Gulf Daily News – Vol XXVII NO. 318 – Tuesday 1 February 2005
AN appeal against the closure of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) was dismissed yesterday by the High Civil Court. However, the reasons for rejecting the appeal were not given and will not be announced for another week, sources told the GDN.
The BCHR now has one-and-a-half months to take its case to the Appeal Court.“What happened was sad, but it only supports our claims that the Bahraini courts are yet to be independent,” said BCHR board member Nabeel Rajab.
“The executive authority still controls the judicial authority.
Gulf Daily News – Vol XXVII NO. 318 – Tuesday 1 February 2005
AN appeal against the closure of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) was dismissed yesterday by the High Civil Court. However, the reasons for rejecting the appeal were not given and will not be announced for another week, sources told the GDN.
The BCHR now has one-and-a-half months to take its case to the Appeal Court.“What happened was sad, but it only supports our claims that the Bahraini courts are yet to be independent,” said BCHR board member Nabeel Rajab.
“The executive authority still controls the judicial authority.
“Nevertheless, we might try to appeal once the board meets to discuss the reasons of the rejection.”The BCHR was closed by the then Labour and Social Affairs Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi last September over allegations that it breached the 1989 Societies Law.
Twelve lawyers came to the defence of the group and lodged an appeal against the closure, which followed a seminar on poverty organised by the BCHR at Al Oruba Club, in Juffair.
Mr Rajab, fellow board member Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, government lawyer Ma’sooma Abdul Rasool and BCHR lawyer Ahmed Abdulrahim Al Dakhir were all in court for yesterday’s verdict.