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NEWS – May 2000

Update on 31 May:

The ancient prime minister, accompanied by his two sons, addressed the useless Shura Council on 30 May and said that he decided to appoint another powerless council and that in 2004 he will allow elections for a Shura Council.

The statement was not welcomed by civic groups inside the country as the premier failed, again, to address the real issue. The people of Bahrain are demanding the restoration of the parliament that has both legislative and monitoring powers according to Bahrain Constitution.

As for the Shura Council, it is no more than a governmental committee created (whether appointed or elected) for rubber stamping what the prime minister decides to pass to this powerless body for consultation. This governmental body has no powers to function as a parliament and therefore falls short of the demand of the people.

30 May 2000

MANAMA, Bahrain (Reuters) – Bahrain said Tuesday it plans to allow its appointed consultative Shura council to be chosen by popular vote in about five years, and to let women join the assembly starting later this year. Bahrain’s Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Sulman al-Khalifa made the announcements at a session of the Shura council, the official Gulf News Agency (GNA) reported. “We intend, with the support of the emir, to use elections as a way of forming the council after the next term,” GNA quoted Sheikh Khalifa as saying. The government set up the Shura council in 1992 mainly to review laws drafted by the Cabinet before they are sent to the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa for final approval. In 1996, the island increased the council’s members to 40 from 30 to widen popular representation. The council, which has no legislative powers, has a four-year term which starts in October. In 1975 Bahrain dissolved its elected parliament, two years after it was set up. Political parties are banned in Bahrain. Restoration of the elected parliament was the main demand fueling political unrest which began in 1994 by the island’s majority Shi’ite Muslim community. The disturbances abated in 1998.

REUTERS

DUBAI, May 30 (Reuters) – Bahrain said on Tuesday it would not cede an inch of land in a territorial dispute with neighbouring Qatar.

Bahraini Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Sulman al-Khalifa also warned that the dispute threatened to create a rift among Gulf Arab states, Bahrain’s official Gulf News Agency reported.

Sheikh Khalifa “stressed the unwavering stand of the emir of Bahrain, its people and government not to cede an inch of the homeland’s territory,” the agency said.

“The dispute threatens to create a deep rift in the Gulf and the Arab family and cause unnecessary tensions and instability in the area,” he added.

The prime minister said he still hoped that the International Court of Justice, which is hearing the dispute over the potentially oil- and gas-rich Hawar islands, would rule in Bahrain’s favour.

The Gulf islands have been controlled by Bahrain since the 1930s but are also claimed by Qatar.

Qatar unilaterally took the dispute to the Hague-based court in 1991, angering Bahrain which had wanted the dispute to be resolved through regional mediation.

The hearings began on Monday and are expected to last five weeks.

“We will look into what comes out of the court, whose judgment we hope will help establish amicable and peaceful relations between the two brotherly countries,” Sheikh Khalifa said.

Bahrain: ICJ hearing broadcast on TV

On 14 May, the security forces attacked a house in Abo-Saiba’a and detained Ismail Ahmed Salman, 20. He was tortured severely for one week and then released will all marks of torture on his body. It is worth noting that Mr. Salman was detained for three years without charges and had only been recently released.

The torturers in the interior ministry were encouraged by the Al-Khalifa family to continue torturing and ill-treating Bahrainis. Last March the Amir awarded ten British officers and 56 other officers (mostly from the Al-Khalifa family together with some mercenaries) with the highest honours for their role in jailing and torturing citizens. The officers included such names as Ian Henderson, Raymond Michael Mather Lou, N. C. G. Raffle, . J. Stone, Fernon Barry Wamsley, Donald Joseph Bryan, Samuel B. Ishaq, David B. R. Darby, Farooq Salman Al-Maawdah, Javid Latif Kalon, Adel Jasim Mohammed Flaifel, Mahmood Hussain Al-Akkori, etc.

Both the Bahraini and Qatari TV channels broadcast the court hearing that opened on 29 May in the Hague to look into the territorial dispute between the two countries. Qatar unilaterally took the dispute over Hawar islands to the International Court of Justice in 1991. The official Gulf News Agency said on 28 May that the cabinet backed a speech by Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in which he regretted Qatar’s failure to settle the dispute outside the ICJ. The cabinet also dispatched the information minister to Cairo to inform Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the issue.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

30 May 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

THE HAGUE, May 29 (Reuters) – The World Court on Monday began public hearings into a territorial dispute between the Gulf Arab states of Bahrain and Qatar, the last phase of the longest case in the court’s history.

The hearings at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, which are expected to last five weeks, began with a first round of oral arguments from Qatar.

Qatar’s representative will present his country’s case until June 6. Following that, Bahrain will start to argue its case.

The row centres on small but potentially oil and gas-rich islands controlled by Bahrain but claimed by Qatar, which unilaterally took the case to the World Court in 1991. That angered Bahrain, which had favoured a Gulf Arab mediation.

Qatar’s representative at the hearings, which were broadcast live by Bahrain’s state television and Qatar’s al-Jazeera satellite channel, told the court that his country would present evidence on its sovereignty over the disputed islands.

He accused Bahrain of trying to build artificial islands near the western coast of the disputed Hawar islands, and urged the World Court to stop what he called Bahraini violations.

“Qatar has learned that Bahrain has been constructing artificial islands on the western coast of the main Hawar island. This is a clear violation of the current situation in the area,” he said.

Relations between the two Gulf Arab states began to improve earlier this year after they formed a joint committee to try to resolve the dispute. But Bahrain suspended the talks, saying Qatar had failed to respond to its proposals.

Bahraini newspapers on Sunday accused Qatar of trying to usurp one-third of Bahrain’s territory, saying Doha had closed the door to an out-of-court solution.

The two countries, who are partners in a regional alliance, said last week following high-level talks to contain the crisis that the special joint committee would resume its operations after the World Court ruled on the case.

Alarmed by the fresh strain in relations, other Gulf Arab states have urged Bahrain and Qatar to exercise restraint and not to stoke anger in the oil-rich region.

In 1986, Qatar and Bahrain went to the brink of war over the islands. Conflict was averted by the intervention of regional power Saudi Arabia.

The first round of oral arguments at the World Court lasts until June 15. From June 20 to 22, Qatar will make a second round of oral arguments, followed by Bahrain from June 27 to 29.

REUTERS

Bahrain: PR stunt fails to whitewash government’s image

The Muslim member of the UK House of Lords, Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, visited Bahrain on 19 May and held talks with members of the Al-Khalifa family. While the government-controlled press attempted to re-phrase Lord Ahmed’s statements, it is understood that Lord Ahmed has raised several issues with the officials, including the arbitrary detention of citizens and the call for resumption of parliamentary elections in Bahrain.

The government PR machine has been inviting all types of people and inviting them to comment about the “paradise” created by the Al-Khalifa family. Those invited include not only parliamentarians, but also dancers and singers. While there are honourable people who insist on raising the issues of human rights and democracy, there are many others who are interested in receiving financial or personal gains. An example of the type of people deployed for PR purposes is what the “Bahrain Tribune” (28 May) reported. The newspaper said, “Antonio, a guitarist and singer at the Diplomat Hotel’s Italian restaurant Veneziano currently arrived in April for the umpteenth time, the first time was 14 years ago! However, that was the first time, but not the last time, as Antonio has been back several more times since then.” The entertainer was quoted by the paper saying: “I have this deep friendship and ties with Bahrain, which I can’t explain. It’s one of my favourite place, in fact, I feel more Bahraini than Italian,” “Life here seemed so easy and relaxed. I am sad to know about the Late Amir’s passing away. He was a good and kind man and a very approachable person.” He recalled having “tea with the Late Amir on Shaikh’s Beach in those days and said it was a memorable experience.”!!

In Geneva, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) published its annual report on 25 May. ILO said there are serious threats to trade unionists and others trying to organise workers in many countries. In Bahrain, ILO said, the “government constraints deny worker councils to have the attributes of independent organisations.” It is worth noting that the offices of the General Committee of Bahraini Workers, which is not allowed to be a trade union, was raided last year by security officers who confiscated folders and personal computers. The Constitution of Bahrain grants the citizens their right to unionise, but people like the ancient prime minister, have denied Bahrainis all their political rights.

Al-Hayat of 27 May said that the Bahraini legal team has left to the Hague to attend the first session of the International Court of Justice, due on Monday 29 May. Both Bahrain and Qatar agreed that a joint committee set up last year as part of improved ties would resume its work after the ICJ issued its final verdict over Hawar islands, and islands of Janan, Fasht al-Dibal and Qit’at Jaradah, and other maritime issues. The government had appointed former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations Yves Fortier as its representative on the panel of judges in the court, which consists of 17 judges.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

28 May 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Jailed ladies ill-treated

News from inside the detention centre in Isa Town said that the three ladies who were sentenced by an Al-Khalifa judge on 13 May to one-year imprisonment are being ill-treated and subjected to various forms of torture. A policewoman by the name Moza Sultan is in-charge of the ill-treatment inflicted on Leeda Ahmed Isa Al-Oreibi, 27, Hanan Salman Ahmed Haider, 21 and Salwa Hasan Ahmed Haider, 35. During a family visit, the ladies looked exhausted while the policewoman, Moza Sultan, was shouting at them forcing them to speak loudly so that she can hear and understand what is being said between the imprisoned ladies and their families.

On 8 May, the security forces mounted another attack against the residents of Daih and arrested Sadiq Hassan Abdul Wahab, 16, who is now being tortured in Al-Khamis police station. Two weeks earlier, the security forces had attacked the nearby area of Sanabis and arrested Mirza Salman Ali, 22, and Yasir Abdulla Khamis, 22. Both were ill-treated and tortutred for one day before they were release.

The International Secretariat of OMCT issued more urgent actions on 23 May. OMCT said “Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Jawad, 52 years old, was detained last year. News from inside the jail confirmed that Mr. Jawad had been transferred to solitary confinement where he has been held for more than 50 days. OMCT is gravely concerned for his physical and psychological integrity.” The International Secretariat was also informed that the condition of Naji Ahmed Salman, an 18-year old boy from Kawarah, has deteriorated. He was detained on 5 January 1997 and was placed in administrative detention (in the Dry-Dock prison camp). He was transferred to Salmanya Hospital on 31 March 2000 suffering due to the torture he had undergone. Naji was arrested at the age of 15.

OMCT urged the government to put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards; and to guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

24 May 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Government urged to end abuse of human rights

The International Secretariat of OMCT issued an urgent action on 18 May stating that it is “gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Leeda Ahmed Isa Al-Oreibi, 27, Hanan Salman Ahmed Haider, 21 and Salwa Hasan Ahmed Haider, 35, who were sentenced to one year imprisonment on May 13th 2000.” OMCT urged the government of Bahrain to “take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons and order their immediate release; guarantee an immediate investigation into the allegations of torture and ill treatment, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil an/or administrative sanctions provided by law; put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards; guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.”

Daih area witnessed an upsurge of protest activities following the unfair sentencing and jailing of three ladies. Tyres were burnt and shops closed on 14 May. More protests were reported on the following days and lights were switched-off to indicate the extent of anger amongst the people. On 16 May, columns of fire were reported in Daih and Sanabis areas as protest continued.

Sheikh Al-Jamri left hospital on Friday 19 May and was placed again under siege. The security forces surrounded his place of residence in Bani Jamra and prevented people from visiting him. The Amir visited Sheikh Al-Jamri on 14 May and the visit was widely reported in local media. The next day, 15 May, the prime minister visited Sheikh Al-Jamri, but the media did not mention anything. The continuation of siege on the house of Sheikh Al-Jamri is not encouraging and gives an indication of ill-intention.

War of words was re-ignited on 19 May between Bahrain and Qatar following the decision of the foreign ministry to suspend talks on border dispute. A foreign ministry statement said Bahrain would suspend talks at a committee, headed by the two states’ crown princes, which was formed to help resolve the dispute over Hawar islands. On 20 May, an unknown Bahraini official stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that Bahrain is “considering withdrawing its membership from the GCC”. The unnamed official attacked the way the GCC responded to the dispute between Bahrain and Qatar. Local media, including TV, launched a series of attacks on Qatar leaving citizens bemused as the governments tones continue to swing between words of “love and hate” with Qatar. The International Court of Justice in the Hague is due to start its sessions on the dispute on 29 May.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

21 May 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

DOHA, May 20 (Reuters) – Qatari officials said on Saturday the Gulf Arab state would continue to seek the help of the International Court of Justice to resolve a territorial dispute with Bahrain after bilaterial talks broke down.

“We don’t know at this moment whether we will react to the Bahraini statement, but we continue to seek the world court’s arbitration to settle the islands’ dispute,” an official said.

Bahrain said on Friday it was suspending talks with neighbouring Qatar on the long-standing dispute over the Hawar islands in the Gulf because Doha failed to respond to its proposals to resolve the matter.

A foreign ministry statement said Manama would suspend talks at a committee headed by the two states’ crown princes which was formed to try to resolve the dispute over the small but potentially oil- and gas-rich islands in the Gulf.

“Bahrain made serious attempts to reach a brotherly solution to all matters of the boundary dispute, through the work of the high committee,” the statement said.

“Bahrain submitted suggestions, but surprisingly, has so far not received a positive response,” it said without giving details of the proposals.

Qatar took the case to the International Court of Justice in the Hague in 1991, angering Bahrain which favoured regional mediation. The court is expected to start hearings this month on the dispute over the islands, controlled by Bahrain since the 1930s but claimed by Qatar.

AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE TIES

The two Gulf Arab states recently agreed to improve ties by exchanging ambassadors, easing travel restrictions and studying construction of a causeway over a channel between them.

They went to the brink of war on the dispute in 1986 which was averted by the intervention of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have since made several attempts to resolve the dispute.

Bahrain and Qatar had agreed to withdraw the case from the ICJ if they reached a settlement before the tribunal began hearings on May 29.

“The Bahraini side wants the hearing postponed indefinitely, which Qatar does not want,” a Qatari official said. “This may have irked our brethren in Bahrain, but Qatar cannot help unless regional or bilateral negotiations move ahead,” he told Reuters.

Diplomats said Qatar had always wanted the case to be decided through arbitration.

“It has been their position all along to seek arbitration, rather than politically-motivated regional mediation,” a Western diplomat said.

“Efforts to settle the dispute bilaterally were welcome, but the suspension of talks might revive the chill in their relations and hamper their growing economic ties,” he said.

Qatar’s Arabic language al-Raya daily said in an editorial that Bahrain acted hastily in suspending talks.

“We believe that this decision was a hasty one which should not have been taken at a time of joy over the rapprochement between the brotherly nations,” it said.

MANAMA, May 19 (Reuters) – Bahrain said on Friday it was suspending talks with Qatar on a long-standing border dispute between the two Gulf Arab states, accusing Doha of failing to respond to its proposals.

A Foreign Ministry statement said Bahrain would suspend talks at a committee, headed by the two states’ crown princes, which was formed to help resolve the dispute over small but potentially oil and gas-rich islands in the Gulf.

“Bahrain made serious attempts to reach a brotherly solution to all matters of the boundary dispute, through the work of the high committee,” said the statement, carried by the official Gulf News Agency.

“Bahrain submitted suggestions but, surprisingly, has so far not received a positive response,” the statement added, without giving details of the proposals.

“The state of Bahrain has had no choice but to set aside the work of the high joint committee, and to wait to see the outcome of court proceedings,” it added.

In 1991 Qatar took the case to the International Court of Justice in the Hague. The court is expected to start hearings later this month on the dispute over the islands, controlled by Bahrain since the 1930s but also claimed by Qatar.

The two Gulf Arab states had recently agreed on a series of economic and political steps to improve ties.

The measures included the exchange of ambassadors, easing travel regulations and conducting a study on building a causeway across a channel between the two small countries.

Date: 18/05/100

Bahrain – 3 women sentenced The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Leeda Ahmed Isa Al-Oreibi, 27, Hanan Salman Ahmed Haider, 21 and Salwa Hasan Ahmed Haider, 35, who were sentenced to one year imprisonment on May 13th 2000.

According to the procedure of the State Security Court, they do not have the right to appeal.

According to the Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO), a member of the OMCT network, these three ladies had previously been arrested in 1998, although eventually released after local and international pressure, having suffered ill-treatment and torture in detention. In the case of Leeda Ahmad Al-Oraibi, from Sanabis, she was arrested on Nov. 15th 1998 at 5:45 am.

The security forces came into the house while she was in bed and despite her family’s pledges to wait until the morning, the foreign staffed security stormed all the bedrooms and took Leeda from her bed away to Al-Khamis Police Headquarters. When her family approached the police station to inquire about her, they were told that they did not have their daughter.

Hanan Salman Haidar, 21 years, from Daih was arrested on the 4th of Nov. 1998. Her family were ill treated and the contents of the house were ruined. According to the information, Adel Flaifel led the attack on this family. Hanan’s two brothers Ibrahin and Haidar were already in detention. She was taken to Issa Town Police Station where she was physically tortured. Also, following her arrest two females from her family were arrested, Salwa and Mona.

Salwa Hassan Haidar: from Daih was arrested on Nov. 4th 1998 and taken to Issa Town Police station where she was physically tortured. According to BHRO, both Hanan Salman Hayder and Salwa Hassan Haydar were released on Dec 30, 1998, on bail of BD 500 ($1335) each.

During detention period they were reportedly held in solitary confinement at Issa Town Detention Centre and tortured. Their bodies reportedly carried marks of torture.Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Bahrain urging them to:

i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons and order their immediate release;

ii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the allegations of torture and ill treatment, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil an/or administrative sanctions provided by law;

iii.put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards;

iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.Addresses His Highness Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa, Office of His Highness the Amir,

P.O. Box 555, The Amiri Court, Rifa’a Palace, Bahrain.

Fax : + 973 668884. Telex : 8666 Qasar BN; 8500 Qasar BN

His Excellency Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister,

P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain.

Telex : 9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO BN. FAX: + 973 533033.

His Excellency Al-Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa,

Minister of Interior, P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 276765 or 290526 or 754303. Telex : 9572 PSMKT BN OR 8333 ALAMAN BN

Geneva, May 18, 2000

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT)

World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)

Organizaci?n Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT)

8 rue du Vieux-Billard

Case postale 21CH-1211 Geneve 8Suisse/Switzerland

Tel. : 0041 22 809 49 39

Fax : 0041 22 809 43 29

E-mail : omct@omct.orghttp://www.omct.org

Update on 17 May:

* Daih area witnessed an upsurge of protest activities following the unfair sentencing and jailing of three ladies. Tyres were burnt and shops closed on 14 May. More protests were reported on the following days and lights were switched-off to indictae the extent of anger amongst the people.

On 16 May, columns of fire were reportd in Daih and Sanabis areas as protest continued.

The State Security Court is convenning two times a week for sentencing Bahrainis following quickie sessions lasting 10-20 minutes each. This unfair process has been condemned by all human rights organisations.

Bahrain: Three women sentenced to one-year imprisonment.

A member of the Al-Khalifa family (presiding over the State Security Court) sentenced three Bahraini ladies to 1-year imprisonment on 13 May. The three ladies are:

1. Leeda Ahmed Isa Al-Oreibi, 27.

2. Hanan Salman Ahmed Haider, 21.

3. Salwa Hasan Ahmed Haider, 35.

The court was held in the militarised village of Jaw near the 4 prisons that have been constructed by the ruling family for jailing Bahrainis who demand their rights. The three ladies had been arrested in 1998 and had suffered ill-treatment and torture. They were then released under mounting local and international pressures. On 13 May, the three women were led back to prison to serve the sentences issued against them.

Dawn raids: The security forces have been stepping up their atrocities against the citizens in the past weeks. On 9 March, they mounted several dawn raids against the residents of Jed-Ali and arrested the following persons: Ali Hassan, 16, Abdulla Saleem, 22, his brother Saleh Saleem, 16, Redha Al-Oreibi, 18, Yonis Al-Adhim, 20, Mostafa Al-Mukhtar, 23 and several other youths.

Forcible deportation: A Bahraini, Hani Abdulla Saleh Al-Banaa, 29, from Jedhafs, returned to Bahrain from Qatar on 11 May only to be detained in the airport, intimidated and then forcibly deported back to Qatar. The government of Bahrain is the only “national” government in the world that forcibly deports the natives of the country while at the same it imports mercenaries from abroad and grants citizenship.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

14 May 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

(Adds emir’s visit to Jamri para 4)

MANAMA, May 14 (Reuters) – A prominent Bahraini Shi’ite Moslem opposition leader, Sheikh Abdul-Amir al-Jamri, is recovering in hospital after undergoing heart surgery, his family said on Sunday.

“An Irish doctor supervised his surgery on Thursday. He has now been moved from the intensive care unit to another ward and his health is improving,” his son Sadiq told Reuters.

The official Gulf News Agency said Bahrain’s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa visited Sheikh Jamri on Sunday after the successful surgery.

News Update on 11 May:

* Sheikh al-Jamri: The open heart surgery was successfully carried out today at the military hospital in Bahrain. Four by-passes were needed and for rest of the day Sheikh Al-Jamri is expected to be unconscieous.

Bahrain: Government’s intervention condemned; Human rights abuses continue

The open-heart surgery that was supposed to have been performed on Sheikh Al-Jamri on 8 May has been postponed until Thursday 11 May because of health deterioration. The security authorities maintained the siege imposed on Sheikh Al-Jamri since his release last July.

A 16-year old boy is in critical condition in Salmanya Hospital (Ward No. 44) since the 5th of May. Jassim Hassan Al-Nakkal, 16, was walking in Sitra when a group of security personnel surrounded him and savagely kicked and punched him until he fell down. By-passers took him to hospital after the departure of the torturers. The interior ministry has been adopting this method of intimidation against the citizens in the past months. None of the torturers has ever been held accountable for such crimes that are regularly conducted with full authority from senior commands in the interior ministry.

On 2 May, the security forces attacked a mosque located in western Bilad al-Qadim and destroyed its contents. This atrocious act is part of the official policy aimed at intimidating the citizens.

The State Security Court convened again on 9 May for another session involving the case of three ladies: Leeda Ahmed Isa Al-Orebi, 27, Hanan Salman Ahmed Haider, 21, and Salwa Hasan Ahmed Haider, 35. The three ladies had been arrested in 1998 and suffered ill-treatment and torture. They were then released under mounting local and international pressures. This was the third time they appear before the security court that is presided by a member of the Al-Khalifa family.

On 6 May, the unconstitutional State Security Court sentenced two citizens. Abbas Khamis Omran, 27, and Mahdi Isa were both sentenced to one-year imprisonment and fines of BD 200 ($540 each). The two had been in detention since November 1998.

On 6 May, the security forces attacked Al-Mussalla and detained Mohammed Saeed Jassim, 21, Jamil Ahmed Hassan Al-Bonni, 21, and his brother Nabil, 19. A similar attack on Iskan-Jedhafs on 6 May resulted in the detention of Sadiq Jaffer Al-Sheikh, 17.

On 9 May, the Bahraini journalist Hafedh Al-Sheikh, wrote an article in Al-Quds Al-Arabi condemning the decision of the government to establish a society for journalists that will have no independence and will be used for serving governmental PR purposes. Mr. Al-Sheikh, in a length article, condemned the intervention of the government, especially the British officer Ian Henderson, that is aimed at controlling the media and ensuring that all journalists tow the government’s line.

On the other hand, it transpired that the government has invited both Lord Nazir Ahmed and Lord Graville Janner (members of the British House of Lords) to visit Bahrain during this month of May. It is believed that the visit is part of the PR campaign conducted by the ruling family to whitewash its stained image abroad.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

9 May 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Sheikh Al-Jamri transferred to intensive care unit

The health of Sheikh Al-Jamri deteriorated critically on 3 May and he had to be transferred to the intensive care unit at the International Hospital of Bahrain. Sheikh Al-Jamri has been under house arrest since his release last July with security and paramilitary personnel increasing their siege every day. No one is allowed to visit him or enter his house other than his wife, sons and daughters. Sheikh Al-Jamri remains in critical condition requiring a heart operation. The opposition lays the blame for deterioration of his health and his continued suffering (even when he is at bed in hospital) at the government of Bahrain that has denied him all his rights.

The State Security Court, presided by a member of the Al-Khalifa family, sentenced another batch of citizens on 3 May. The sentencing took few minutes in a third session for a group of people who had been arrested in November 1998 and who had suffered extensive torturing. The unfair sentences were as follows:

1. Ali Mahdi, 22 years old, 7 years imprisonment, and a fine of BD 500 ($1350)

2. Aqil Al Jaziri, 27, in absentia, 7 years imprisonment and a fine of BD 500 ($1350).

3. Saeed Al Sheikh, 33, 5 years imprisonment and a fine of BD500 ($1350).

4. Hesham Ali Hasan 18, 2 years imprisonment and a fine of BD 200($540).

The court could not fix sentences against Hussein Haider, 35, Sayed Jaber Adnan Shuber, 40 (who had already been sentenced in 1999 for 6 months accused of distributing pamphlets), Yousif Folath, 20, Abdul Amir Al Aradi, 20, Mahmood Muhsin, 22 , and the Lebanese person Sohail Chehade, 27. The poor Lebanese was initially labelled the “leader of a terrorist group” in 1998 and the government carried several racist-driven stories in 1998 accusing him and the group of “major crimes”.

On 4 May the security forces attacked the house of Haji Hassan Rashid in Karzakkan, terrorised and ill-treated all members of the family. The foreign-staffed security forces rampaged through all the rooms of the house at 3.30 am without any respect for human rights. The mercenaries later claimed that they had been searching for a group of youths who carried posters of the martyr Fadil Abbas Marhhon. A unit belonging to the Bahrain Defence Force (who have a base nearby) killed the Mr. Marhoon on 6 May 1996. Non of the killers of citizens had ever been brought to justice.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

6 May 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Corruption gets deeper and human rights abuses worsen

The increasing corruption of the prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa is creating frustration among Bahraini business community. Business people and the big companies in the country are implicitly forced to pay 12-15% commission to the prime minister if they ever hoped to win any of the projects controlled by the State. The prime minister has several people who act on his behalf and these convey the message to contractors and companies.

The top hotels in the country are suffering because all official delegates are accommodated in the “Regency” or the “Meridian” hotels, both owned by the prime minster. Moreover, work is in progress for constructing “Bahrain Shopping Mall”, also owned by the prime minister. The land was appropriated and the prime minister ordered the housing ministry to construct the surrounds of the complex at a cost of BD 300,000 ($800,000).

The corruption is going deeper everyday. Most ministries are forces to purchase travel tickets from Al-Fateh Travel Agency, which is owned by the son of the prime minister, Ali (who is also a transport minister). The son is imitating his father and has imposed a commission of 20% on a computer company contracted for the transport ministry for some IT services.

Corruption and human rights abuses are growing hand in hand. The following persons will be brought before the State Security Court (which is presided by an Al-Khalifa person and staffed with two Egyptian judges) on 3 May for the second time since their arrest in November 1998: Ali Mahdi, 22 , Seyed Jaber Adnan, 40 (his brother Seyed Fadhil Adnan is serving a 10-year sentence), Abdul Amir Al Aradi, 22, Hesham Ali Hassan, 19, Mahmood Mohsin, 22, Sohail Chehade (a Lebanese), 27, and Saeed Al-Shiekh, 33

Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Jawad, 52 years old, was detained last year and continues in arbitrary detention. News from inside the jails said that Mr. Jawad had been transferred to solitary confinement. It is worth noting that the security forces had arrested and tortured his daughter Ramleh Mohammed Hassan in 1998.

The condition of 18-year boy, Naji Ahmed Salman, from Kawarah, has deteriorated. He was detained on 5 January 1997 and remained in administrative detention (in the Dry-Dock prison camp). He was transferred to Salmanya Hospital on 31 March suffering from the torture he had received. The boy was arrested at the age of 15.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

3 May 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Al-Khalifa forces detain more Bahraini children

The security forces committed further atrocities. On 24 April, at 2.00 am after mid-night a large group of security forces attacked four houses in Duraz and detained children aged between 14 and 17 years old. The following person were snatched from their parents’ houses: Nidhal Ismail Mahdi, 15, Ammar Ali Mansoor Al-Shehabi, 15, Isa Mahdi Abdul Nabi, 17 and Sadiq Abdull Qassim, 14. The 14-year child is the brother of Hamid Qasim who was killed by the security forces in 1995.

The 14-year Sadiq Abdulla Qassim was detained in a manner that characterised the nature of the forces that had been imported by the Al-Khaifa family for the sole purpose of repressing and torturing Bahrainis. When these forces attacked the child’s parent’s house he had been suffering from a broken leg for some time. The child was treated in hospital with gypsum cast on his leg. He has been using crutches as an aid for walking. Later on, the father of the child was summoned for interrogation and the father came to know that his son was accused of writing pro-democracy slogans on the wall. The father protested that his son could not walk without assistance, and how could he paint slogans on the walls of Duraz. The father also requested the torturers to take the crutches to his son as per the medical advice.

On 30 April, at 8.00 am, the four children were dragged by the security forces to Duraz and were forced to paint slogans while being filmed by them. Later on all the four children were returned for further ill-treatment. All four are detained by the Criminal Intelligence Directorate (CID).

One of the citizens who were administratively detained and later released exposed the government’s lies. The citizen wrote to Ali Saleh, the columnist who writes in Akhbar Al-Khalij (the letter was published on 300 April). The citizen said that although the government claimed that all those released were re-admitted to their previous employment, he had been refused to go back to his previous job and that where ever he went he was told that the interior ministry rejects his employment.

The Al-Khalifa government was denounced last month in Geneva by non-governmental organisations and UN experts. Both the UN and Swiss representatives called on the Bahraini government to allow the UN Rapporteur on Torture to visit Bahrain. Two requests for inspection visits (one by the UN Rapporteur on Torture and the other from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention) have been resisted by the Al-Khalifa government.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

1 May 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: The Al-Khalifa distribute honours on British intelligence officers

Human right activists in Geneva organised a seminar on Bahrain inside the UN compounds on 25 April. The documentary film produced by Channel 4 on the role played by the British officer Ian Henderson in repressing Bahrainis became the centre-point of discussion held in one of the halls as part of NGOs activities during the 56 the session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Four international human rights organisation, FIDH, OMCT, Interfaith international and Nord-Sud sponsored the show, It was attended by scores of delegates and Dr. Charles Grave of Interfaith International chaired the meeting. At the end of the show a debate was opened where both Dr. Grave Mr. Abdul-Nabi Al-Ekry of CDHRB, answered the questions raised by the audience.

While the activities at the UN Human Rights Commission continued, the ruling Al-Khalifa family had its own agenda. It despatched one of its number, the torturer Abdul Aziz Attiat-Allah Al-Khalifa and at the same time the Amir presented the British officers controlling the intelligence services and interior ministry with the highest tribal honours. Several names were honoured by the Al-Khalifa including (names are re-translated from Arabic and hence may have different spelling): Ian Henderson, Raymond Michael Mather Lou, N. C. Raffle, J. Stone, Fernon Barry Wamsley, A. B. McInt, Donald Bryan, Samuel B. Ishaq, James Windsor, and David Darby. The honouring of these intelligence and interior ministry officers by the Al-Khalifa shows that they are intent on continuing to repress the citizens of Bahrain.

Meanwhile, human rights abuses continued. The security forces attacked Nabih Saleh island on 13 April and arrested Abdul Zahra Isa Mohammed, 22, and Qasim Hassan Abdulla, 16. Earlier, the security forces had attacked Sitra-Sfalah and arrested Haji Ibrahim Tawwash and on the next day they re-attacked his house and arrested his son Mahdi Ibrahim Tawwash, 24. The latter remained in detention. In Duraz, the security forces arrested Seyyed Hussain Majid Fadhl, Nadheer Hassan, 20, Seyyed Hassan Saeed. Only the latter was released after suffering exhaustion from the torture he had been subjected to. The security forces re-attacked Duraz on 14 April and arrested Mahmood Thabit, 17, Mahmood Jamil, 17. On the same day, the security forces attacked Massallah and arrested Ali Mirza, 20, Hani Mirza, 19, Seyyed Fadhil Al-Massali, 16, Makki Ahmed Hassan, 16, and Nabil Ahmed Hassan, 17. All Massallah’s persons were tortured in Al-Khamis police station and released after several days. A similar attack on Iskan-Jedhafs resulted in the arrest of the 12-year child Ahmed Makki. The child was tortured for in Al-Khamis police station and then released after 2 days.

The case of seven citizens from Shakhora confirm the arbitrariness of the interior ministry and the extent of its violation of human rights. Ali Mulla Mohammed Al-Madhi, Osama Saeed, Abdul Jalil Mohammed Kadhim, Aqil Ali, Seyyed Mohammed Jaffer, Abbas Salman, Seyyed Yasir Marhoon, have spent more than two years in administrative detention. They were brought before the State Security Court 14 times. During these fourteen times, the interior ministry accused them with three different charges/cases. The court acquitted them on all charges during all the sessions. However, the interior ministry refused to release them.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

28 April 2000

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089