Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
February 28, 2005

Bahrain is a monarchy, which in 2002 adopted a constitution that reinstated a legislative body with one elected chamber. The Al-Khalifa extended family has ruled the country since the late 18th century and continues to dominate all facets of society and government. The King, Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, governs the country with the assistance of his uncle, the Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Al-Khalifa; his son, the Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad; and an appointed cabinet of ministers. Members of the Al-Khalifa family hold 8 out of 23 cabinet positions, including all strategic ministries. The 2002 Constitution provides that the King is head of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Government. The King also chairs the Higher Judicial Council, which appoints members of the Constitutional Court. The bicameral National Assembly consists of the elected Council of Representatives and the appointed Shura (Consultative) Council. The Constitution gives the Council of Representatives a role in considering legislation, but most legislative authority still resides with the King, and he appoints members of the Shura Council. The Constitution provides for a nominally independent judiciary; however, the judiciary was not independent because courts were subject to government pressure regarding verdicts, sentencing, and appeals.

على مدى أكثر من قرنين من تاريخ البحرين، كان هناك مصدران رئيسيان لعدم الاستقرار وانتهاك حقوق الإنسان، المصدر الأول هو العلاقة المثيرة للجدل بين اسرة آل خليفة الحاكمة - الذين ينتمون إلى قبيلة سنية ويشكلون الأقلية- وبين الأكثرية الشيعية. والمصدر الثاني لعدم الاستقرار هو تظلمات الأكثرية الشيعية.

تحتوي هذه الورقة على مبادئ ومعايير رئيسية لابد أن تتوافر في أي دستور ليكون النظام الذي ينبثق عنه ديمقراطيا وضامنا لحقوق الإنسان وحرياته الأساسية. وتحتوي الورقة على اشارات لمظاهر تضارب دستور البحرين مع تلك المبادئ والمعايير.

Shereen Bushehri, Arab News

MANAMA, 6 February 2005 — A human rights activist called upon the Bahrain government to take a stronger stand in fighting for the rights of the six Bahrainis detained as “enemy combatants” in Guantanamo Bay.

“It is a pity that the fight to seek the freedom — or at least the right to a just trial — for these six men has been largely left to cash-strapped human rights activists,” said Nabeel Rajab.

“Bahrain’s government must take a larger proactive role in bringing the six back home, especially since the Bahraini Interior Ministry stated that there is no evidence that any of them was engaged in terrorist activity,” he added.

تم اطلاق هذا التقرير في ندوة الفقر بنادي العروبة والتي ادت الى اغلاق مركز البحرين لحقوق الانسان واعتقال مديره التنفيذي عبدالهادي الخواجة وهو المعد الرئيسي لهذا التقرير.

اولا: المحتويات:
يعرض هذا التقرير إحصائيات وحقائق تتعلق بثلاث فئات رئيسية من المواطنين يعانون من الفقر وتدني المستوى المعيشي:

Gulf Daily News - Vol XXVIII NO. 87 - Wednesday 15 June 2005

By ABDULRAHMAN FAKHRI

AN appeal against the forced closure of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) was dismissed by the Administrative Court yesterday.

This follows an earlier appeal, which was also dismissed by the High Civil Court in February this year.

BCHR officials said they were unlikely to lodge any further appeals, but would continue their activities.

The reason behind's yesterday ruling was not made official by the judge, who is expected to present further details to lawyers in the next few days.

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.