Defense Lawyers Threatened by Judge with Disciplinary Action
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
REF: 22050613
Defense Lawyers Threatened by Judge with Disciplinary Action
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
REF: 22050613
The second Appeals Trial of the “Daih Detainees”(Ref: 02010606), sentenced to one year in jail earlier this month following random arrests that occurred after unrest resulting from frustration over the “Airport incident”(Ref: 19040609), took place this morning, 22nd of May, 2006. The trial took place in the Second Criminal Supreme Court with Judge Ebrahim Al-zayed presiding. The legal coordinator of the Committee of Defense for the Detainees Mr. Mohammed Al-Jishy related to the BCHR that the Defense Counsel was repeatedly interrupted during their cross-questioning of a witness presenting by the prosecution. Any questions attempting to discredit the witness were prohibited or overruled. The Judge repetitively silenced the defense counsel and after a brief quarrel between the Judge and the Defense the Judge threatened one of the defense lawyers with disciplinary action if she continued. The Session was thereafter postponed to the 28th of May, 2006.
Following the trail, the defendants were refused permission to speak to their families who were not permitted access to the court. After a short protest from the detainees, the security forces preceded in beating the detainees in front of members of the press and legal counsel, thereafter removing them by force and returning them to prison.
Those standing trial today are:
- Jaffar Abduljabbar Jaffar, 24 years, Daih
- Ahmed Yousuf Ahmed Nasser, 26 years, Daih
- Mohammed Abdulrasool Ahmed Ahmed, 30 years, Daih
- Abdulla Madan Ahmed, 26 years, Maameer
- Mohammed Hassan Yousuf Saif, 24 years Manama
- Ali Jaffar Jassim, 20 years, Daih
- Jaffar Hussain Mahmood Yousuf, 25 years, Maameer
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights is greatly disturbed by the Security forces unjustifiable harsh dealings with detainees during this trial as well as previous ones. The Security Forces have repeatedly used unnecessary force to remove handcuffed detainees from the courthouse. And today’s trial provides further evidence that the Bahraini court is far from independent in will. Chances that these detainees as well as others who stood trail in these past months, have received a fair trial is highly questionable, therefore prompting the Centre to call for their release, as the Bahraini Judicial System has proved itself unqualified to provide a just and fair trial.