World Organization Against TOrture (OMCT)

New information
BHR 001 / 0704 / OBS 054.5
Sentencing and release /
Closure of an NGO
Kingdom of Bahrain
November 26, 2004

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), informs about the evolution of the following situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

New information

The Observatory has been informed that on 21 November 2004, Mr. Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja, Director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) was sentenced to one year imprisonment by the Lower Criminal Court, for charges under the penal code (1976), including “inciting hatred against the State”.

Front Line - 24 November 2004

Front Line has renewed concerns for the physical and psychological safety of Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, after sources reported that he may have been ill-treated while being forcibly carried into court on 7th November 2004. Observers have described Abdul Hadi as bare-chested and visibly bruised. Front Line calls on the Bahraini authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja as his detention is arbitrary.

Front Line is concerned that the situation for human rights defenders in Bahrain is deteriorating. From reports received approximately 30 people, including human rights defenders, have been arrested and charged under a number of articles of the penal code of 1976, a document which was widely condemned by the UN and human rights organisations throughout the 80s and 90s. Among those detained are Abdul-Raoof Al-Shayeb (Spokesperson) and Mahmood Ramadan (Board member) of the National Committee for Martyrs & Victims of Torture in Bahrain, and Jaffar Hassan Ahmed Isa.