(CIHRS/IFEX) – The following is a 29 September 2004 press release: Cairo, September 29, 2004 38 Human Rights NGOs from 14 Arab States call upon the Bahraini Authorities to immediately release the Executive Director of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights The undersigned signatories express their deep alarm regarding the detention of the Executive Director […]
(CIHRS/IFEX) – The following is a 29 September 2004 press release:
Cairo, September 29, 2004
38 Human Rights NGOs from 14 Arab States call upon the Bahraini Authorities to immediately release the Executive Director of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights
The undersigned signatories express their deep alarm regarding the detention of the Executive Director of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Mr. Abdel Hadi El-Khawaja Saturday, September 25, 2004. His detention comes as a reaction to his peaceful activities for defending human rights – a flagrant violation of freedom of opinion and expression and the international conventions on human rights ratified by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Moreover, it is a continuation of the deterioration of reform in Bahrain.
It is noteworthy that the Public Prosecution on September 26th sentenced El-Khawaja to 45 days imprisonment pending investigations. He was charged of publicly inciting for hatred of the regime and disseminating propaganda disturbing public security and order. Such charges invoke Articles 165 and 168 of the Penal Code. Penalties as per such Articles range from two to three years. Moreover, a governmental committee was formed to discuss taking legal measures against the Bahrain Center for Human Rights.
The action against El-Khawaja was due to a seminar held by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights September 24 on Poverty and Economic Rights in Bahrain. It tackled the deterioration of the standards of living and the increase in unemployment and poverty among wide ranges of the Bahraini people. In his paper to the seminar, El-Khawaja referred to the deteriorating standards of living in spite of the strong state economy. This is due to the misdistribution of wealth, squander of public funds, financial and administrative corruption and improper planning. Furthermore, there continues the domination of the economy by a small group, both of the public and private sectors. All the above hinder any real tangible reforms. Such moves by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights come within the framework of its campaign to encourage civil society institutions and agencies and individuals concerned to push forward towards promulgating the legislations and reforms necessary in the Kingdom. The Bahrain Center had recently launched a campaign against the government’s attempt to pass a law undermining political associations as it included articles conflicting with the Bahraini Constitution and human rights principles.
It is noteworthy that this is not the first instance of security harassments of human rights and democracy advocates in Bahrain. Last May around 20 activists were blocked for their call to sign a memorandum calling upon the government to conduct constitutional reforms. Moreover, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights was threatened by the Ministry of Social Affairs with being blocked unless it freezes its activities which the Bahraini authorities deemed contrary to the law.
The undersigned institutions call upon the Bahraini authorities to promptly and unconditionally release El-Khawaja and acquit him of the said charges. They should also cease threatening the Bahrain Center for Human Rights Studies and harassing human rights and democracy defenders in Bahrain.
The Signatories:
1- The Libyan League for Human Rights
2- The Gulf Center for Freedom of the Press
3- The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists
4- The South Center for Human Rights
5- The Bahrain Center for Human Rights
6- The Bahraini Association for Public Freedoms and Democracy
7- The Palestinian Organization for Human Rights – Lebanon
8- The Lebanese Association for Human Rights
9- The House of Syndicate and Labor Services – Egypt
10- The Sudanese Studies Center
11- The Palestinian Center for Human Rights – Gaza
12- The Moroccan Association for Human Rights
13- Habi Center for Environmental Rights – Egypt
14- The Human Rights Association for Assistance of Prisoners
15- Haq Organization – West Bank
16- Sisters Forum for Human Rights
17- The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
18- The Tunisian Association for Democratic Women
19- The Group for Defending Democracy – Egypt
20- The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
21- Center for Alternative Development Studies
22- ADL Association for Defending Rights and Freedoms – Lebanon
23- The Jordanian Association for Human Rights
24- The Forum of Civil Society – Yemen
25- Committees for Defending Human Rights in Syria
26- Organization Marocaine Des Droits Humains
27- The Iraqi Network for Human Rights
28- The Tunisian League for Human Rights
29- The Khartoom Center for Human Rights and Environment
30- The Saudi Center for Human Rights
31- The Sudanese Organization for Social Development
32- Committee for Respect of Human Rights and Freedoms in Tunisia
33- The Sudanese Group for Human Rights
34- Truth and Equity Forum – Morocco
35- Association for the Support of Social Participation
36- The Egyptian Social Democratic Center
37- The Human Rights Information and Training Center – Yemen
38- The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
