International HR Groups Call on Bahrain to End Reprisals and Harassment of Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman

2016-08-14 - 3:23 ص

Bahrain Mirror: 32 human rights organizations from around the world denounced the continued harassment of human rights defenders by the authorities in Bahrain and their policy of restricting their right to free expression. The rights groups further called on the Government of Bahrain to drop all charges raised against Sheikh Maytham al-Salman.

In a joint statement the signatories said that "Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman has been called for interrogation at Ministry of Interior on Sunday 14 August 2016 due to exercising his right in defending religious freedom and exposing human rights violations in Bahrain. This latest reprisal is part of a disturbing trend of crackdowns by the Bahraini government against human rights defenders and civil society organizations."

"Bahraini authorities have harassed Sheikh Maytham on numerous occasions in the past, including two separate incidents in 2015 when he was detained for his human rights activities. He was also summoned in connection to the content of a speech he gave on 27 December, the anniversary of the arrest of prisoner of conscience Sheikh Ali Salman, in which he drew attention to the violations of international fair trial standards that took place," they stressed.

"This harassment is in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Bahrain has been a signatory to since 2006. It also contradicts the obligations of the state to protect human rights defenders, as derived from their obligation to protect all human rights under Article 2 of the ICCPR," the statement further read.

"Rather than ensure their protection, Bahrain has made a habit out of persecuting dissidents and activists. Sheikh Maytham joins other high-profile individuals like BCHR President Nabeel Rajab, activist Zainab al-Khawaja and human rights defender Naji Fateel that have been targeted for their work and denied their right to freedom of opinion and expression," the rights groups added.

Concluded the statement, the signatories called on the Government of Bahrain to allow the important work of Sheikh Maytham and others who bring human rights violations to light to be conducted unimpeded, as provided for under the ICCPR and other relevant international human rights standards by taking the following steps:

Drop all charges pending against Sheikh Maytham al-Salman for exercising his right to freedom of speech;

Release all prisoners who have been convicted for their political opinions; and

Fully comply with the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI); particularly those that ensure the right to freedom of expression, opinion and assembly are respected.

The joint statement was signed by the following:

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

ActiveWatch - Media Monitoring Agency

Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain

ARTICLE 19

Association of Caribbean Media Workers

Bytes for All

Cambodian Centre for Independent Media

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression

Cartoonists Rights Network International

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility

Centre for Independent Journalism - Malaysia