Activists in plea for release of leaflets pair
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 22 January 2007
HUMAN rights activists in Bahrain have launched dual online petitions calling for the release of two men arrested after being accused of possessing and distributing subversive literature.
One will be signed by ordinary people and the other by human rights activists from across the world, said vice-president of the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights Nabeel Rajab.
Both will eventually be sent to His Majesty King Hamad.
The petitions praise the government for its accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and points out the United Nations treaty states “everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference” and “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression”.
Activists in plea for release of leaflets pair
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 22 January 2007
HUMAN rights activists in Bahrain have launched dual online petitions calling for the release of two men arrested after being accused of possessing and distributing subversive literature.
One will be signed by ordinary people and the other by human rights activists from across the world, said vice-president of the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights Nabeel Rajab.
Both will eventually be sent to His Majesty King Hamad.
The petitions praise the government for its accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and points out the United Nations treaty states “everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference” and “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression”.
“We, the undersigned, are convinced that what the men did was not a crime under the provisions of Bahraini law or international legal instruments,” the petitions state.
Petitions
“We appeal for their immediate and unconditional release, setting a good example of respect and protection of human rights values as expected from Bahrain, a member the UN Human Rights Council.”
The activists appeared in the Lower Criminal Court on January 7 accused of possessing and distributing subversive literature and encouraging people to seek changes to the country’s political system through illegal means.
The 35-year-old dentist and the 32-year-old insurance sales executive denied the charges and the case was adjourned until January 31. Both were remanded in custody and have been held since November 16. The families of the two men have held a number of demonstrations in Manama appealing for their release, while the Al Haq Movement of Liberties and Democracy has urged the UN to intervene in the case.
The petitions have so far collected 50 signatures and are available at www.petitiononline.com/bahraind/.
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© Gulf Daily News
