(WiPC/IFEX) – International PEN is concerned that the writer and scholar, Shaikh Al-Jamri, who has now been in prison without trial for nearly three and a half years, might be sentenced to a long prison-term for his opposition activities. The organisation is appealing to the Amir of Bahrain to, at the very least, allow independent […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – International PEN is concerned that the writer and scholar,
Shaikh Al-Jamri, who has now been in prison without trial for nearly three
and a half years, might be sentenced to a long prison-term for his
opposition activities. The organisation is appealing to the Amir of Bahrain
to, at the very least, allow independent observers access to the trial, but
also continues to call for Shaikh Al-Jamri’s unconditional release.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 16 April and 15 February 1999, 17 February 1998, 11
October, 4 October and 19 June 1995**
On 4 July 1999, the second session of the trial against Shaikh Al-Jamri – a
62-year old religious scholar, poet and former member of the now defunct
National Assembly – is scheduled to take place. He was arrested in January
1996, along with seven other prominent Shi’a Muslim clerics, apparently in
connection with a petition he circulated calling for constitutional change.
His period in pre-trial detention violates Article 1 of the Decree Law on
State Security Measures, in force since 1974, which allows for maximum
administrative detention of three years. Throughout his time in jail, PEN
has received several reports that he has been mistreated. He was apparently
subjected to heavy pressure and threats in an effort to make him sign
pre-prepared legal documents disavowing his beliefs and was previously
hospitalised as a result of the poor conditions of his confinement.
On 21 February, he was finally brought before the State Security court in
Jaw, some eighteen miles south of the capital, Manama. The judge was a
relative of the ruling Al-Khalifa family. No international observers were
allowed in attendance and the session was held in camera. Shaikh Al-Jamri
was allowed access to a lawyer only one hour before the session opened.
He is reportedly being charged with responsibility for all the public
disorders and acts of sabotage in Bahrain since December 1994, despite the
fact that he has never advocated violence and was actually imprisoned for
most of the period. Shaikh Al-Jamri has pleaded not guilty. Many
commentators fear that he will nevertheless receive a harsh custodial
sentence of between ten and fifteen years; once convicted, he will have no
right of appeal.
In light of these troubling aspects of his case, International PEN has grave
concerns about the outcome of the trial and fears that Shaikh Al-Jamri is
being denied due process. It joins other human rights groups and government
officials – such as the British Ambassador to Bahrain – in urging the
Bahraini government to allow independent observers access to the trial.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the amir:
from his peaceful advocacy of political reform, and appealing to him to
demonstrate his commitment to fair governance and human rights by ordering
his release, as his imprisonment undermines the internationally recognised
right to freedom of expression
Appeals To
His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa
Amir of Bahrain
Office of His Highness
PO Box 555, The Amiri Court
Rifa’s Palace
Bahrain
Fax: + 973 533 033
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
