8th January 2013

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

activists should receive amnesties.

Bahrain condemned for 'harsh' activist sentences

The United Nations and the European Union on Tuesday slammed a decision by Bahrain's highest appeals court to uphold lengthy prison terms against opposition activists. UN leader Ban Ki-moon "deeply regrets" the decision and called on Bahrain to carry out promised reforms, his spokesman said. The European Union said the

"The secretary general deeply regrets the decision of Bahrain's Court of Cassation on January 7 to uphold the harsh sentences, including life imprisonment" against the activists, said Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky. "He reiterates his rm belief that the only way to promote peace, stability, justice and prosperity in Bahrain is through a national dialogue which addresses the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis," the spokesman added. Read More UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced "deep regrets" about the court's decision and reiterated "his rm belief that the only way to promote peace and stability, justice and prosperity, is through a national dialogue that addresses the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said. Read More

Bahrain upholds convictions; U.N. objects

The United Nations expressed disappointment in Bahrain's decision to uphold the convictions of 13 activists plotting to overthrow the government.

The country's highest appeals court took just minutes Monday to rule on the appeal of the activists, who received sentences of ve years to life in prison for their roles in antigovernment demonstrations in 2011, CNN reported. Read More

U.N. upset by Bahrain's justice system

The United Nations is concerned that human rights activists in Bahrain were wrongly convicted for their pro-democracy work, a spokeswoman said. The highest court in Manama this week upheld the convictions of 13

human rights activists accused of plotting against the government. The sentences range from ve years to life in prison. The ruling was the last opportunity the activists had to reverse their convictions. They were arrested for their roles in 2011 anti-government demonstrations that coincided with the Arab Spring movement that swept across North Africa and the Middle East. Read More We regret that Bahrains highest court on Monday upheld the convictions of 13 activists for their role in prodemocracy demonstrations, after two years of trials and despite the conclusions of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the appeals by the international community concerning the judicial procedure and allegations of torture, a spokesperson for the Ofce of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ccile Pouilly, told reporters in Geneva. Read More

UN decries Bahrain's upholding of sentences of political activists

The United Nations on Tuesday criticized the decision by Bahrain's highest court to uphold harsh sentences against 20 prodemocracy activists, some of whom received life imprisonment, DPA reported.

UN chief deeply regrets Bahraini courts decision to uphold sentences against political activists
United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon deeply regrets the decision of a Bahraini appeals court to uphold the sentences, including life imprisonment, against 20 Bahraini political activists, according to his spokesperson.

He reiterates his rm belief that the only way to promote peace, stability, justice and prosperity in Bahrain is through a national dialogue which addresses the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis, and in which all communities can participate freely, without fear or intimidation, the spokesperson added in a news brieng at UN Headquarters in New York. Read More

UN human rights office disappointed by Bahrains decision to uphold conviction of 13 activists

The United Nations today expressed disappointment over Bahrains decision to uphold the convictions of 13 pro-democracy activists in spite of concerns raised by an independent human rights panel and appeals by the international community.

Bahrain court verdicts 'mind-boggling': HRW

The upholding by Bahrain's highest appeals court of lengthy prison terms against 13 opposition activists is "mind-boggling", Human Rights Watch said Tuesday as the EU repeated its call to amnesty the activists. "The EU has repeatedly asked the Bahraini

authorities to consider an amnesty for all those arrested last year and tried on charges relating to the expression of their political opinion," said a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Bahrain's Court of Cassation on Monday upheld jail terms served by a lower court on the 13 activists for allegedly plotting to overthrow the monarchy. Read More on the regime to respect "fundamental liberties".

Uprising verdict shows Bahrain courts flawed - watchdogs

An appeals court ruling conrming prison terms for 13 protest leaders in Bahrain this week shows the Gulf Arab state's judicial system is awed and unable to protect basic rights, international watchdog groups said. Bahrain, a U.S. ally against Iran and home to the U.S.

Fifth Fleet, has been in political ferment since a street revolt led by majority Shi'ite Muslims erupted in early 2011, part of a tide of unrest against autocratic rulers across the Arab world. On Monday, Bahrain's highest appeals court upheld sentences for protest leaders ranging from ve years in prison to life that were originally handed down by a military court in June 2011, a ruling that could kindle further unrest. Read More the atmosphere within Bahrain for reconciliation. She also called for the Bahraini government to investigate allegations of torture made by the dissidents and to hold accountable anyone found responsible for this treatment. Human rights groups have condemned the courts decision. Cecile Pouilly, U.N. human rights spokeswoman in Geneva, voiced concern that the dissidentsmay have been convicted wrongly for legitimate activities. Read More rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.

Sentence verdict is criticised

Britain criticised Bahrain over human rights abuses today as the sentences of 13 anti-government protesters were upheld. Foreign Ofce Minister Alistair Burt said he was "deeply dismayed" at the appeal verdicts and called

"At the time these individuals were sentenced, reports which were acknowledged by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry suggested that some had been abused in detention, denied access to legal counsel and were coerced into confessing," he said in a statement. Read More admission by the states second man in command that justice has been absent in Bahrain. This is demonstrated by the trials of teachers, physicians and individuals from all sectors that were affected by the tyranny of justice. This justice was used by the authorities to suppress protesters. Moreover, there has been impunity for those who destroyed mosques, killed protesters and tortured detainees. Validating these judgments is a part of the biased court system. Read More

U.S. Regrets, Rights Groups Condemn Bahrain Sentences

In reaction to a Bahraini courts decision on Monday to uphold the sentences of 13 prominent dissidents, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, we regret todays decision by the Bahraini Court of Cassation. She added, were concerned that this decision further restricts freedom of expression and compromises

Bahrain Convictions Prove No Desire for Reform

El-Khabar: What do you have to say about the decision by the court of appealto uphold judgments made against the opposition leaders? Khalil al-Marzouk: There is no fair judiciary in Bahrain, which many international human rights organizations have witnessed. The crown prince has even stressed the need to focus on justice, an

Bahrain: Highest court upholds grossly unfair convictions

Bahrains Court of Cassation ruling on January 7, 2013, upholding lengthy prison terms of 13 prominent dissidents appears to conrm the inability of Bahrains judicial system to protect basic rights. A military court had convicted the dissidents solely for exercising their

A Human Rights Watch investigation found that the evidence against them consisted of public statements advocating reforms to curtail the power of the ruling Al Khalifa family and confessions that appeared to have been coerced while the defendants were in incommunicado detention. Read More

Al-Khawaja loses final appeal against life sentence

Danish human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is among 13 activists who have exhausted all their opportunities for release after their convictions were upheld by the Bahraini appeals court on Monday.

The activists were among 20 who weresentenced for their roles in the 2011 antigovernment protests that called for increased human rights and greater freedoms for the Shia Muslim majority. The government, run by the Sunni Muslim royal family, responded to the protests by initiating a brutal clampdown with the help of troops from neighbouring Sunni states. Read More activists for their role in prodemocracy demonstrations, after two years of trials and despite the conclusions of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the appeals by the international community concerning the judicial procedure and allegations of torture, a spokesperson for the Ofce of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ccile Pouilly, told reporters in Geneva. Read More Monday, ending their legal options. Sheikh Ali Salman of the Bahraini opposition party Al Wefaq said protests will continue undeterred. Sheikh Ali Salman: "Demonstrations will continue following this type of ruling in the courts. And this kind of ruling will further build the strength for the people who are seeking democracy. We hope that a political solution emerges that gives priority to democracy, human rights and freedom, that will benet everyone in Bahrain." Read More

sentence had been decided outside the court.

Bahrain: activist on convictions, verdict outside court

The daughter of human rights activist Abdulhadi AlKhawaja, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by an appeals court in Bahrein which also conrmed a guilty verdict for another 12 defendants, said on Tuesday in an interview with ANSAmed that Bahrain's magistrates are not independent and that the

'We do not believe in the independence of the judiciary in Bahrain, this sentence was decided outside the court', Maryam Al-Khawaja, who is the vice-president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, told ANSAmed in a phone interview from the United States. No evidence supports the guilty verdict, which is based on testimony gathered 'using torture', she said. Read More al-Khawaja who led a hunger strike that lasted 110 days, were sentenced to life imprisonment while the remaining have been given sentences ranging from ve to 15 years, with seven convicted in absentia. According to the ofcial Bahrain News Agency theses people were accused of plotting to overthrow the regime and having foreign intelligence contacts. Read More least sentences reduced. Eight of the 13 face life sentences, including prominent human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, whilst another 5 face 15 years behind bars. The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights has described their cases as being in contravention of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry that called for all evidence taken under torture to be thrown out and for new trials to take place in civilian courts. Read More

Bahrain Upholds Convictions Of 13 ProDemocracy Activists

Bahrain has decided to uphold the convictions of 13 pro-democracy activists in spite of concerns raised by an independent human rights panel and appeals by the international community. We regret that Bahrain's highest court on Monday upheld the convictions of 13

Bahrain: Imprisoned activists sentences denied reconsideration

In 2011, a military-led tribunal in Bahrain handed down jail sentences against 20 opposition gures. Amongst them eight opposition members, including activist Abdulhadi

Bahraini Opposition Vows Continued Protest after Sentences Upheld

Opposition activists in Bahrain are vowing to continue protests despite a courts decision to uphold the prison terms of 13 top dissidents. The activists were sentenced by a military court in 2011, eight of them to life behind bars, after leading massive protests against Bahrains Sunni monarchy. Their terms were upheld by Bahrains top court on

Bahrain slammed over upholding of political prisoners convictions

The decision made by Bahrains highest appeal court to uphold the sentences against 13 opposition gures has been met with widespread disproval and condemnation in the international community, as well as from opposition groups locally. It signaled the last chance for the men to have their convictions quashed or at

Obama Should Reconsider US Approach to Bahrain

Justice is a ction in much of the Persian Gulf. Nowhere is this truer than in Bahrain, a place where torture and state terror have become the norm. The countrys political elites talk frequently about freedom and the need for legal and political order. The reality, however, is that Bahrains judicial system is little more than theater. The courts are sites in which freedoms are not assured, but where they are subordinated to the whims of

centralized tyranny. Over the last two years, Bahrain has blithely ignored almost all of its domestic and international commitments to refrain from torture, to protect free speech and to honor due process, all conventions that the country has ostensibly built into its constitutional order. In the most recent instance, the countrys highest court upheld lengthy prison sentences for 13 prominent human rights and political activists, including life imprisonment in some of the worlds most brutal dungeons. Read More

US Calls on Bahrain to Make Progress on Labour Rights

The ITUC is urging the US government to follow through on a US Department of Labor report which has found that Bahrain violated labour commitments made under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. The long delayed report, issued on December 20, made a series of

recommendations to be taken up in formal consultations between the two governments, including enacting substantial labour law reforms, ensuring that workers be unconditionally reinstated with back pay, reviewing all criminal cases against trade unionists and dropping charges where appropriate and refraining from any further activities that would undermine trade unions, including the national trade union centre GFBTU. Read More AlMuhafdhah will appear before the Fourth Lower Criminal Court to face charges of spreading false information on Twitter. He faces a prison sentence of up to one year and a ne of up to 100 BD. The Observatory strongly condemns the continued arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Mr. AlMuhafdhah, and calls on the Bahraini authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, as it seems to merely aim at sanctioning and hindering his human rights activities. Read More

Bahrain: Ongoing judicial harassment of Mr. Sayed Yousif AlMuhafdhah

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the judicial harassment of Mr.Sayed Yousif AlMuhafdhah, Acting Vice President and Head of Documentation Unit of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR). According to the information received, on January 9, 2013, Mr. Sayed Yousif