention for another 10 days pending trial.
Photo: Masooma Al-Sayed being arrested by policewomen during a Manama Protest
Update: 19 November 2012
Activist Masooma Al-Sayed was set to be released on 11th November 2012 yet on the same day she was accused of insulting a public officer. She was taken to the public prosecution on 14th November 2012, where her detention was extended until the 18th November 2012. On the 18th November, the public prosecution decided to renew her detention for another 10 days pending trial.
On 15th November 2012, Masooma’s mother-in-law passed away and despite multiple appeals by her family and attorney to temporarily release AlSayed to attend the funeral processions, the requests were denied. The next court session for activist Masooma Al-Sayed will be on the 28th November 2012.
4 November 2012
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses its grave concern over the continued detention of activist Masooma Al-Sayed for peacefully protesting.
Today AlSayed will be attending yet another court session in what is evident to be a politicized and unbiased judiciary system being used as a tool against activists. Al-Sayed; a mother of two, Al-Hur (7 years old) and Nouh (5 years old) was arrested on the 21st of September 2012 for peacefully protesting in the capital Manama. The protest was organized by the “February 14th Coalition” calling for “freedom and democracy”.
Photo: Masooma with the son of one of the victims of extra-judicial killings
The BCHR believes that her imprisonment is due to her activism and participation in peaceful protests. She is well known for being the pioneer for the project “Martyr’s Kids are our Kids” where children of Bahrain’s victims of extra-judicial killings are enrolled on a fun and educational program.
The BCHR calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and all international institutions to put pressure on the Bahraini authorities to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release detained activist Masooma Al-Sayed and drop all charges against her.
2. Immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience who have been imprisoned for solely practicing their right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression.
Related Reports/Statements:
1. Bahrain: Judicial crackdown continues on human rights defenders and activists
2. Bahrain continues to use the excessive force as the only response to the demanding protests for democracy