bird newsletter issue #6: un high commissioner navi pillay calls for release of political detainees...

8/11/2019 BIRD Newsletter Issue #6: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay Calls for Release of Political Detainees in Bahrain

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20/08/2014 17:00BIRD Newsletter Issue #6: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of political detainees in Bahrain

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Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy View this email in your browser

Wednesday, 6th August 2014, Issue #6

BIRD Weekly NewsletterUN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of

political detainees in Bahrain

Navi Pillay: "We want to see a release of

political detainees and relaxation of rules toestablish a permanent presence in Bahrain"

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A Human Rights Watch representative also highlighted Bahrain as a key concern,questioning Ms. Pillay and her panel on the outcome of the OHCHR technicalmission to Bahrain in February this year. Pillay expressed her hopes for Bahrainicooperation: "We want to see a release of political detainees and a relaxation ofrules to establish a permanent presence in Bahrain." Deputy High Commissioner Ms.

Flavia Pansieri also addressed the issue, describing Bahrain as a "small country withbig problems." Pansieri expressed the value of Bahraini civil society's engagementwith OHCHR given their limited access to the country. At the same time, she furthercommitted to continue to engage with Bahraini authorities, requesting them to provethat there has been "measurable change on the ground."

Follow this link to access BIRD's live twitter feed of themeeting.

Weekly Highlights

August Welcomes Champion for Justice:Dr. Saeed al-Samahiji
http://bit.ly/1oesi7h


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August welcomes Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain(ADHRB), the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and the BahrainInstitute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD)'s new Champion for Justice Dr.Saeed al-Samahiji. This month, BIRD and its partners will focus advocacy efforts on his case.

Dr. Saeed al-Samahiji is an ophthalmologist and human rights activist whoextended his medical services to help injured protesters during the 2011 pro-democracy protests in Bahrain. As a result, Dr. Al-Samahiji was among 20medics that were convicted by a special military court on 29 September 2011for treating Bahraini citizens who had been attacked by security forces in a brutal government crackdown against political dissent. After appealing to the

Court of Appeals on 14 June 2012, Dr. Al-Samahijis sentence was reduced fromten years to one year. During his time in detention, Dr. Al-Samahiji got a headinjury which resulted in internal bleeding, and he was sent abroad to be treatedin Jordan.

On 18 September 2013, less than six months after being released from prison,Dr. Al-Samahiji was summoned for interrogation by the Criminal InvestigationDepartment (CID) after giving a speech at the funeral of a young protester whohad died as result of excessive use of force by Bahraini authorities. Dr. Al-Samahiji voluntarily reported to the CID the following day, 19 September 2013. Al-Samahiji was then transferred to the public prosecution for furtherinterrogation until he was released on bail of 200 BHD.

Despite Dr. Al-Samahijis denial of the charge - "insulting the king" - and hislawyers statements that his speech falls under the right of freedom of

expression, as protected by the International Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRights (ICCPR), the court sentenced him to one-year in prison. On 3 April 2014,a court of appeal upheld the verdict delivered against Dr. Al-Samahiji.Government security forces arrested Dr. Al-Samahiji from his home in the early morning hours on 1 July 2014 to begin serving his prison sentence.

The arrest of Dr. Saeed al-Samahiji is the latest in the Bahraini authoritiesescalating crackdown on the freedom of expression of the political opposition. ADHRB, BCHR and BIRD join together in calling for the release of Dr. Al-
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/25648http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspxhttp://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/471275?date=2012-11-13http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2014/01/bahrains-doctorshttp://physiciansforhumanrights.org/issues/persecution-of-health-workers/bahrain/medics-on-trial-in-bahrain.htmlhttp://birdbh.org/champions-of-justice/august-dr-saeed-al-samahiji/http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/6993http://adhrb.org/2014/08/dr-saeed-al-samahiji-august-champion-for-justice/


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Samahiji and all Bahraini prisoners convicted of insulting the King incontravention of international law.

Documentation Report

Arrests

Approximately 18 individuals, including 1 child.

Ammar Abdulrasool, a 30 year old photographer, was arrestedover charges of illegal assembly. He was given 45 days detention

pending investigation.

Trials

Last week, criminal courts postponed 70 trials while 4 cases thatwere upheld were sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison. The

sentences of 8 individuals were extended to more than 300 days .

News Updates

NGO ReviewAmericans for Democracy & Human Rights

in Bahrain
http://www.alwasatnews.com/4345/news/read/908022/1.html


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Leading Policy Experts Urge Strategic Review and Strong Response to Malinowski Expulsion from Bahrain

ADHRB's executive director, Mr. Husain Abdulla, joined 17 policy leaders inurging the Obama administration to strongly respond to the recent expulsion ofTom Malinowski , U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Labor, andHuman Rights, from Bahrain. The letter calls on the administration to undertake a

strategic review of the current U.S.-Bahraini relationship and to respond swiftly and

forcefully to the expulsion of Mr. Malinowski from Bahrain, as failing to do so would

endanger U.S. strategic interests in Bahrain and undermine American credibility

globally. Click here to read the letter (PDF).

Main Features

"Critics Decry Lack of US Response toBahrain Expulsion"

Los Angeles Times

"Bahraini Regime Silences International Community, Media - Activist" Russia Today

Other News and CommentariesUS Concerned Over Bahrain Opposition Suspension
http://adhrb.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e6f34c0956184788aedb2040c&id=ab94a9622d&e=34dc5443cchttp://rt.com/news/177192-bahrain-human-rights-rajab/http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-us-bahrain-20140806-story.htmlhttp://bit.ly/1qWpT43


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Bahrain Asks Court To Temporarily Suspend Two More Opposition GroupsTrouble With Bahrain

Has Britain become Bahrains lapdog?All Religions Are Suffering in the Middle East

Bahrain Regime Targets Opposition -- and the U.S.Bahrain's FM Seems to Have Forgotten Ill Treatment of Journalists

BIRD @birdbahrain_ birdbh.org

Copyright 2014 Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), all rights reserved.

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bird newsletter issue #6: un high commissioner navi pillay calls for release of political detainees...

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