* * *URGENT APPEAL - 20/02/2009*
*BAHRAIN:* Front Line is deeply concerned that human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is being prosecuted following a speech he made on 7 January 2009 which referred to the human rights situation in Bahrain. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is the former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and is currently employed by Front Line as Protection Coordinator with responsibility for the Middle East and North Africa (with the exception of Bahrain). Dear Friends, Thank you for signing up to take action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk. Every day Front Line receives information about human rights defenders in danger and each week we ask the members of the urgent appeal network to take action on behalf of one defender. Action by members of the network is a very simple and effective way of sending a message to governments that they have an obligation to respect the rights of human rights defenders. If you would like information on other cases you can log onto the Front Line web site at * http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/act* *Your action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk can make a real difference.* *Take Action* *Please copy the enclosed letter and send it to the address provided.* *The text of the letter is attached separately so you can just print it out and send it off.* *Please put your own name and address on the letter, and if you receive a reply, please forward it to Front Line.* Shaikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Office of the King, The Amiri Court, Rifa'a Palace, PO Box 555, Manama, Bahrain Your Highness, I am deeply concerned at reports that human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja has been charged following a speech he made on 7 January 2009 during Ashora, an annual gathering commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the third historic Imam of Shia. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is the former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and currently protection coordinator at Front Line with responsibility for the Middle East and North Africa with the exception of Bahrain. On 7 January 2009, Mr Al-Khawaja was invited to make a speech during Ashora, in light of his previous experience as a human rights defender in Bahrain. During his speech, Mr Alkhawaja referred to the human rights situation in the country, including instances of sectarian discrimination and corruption, and called for resistance to abuses by the ruling regime "by peaceful means and civil disobedience". On 21 January, the office of the Attorney General ordered prosecution against Mr Al-Khawaja under articles 29(2), 160, 165, and 168(1) of the Penal Code. He was charged with 'propaganda to overthrow or change the political system by force', 'publicly instigating hatred and disrespect against the ruling regime', and 'willfully broadcasting false and malicious news, statements or rumours and spread provocative propaganda related to the internal affairs of the country that could disturb public security and cause damage to the public interest'. For these charges, Mr Al-Khawaja could be sentenced to up to ten years imprisonment. The first hearing was held by the High Criminal Court on 8 February 2009 and the hearing was then adjourned to 11 March 2009. On 9 February, while on his way to Iraq on behalf of Front Line, he was prevented from leaving the country. I believe that the charges brought against Mr Al-Khawaja following the speech made on 7 January represents an illegitimate restriction of his freedom of expression and are motivated by the work he carried out and the critical stances taken in previous years as President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. I am seriously concerned at the persistent pattern of repression against human rights defenders and their organisations in Bahrain. During the last few months only,there has been a number of cases of harassment of human rights defenders. For example, in October 2008, Nabeel Ahmed Rajab, Abduljalil Alsingace and Maryam Al-Khawaja have been the target of a smear campaign by several local and regional media outlets for attending a human rights seminar in the United States and raising in that forum the human rights situation in Bahrain. In November 2008, the home of human right defender Ghada Jamsheer was reportedly entered by state security agents while she was attending a conference in South Africa, and both Ghada Jamsheer and members of her family received threats. In February 2009, Ali Hassan Salman and Jaafar Kadhim Ebrahim were arrested following their facilitation of meetings between Amnesty International and detainees. I am deeply concerned at the systematic harassment of human rights defenders in Bahrain, which is directly related to their legitimate work in the defence of human rights. I call on the authorities in Bahrain to: 1.Drop all charges brought against Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, as they were solely motivated by his legitimate exercise of freedom of expression, in contravention of Bahrain's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain acceded in 2006; 2.Guarantee Mr Al-Khawaja's freedom of movement, as this is necessary for him to carry out his work as Front Line's protection coordinator with responsibility for the Middle East and North Africa, with the exception of Bahrain; 3.Put an end to all forms of discrimination and repression against human rights defenders and their organisations and adopt steps to effectively support non-governmental human rights organisations to function freely, in accordance with the pledge Bahrain made when presenting its candidature to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Yours sincerely -- W A Laskar Freelance Reporter and Human Rights Activist with Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, http://bhrpc.net.googlepages.com 15, Panjabari Road, Darandha, Six Mile, Guwahati-781037, Assam, India Cell: +919401134314 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
