http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/04/24/10208133.html

04/28/2008 08:10 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bahrain Bureau Chief

Adel Marzooq was deeply anguished, but the veteran columnist felt he had to write the painful truth: Bahrain is no longer the postcard image that he had known since his birth.

His homeland, regarded as one of the most peaceful places on earth, is turning into two antagonistic countries at the hands of its own sons and daughters stubbornly engaged in callous and immoral hostility over sectarian ideologies.

Bahrain: Court-Appointed Medical Examiners Confirm Torture
Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Updating information on the unfair trials of a group of 15 activists, including 11 human rights defenders .

SEVERAL Bahrainis arrested last December were beaten in custody, according to court-appointed medical examiners. The doctors' report, submitted as 15 Bahrainis appeared in the High Criminal Court amid tight security on April 16th, was immediately disputed by the Public Prosecution.

By William Fisher
Updated Apr 16, 2008, 08:33 am

NEW YORK (IPS/GIN) - At least 14 Middle East and North African governments are systematically violating the civil liberties of their citizens, according to one of the most widely respected Arab nongovernmental organizations.

JOINT ACTION: Arab League's proposed satellite broadcasting regulations would impede needed criticism of corruption and repression, warn 34 organisations

Date: 07 March 2008

(HRinfo/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2008 joint statement by HRinfo, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and 31 other organisations:

34 International and Arabian Human Rights Organisations declare: The document of organizing space transmission is invalid through its form and content

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/04/17/10206184.html

04/17/2008 12:16 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: A human rights activist has condemned the killing last week of a policeman in an arson attack, saying that protesters should be aware of the consequences of their actions.

Nabeel Rajab, vice-president of the dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, warned that unless the Bahraini government and protestors seriously reflected on their policies and practices, the killing would be "a dangerous sign of things to come".

By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 11th April 2008

BAHRAIN has emerged largely unscathed from United Nations scrutiny of its human rights performance. Recommendations from an examination in Geneva are limited to improving women's rights and prospects, better protection for maids and citizenship rights for the children of Bahraini women married to foreigners.

Bahrain has already agreed to one of the key recommendations, that it will consider signing the Convention on the Protection of Persons from Enforced Disappearances.

By REBECCA TORR
Published: 8th April 2008

BAHRAIN's human rights record came under global scrutiny yesterday. It was the first country in the world to have a special human rights report reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council under a new system.

The 20-page Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Bahrain's human rights record was discussed by the council at a meeting held in Geneva.

The meeting was attended by a high-profile Bahrain delegation, headed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Nazar Al Baharna, as well as various national and international human rights groups.

Sandeep Singh Grewal - AHN Middle East Correspondent
Geneva, Switzerland (AHN) -- Bahrain made gender equality, women's empowerment and protection of migrant workers its main bragging points Monday as the country became the first to come under the scanner of the UN Human Rights Council here.

The three-hour interactive Universal Periodic Process session, shown live on the Web, was led by Dr.Nizar Al Baharna, minister of state for foreign affairs, who headed the Bahrain delegation. He was accompanied by lawmakers and senior government officials.

Nabli Rajab 7 April 08 - For the first session of the UPR organised by the UN Human Rights Council, activists from Bahrain have not been able to meet the delegations that will examine their country’s human rights record. They have been replaced by “false NGOs” sent by their government. Interview with Nabil Rajab, vice president for the Centre of Human Rights in Bahrain.

HRT

The United nations office at Geneva Photo: Fred Burnand 7 April 08 - Sixteen countries are getting ready on Monday for the universal periodic review (UPR). They are concerned about the teething troubles plaguing the new mechanism. At the top of the list is Bahrain that is coming with a 27 strong delegation.

Carole Vann/ Human Rights Tribune - For the first time in the history of the UN, member states are each going to be examined in turn on their human rights records. The inaugural session of UPR, the big new thing at the Human Rights Council, opens on Monday.