Fourth Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy: "Advancing Democracy: Justice, Pluralism, and Participation"

Istanbul, Turkey, April 2-5, 2006

His Majesty Hamad Bin Issa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa,
King of the Kingdom of Bahrain,

We the undersigned, participants at the “Fourth Assembly—Advancing Democracy: Justice, Pluralism, and Participation - Istanbul, Turkey, April 2-5, 2006,

Applauding all recent positive developments in the Kingdom of Bahrain, we call upon your Majesty and the Bahrain authorities:

• To implement further democratic reformers securing separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, the right of citizens to change their government, reforming the electoral system in order to secure fair representation, and empowering elected representatives to have full powers as in any democratic parliament,
• To re-open the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, secure the safety of human rights and democracy defenders and their rights to operate freely and amend the laws restricting freedoms of opinion, the press, and peaceful assembly, and
• To release human rights defenders and others who were arrested since December 2005, in connection with cases related to freedom of expression and peaceful gatherings.

We wish your Majesty all the best in your efforts in turning Bahrain into a model in the region of democracy and prosperity.

Signatories:

1. Nina Tagankino, Moscow Helsinki Group, Russia
2. Yulia Gabidulino, Moscow Helsinki Group, Russia
3. Bo Tedards, WFTOA, Taiwan
4. Blake Hounshell, Ibn Khaldun Centre, Egypt
5. Moan Abdulsalam, Etana Press, Syria
6. Faisal Abid Al-Sahlani, Iraqi United Nation Association, Member of Parliament, Iraq
7. Ayse Demiriz, MAZLUMDER, Turkey
8. Geoffrey Harris, Secretarial European Parliament, Brussels
9. Gengiz Gandar, Kulture University of Istanbul, Turkey
10. Tiens Kahenya, United Party of National Development, Zambia
11. Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, Movement of Multiparty Democracy, Zambia
12. Narad Adhikari, National Front for Democracy in Bhutan, Bhutan
13. Charm Tong, Shan Womens Action Network, Burma
14. Wu Qiang, Beijing Foreign Studies Univercity, China
15. Baramy Mitthiviong, United League for Democracy in Laos, Laos
16. Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, Member of Parliament, Malaysia
17. Debbie Stothard, Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, Malaysia
18. Anselmo Lee, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, South Korea
19. Ying-mao Michael Kau, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Taiwan
20. Violeta Toncheva, Light Industry Trade Union Organizations Federation, Bulgaria
21. Alina Mungiu Pippidi, Romanian Acadamic Society, Romania
22. Ilie Rosu, Federatia Craimodex, Romania
23. Ivan Pavlov, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, Russia
24. Jonathan Levack, Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), Turkey
25. Murat Mercan, AKP Party MP, Turkey
26. Yasemin San, Helsinki Citizens Assembly , Turkey
27. Cetin Yilmaz, Human Rights Association (IHD), Turkey
28. Volodymyr Zavyalov, Bukovyna partnership Agency, Ukraine
29. Mariclaire Acosta, Organization of Acerican States, Maxico
30. Mohammad Sarwar Hussaini, Cooperation Center for Afghnistan, Afghnistan
31. Mohammed Nasib, Selfare Association for the Development of Afghanistan, Afghanistan
32. George Ishak, Kifaya Movement, Egypt
33. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies, Egypt
34. Saber Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed Nayel, Arab Program for Human Rights Activists, Egypt
35. Hassan H. Al-Ukaili, Iraqi Organization for Human Rights Coordination, Iraq
36. Michel Nawfal, El Mustaqbel Newspaper, Lebanon
37. Riad Malki, Panorama Center, Palestine
38. Slaheddine Jourchi, Tunisian Human Rights Leaque , Tunisia
39. Yousuf Abdallah Aburas, Human Rights Training and Information Center, Yemen
40. Ezzadin S. Al-Asbahy, Human Rights Training and Information Center, Yemen
41. Charles J. Brown, Citizens for Global Solutions, United States
42. Dokhi Fassihian, Democracy Coalition Project, United States
43. Robert R. La Gamma, Council for a Community of Democracy, United States
44. Debra Liang-Fenton, United States Committee on Human Rights in North Korea, United States
45. Dave Peterson, National Endowment for Democracy, United States
46. Cynthis Romero, Institute for Democracy in Cuba and Latin America, United States
47. Richard Rowson, Council for a Community of Democracies, United States
48. Manuel Herrera, Fundacion FAES, Spain
49. Evlyn Aellerre, FLPCP, Libu
50. Svejtlana Duric, Olof Palmes International Center, Sweden
51. Viola Furubjelke, Olof Palmes International Center, Sweden
52. Cyril Ritchie, International Civil Society Forum for Democracy, Switzerland
53. Antoine Nasri Mesarra, Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace, Lebanon
54. Ali Saif Hasan Saleh, Yemeni Organization for Defense of Human Rights and Democrat, Yemen
55. Ashour Al-Shamis, Libya Human and Political Development Forum, Libya
56. Mohamed Al-Yahyai, Middle East Broadcasting Network- AlHurra TV, Oman
57. Amal Al Basha, Sisters’ Arabic Forum for Human Rights, Yemen
58. Jezair Hassan, Evaluation Center, Iraq
59. Asma Khader, Sisterhood in Global Institute, Jordan
60. Fathallah (Abu Khalid) Omrani, Garment and Textile Workers Union, Jordan
61. Fadlallah Hassona, Development of People and Nature Association, Lebanon
62. Lina Quora, Sisterhood in Global Institute, Jordan
63. A. S. Alwalu, Yemen, Yemen