BCHR cautiously welcomes the release of Leaflet Detainees; calls for repeal of Penal Code of 1976 and Press Law
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
26 February 2007
Ref: 07022601
BCHR cautiously welcomes the release of Leaflet Detainees; calls for repeal of Penal Code of 1976 and Press Law
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
26 February 2007
Ref: 07022601
Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi (dentist, age 35) and Hussain AbdulAziz Al Hebshi (insurance sales executive, age 32) were arrested on 16 November 2006, after they were found in possession of internet-downloaded publications calling for the boycott of the November 2006 national elections, deemed by the government as “subversive literature”. The pair were charged with “promoting the change of the state system through illegal means and without a legitimate reason”, and “spreading false news and rumours, which would cause disruption of public security, and damage public interest”, on the basis of articles 160, 161 and 168 of the Draconian Penal Code of 1976 (for details, see BCHR Ref: 07010801).
Despite pleas for their release from a wide range of local and international human rights organizations, the courts convicted the pair on January 30, with Dr Al Sahlawi receiving a one-year prison sentence and six months for Mr Al Hebshi. The pair were released from prison yesterday morning, reportedly based on a royal pardon from HM the King, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Veiled warning to all activists
While the release of the detainees has been welcomed, the BCHR remains deeply concerned that the purpose of their detention and prosecution by the government was to stifle any public criticism of it.
“Although the ‘Leaflet Detainees’ are now free, the three months they spent in detention, without compensation or apology, was enough to serve its purpose as a veiled threat to other activists and journalists who are critical of the government’s actions,” BCHR vice president Nabeel Rajab said. “The case of the Leaflet Detainees is just one of many such recent government attempts to silence dissenters in the country.”
It should be noted that:
- BCHR president Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, and HAQ Movement (an opposition political society) secretary-general Hassan Mushaime are currently being prosecuted for “crimes related to internal state security”, each facing upto 15 years imprisonment
- Popular local blogger Mahmood Al Yousif is currently facing a libel case, punishable by imprisonment, for criticizing the minister of municipalities and agriculture on his blog (see BCHR Ref:07020900)
- Suad Fathalla is being threatened and harassed for criticizing the Public Prosecution and Sharia courts on a television discussion programme about women’s rights in Bahrain (see: Ref:07011401)
(see BCHR Ref:07022501).
In recent years, numerous other activists and journalists have been detained and prosecuted for expressing criticism of the government. There have also been a number of cases where prominent activists have been targeted for physical attack by security forces during peaceful demonstrations, or personally attacked by masked men.
“The continued harassment of activists violates government commitments to freedom of expression and press guaranteed by articles 23 and 24 of the Constitution of Bahrain and by international human rights instruments”, Rajab said.
He added: “Instead of pursuing activists and journalists, the Public Prosecutor should be prosecuting known torturers like Ian Henderson and Adel Flaifel or the inciters of sectarianism accused in the Bandargate report who currently walk free in Bahrain. Additionally, the Penal Code of 1976 and the Press Law of 2002, under which activists and journalists are repeatedly prosecuted, must be repealed or amended such that they comply with international human rights standards.”