EU-GCC free trade talks to resume after being derailed in December
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/09/04/29/10308630.html

04/29/2009 07:07 PM | By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief

Muscat: The European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Joint Council meet today at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel to put on track the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks that were derailed by the GCC last December.

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

PRESS RELEASE

EU/GCC Joint Co-operation Council

Confirming human rights at the centre of EU-GCC relations

http://www.fidh.org/Confirming-human-rights-at-the

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Court suspends riot case
By NOOR TOORANI
A COURT yesterday suspended the case of six alleged rioters after information surfaced they were among 178 prisoners and detainees pardoned by His Majesty King Hamad on Saturday.

The Bahraini men appeared before the High Criminal Court for the first time yesterday on charges of allegedly hurling a Molotov cocktail at a police station in Samaheej.

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Royal gesture 'will promote harmony'
By BASMA MOHAMMED
TENSIONS on Bahrain's streets are expected to ease with the pardoning of 178 prisoners, who were released yesterday.

MPs, human rights workers and political activists predicted the gesture would mean an end to clashes between police and youths - at least over the coming weeks.

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King pardons 178 prisoners

MANAMA: His Majesty King Hamad has pardoned 178 prisoners and detainees held over security-related charges, Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa announced last night.

Shaikh Rashid urged them to draw a lesson and steer away from acts that would jeopardise security, destroy people's properties and tarnish the country's reputation.

Bahraini prisoners neglected in Saudi jails
Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:02:23 GMT
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By the Bahrain Center for Human Rights

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses deep concern regarding the Bahraini government's failure to address repeated humanitarian appeals regarding Bahraini citizens Abdullah Al-Nuaimi and Abdul-Rahim Al-Murbati, who are being held in solitary confinement, without trial, in Saudi Arabia.

22/4/2009
Doubts about the Complicity of the Bahraini Authorities

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses deep concern regarding the Bahraini government's failure to address repeated humanitarian appeals regarding Bahraini citizens Abdullah Al-Nuaimi and Abdul-Rahim Al-Murbati, who are being held in solitary confinement, without trial, in Saudi Arabia.

International Federation for Human Rights
Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR)
Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS)

Press Release
Bahrain: Royal pardon of 178 activists and defenders.
A strong signal for ending a latent political crisis?

Urgency: Threat

(BCHR/IFEX) - The Bahrain Center for Human Rights has learned that Mr. Abbas Al-Murshid, 31, a journalist and writer, was recently held with his wife and their child for almost four hours at the King Fahad Causeway port. Al-Murshid was returning from a visit to Saudi Arabia when his passports were held by the Immigration Office. He and his family were escorted by a member of National Security Apparatus (NSA, Intelligence Apparatus) to a nearby room used for inspection. His mobile telephone, as well as that of his wife, were forcibly confiscated after he tried to call a friend to advise them of his situation.

A Welcome of the Release of 178 Activists in Bahrain
Demand to Guarantee non-repetition of State Violations

12-4-2009

April 13, 2009
Bahrain King Pardons Shiite Political Prisoners
By MONA EL-NAGGAR
CAIRO — The king of Bahrain has pardoned 178 Bahraini detainees charged with security offenses, including two prominent Shiite opposition leaders whose arrest set off regular protests that often ended in violent clashes between Shiite demonstrators and the police.

Under the royal pardon, issued Saturday, the release of the detainees, all Shiites, began Sunday.

Bahrain pardons opposition leaders after protests
Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:19am EDT
* Pardon follows increased international attention

* Move eases political tensions to focus on economy

* Shi'ite scholars negotiated release

(Adds reaction from Al-Wefaq opposition, background)

By Frederik Richter

Bahrain: Release of human rights defender Maytham Bader Jassim Al-Sheikh while others remain in prison
By jimloughran
Created 2009/04/09 - 10:15

* EU, U.N. asked to attend trial of government opponents

* British lawmaker: protesters face "merciless onslaught"

* Bahrain minister says trial is not politically motivated

By Peter Griffiths

LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - International monitors should attend the trial in Bahrain of opposition figures accused of plotting to overthrow the Gulf state's government to ensure they receive a fair hearing, their supporters said on Wednesday.

CPJ concerned about Bahrain Web crackdown
April 7, 2009

His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
King of Bahrain
C/o The Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
International Drive, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

Via facsimile: 202-362-2192

Your Majesty, ‎

URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY

New information

BHR 001 / 0208 / OBS 017.2

Release / Ill-treatments and torture

Bahrain
April 7, 2009

Shiite defendants accused of planning to oust regime, which denies that trial is political

By Frederik Richter, ReutersApril 6, 2009 4:02 PM

Tires burn in front of a local mall in Budaiya, some five kilometres from the capital Manama on Thursday,, after protesters closed the streets to demand for the government to release members of opposition who have been detained.

By Bill Law
BBC Radio 4, Crossing Continents
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7976480.stm
On 13 March at about 1530, unemployed dustman Muhammad says he stepped out into the street to join a peaceful demonstration to protest against brutality by the police forces.

Five minutes, later along with about 50 others, he says he was fired upon by members of the Bahraini security forces. He was hit in the legs with a shotgun blast.

Saudi government cracks down on Shiite dissidents
By DONNA ABU-NASR – 5 hours ago

AWWAMIYA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — A cleric's threat of secession has brought a swift government crackdown in this poor, radical Shiite town in Saudi Arabia's increasingly restive religious minority heartland atop the Sunni kingdom's main oil reserves.

Bosnia Expels former Al-Qaida Fighter
Sarajevo | 31 March 2009 | Srecko Latal

Ali Hamad 160Bosnia and Herrzegovina has deported a former Islamic fighter and Al-Qaida officer, 38-year old Ali Hamad, to his home-country of Bahrain, Bosnian immigration officials told media on Tuesday.

Ali Hamad was deported on Monday aboard a flight from Sarajevo, Dragan Mektic, director of Bosnia's Agency for Foreigners told media.