Issue 48: 14th Nov - 14th Dec 2016

Quote from
News from Inside Bahrain Bahrain:
-9year sentence against Sheikh Ali
Salman upheld

Bahrains appeal
court has upheld the
-9year prison
sentence against
Sheikh Ali Salman that Ali Alaswad, former
was previously thrown Bahraini MP, Al
out by the Court of Cassation in October. The Wefaq
decision had been overturned, citing the
If there was any
courts refusal to allow the defence to show glimmer of hope
important video evidence, although this following the re-
evidence was again not fully permitted opening of the case
against Sheikh Ali
before the sentence was upheld this week. Salman, it is well and
Salman has been in detention since truly extinguished now
December 2014 and in May of this year had the -9year sentence
an extra 5 years added to his original has been upheld. What
this shows is that the
sentence to include the charge of entire judicial system
attempting to overthrow the regime by force. in Bahrain is biased.
It is believed that the video content refused The international
community always call
in the trial shows speeches of Salman for legal process to be
speaking against violence and urging followed, appeals to
protesters to remain peaceful. Read our full be allowed and other
such mechanisms,
statement on this decision here.
but clearly it doesnt
work. A judiciary that is
Family concern for well-being of detainee controlled entirely by
50 days since the the ruling family can
never be fair and will
arrest of Sayed Alawi always be used as a
Sayed Husain his tool of repression. It is
family remain deeply now deeply worrying
that we find ourselves
worried about his once again in a place
safety. Alawi was with no prospect of
arrested on 24th October by unmarked reform, no prospect
individuals believed to be affiliated to the of dialogue and
repression as prevalent
security apparatuses, and taken to an as ever. Bahrain and
unknown destination without the presentation its allies must now
of any arrest warrant. His family lost all seriously realise that
the current path only
contact with him from his arrest moment and makes the situation
regularly contacted the Ministry of Interior for more dangerous and
information but was told he was not being unstable. The future
held. 35 days after his arrest he was allowed of Bahrain is at stake
and all with an interest
to make a very short phone call to his family must work towards a
in which he told them that he is being held solution that cements
at the Criminal Investigations Department. His respect for human
rights and brings about
family have said that he sounded extremely serious and genuine
exhausted and have strong suspicious that democratic reforms.
he has been tortured. His wife submitted a
complaint to the Ombudsman who said that
it his followed the correct procedure with
regards to investigating his conditions and Bahrain in the
where he is being held. It also said that Al- Media
Musawi was apprehended pursuant to the
law of protecting the society from terrorist
acts and that his detention was issued by
the Public Prosecution. However the family Bahrain to host anniversary
says that the Public Prosecution denied party at Trumps DC hotel
knowing anything about Al-Musawi when
asked by the family.
Prince Charless Bahrain
Sheikh Isa Qassims trial postponed to visit backs human rights
January 2017 abuses, says activist and
torture survivor
Bahrains Criminal
Court has adjourned
the trial of Sheikh Issa
Qassim until 5th British police stop Bahraini
January, following the protest against kings visit
latest hearing in the
case. In June the citizenship of Qassim was
revoked and he stands charged with the
illegal collection of funds and money
Cross-party MPs urge Boris
laundering. In the latest hearing the court Johnson to call for Bahrain
heard from three defence witnesses and activists release
examined documents from a office relating
to Qassim. Reports from Qassims hometown
of Duraz showed a huge security presence
on the day of the hearing, with helicopters
and checkpoints set up throughout. Residents
also described of random firing of tear gas in British thinktank received
the village, sometimes away from any 25m from Bahraini royals,
protests or gatherings. documents revea

Charges of inciting hatred against Ibrahim

Sharif dropped
PM courting controversial
Charges against bedfellows in Bahrain
Ibrahim Sharif, the
prominent opposition
figure have been
dropped after the
Bahraini authorities
had accused him of inciting hatred and
contempt against the government. The Bahrain court upholds jail
prosecution summoned Sharif over sentence for opposition
statements he made to a foreign media leader Sheikh Ali Salman
outlet, with the prosecution saying that the
statements harm the kingdoms
constitutional system. However, Sharif
denied that part of the statements are
attributed to him. In his interview, Sharif
expressed concern that a visit to the kingdom
by Britains Prince Charles could whitewash NGO`s on
a crackdown on dissent. A rights group and Bahrain:
the British Embassy said that the charge
against Ibrahim Sharif has been dropped. The
UK welcomed the announcement that all
charges have been dropped in Sharifs case
and even announced the news before any
Bahraini party did.

Nabeel Rajab hospitalized, his trial Bahrain: Opposition leader

postponed until 15 December condemned to nine years in
prison following unfair and
arbitrary verdict
A Bahraini court
adjourned the trial
of President of the
Bahrain Center for
Human Rights (BCHR)
and prominent
human rights activist Nabeel Rajab until
15 December so that it can have more
time to carry out investigations into the BAHRAIN: WINDOW-
person behind the running of Rajabs Twitter DRESSING OR PIONEERS OF
account. Rajab who had been already CHANGE?: AN ASSESSMENT
OF BAHRAINS HUMAN
transferred to the hospital due to heart RIGHTS OVERSIGHT BODIES
problems after spending 3 years in solitary
confinement in prison, was once more
transferred to the hospital, his son Adam
Rajab reported.

Leading human rights lawyer put on trial

Mohamed Al-Tajer, a
GCC summit: Systematic
leading Bahraini
clampdown on freedom of
human rights lawyer expression in Gulf
has been put on trial
over claims of inciting
hatred against a
religious sect and misuse of a
telecommunications device. Acording to
Human Rights Watch the charges relate to a
private Whatsapp message sent by Al-Tajer
that said that the countrys public Bahrains UK-backed
prosecution was employing surveillance human rights bodies fall
teams to intercept every word about Sunnis, short on 2011 promises of
reform
Saudi Arabia, hatred of the regime, or insults
against the king. No date has been set for
the trial.

Bahrain hosts GCC 37th summit

Bahrain hosted the

GCC 37th summit, BAHRAIN: DETAINED
which lasted for 2 days WITHOUT CHARGE FOR
amid strict security MORE THAN A MONTH:
measures. The UK Prime AL-SAYED ALAWI HUSSAIN
AL-ALAWI
Minister attended the
summit as a guest of honor based on an
official invitation from King Hamad bin Isa
Al Khalifa. The security authorities tightened
security measures on the eve of the
summit, deployed more security forces and
checkpoints and closed a tunnel leading to
south of the capital, Manama, and another
one linking two villages. In addition, the
Bahraini authorities prevented Al-Jazeera
channels staff from covering the summit.
Bahrain: Human Rights
Al-Jazeera said that this is not the first time Lawyer Charged
the Bahraini authorities prevented them
from covering the Gulf summits as they had
already done in 2012 and 2013. In the same
context, the Bahraini authorities arrested an
employee who works for the London-based
news channel, Al Araby Al-Jadeed that has
close ties with Qatar, after they stopped a Bahraini rights defender
live stream with a guest in Bahrain hosted to Hussain Radhi charged over
comment on the summit. tweets, retweets

Activists face charges, one denied

leaving country

The Bahraini Public

Prosecution
questioned the
President of the
dissolved Bahrain
Nursing Society Dr. Protest in solidarity with
Roula Al-Saffar and accused her of inciting Sheikh Issa Qassim
hatred against the government and Armoured vehicles and
threatening civil peace. In a similar move, the tear gas in Alekr
prosecution charged human rights activist Peaceful protest tear
gassed in Sitra
Ibtisam Al-Saegh of inciting hatred against
Tear gas fired in
the system, destabilizing the states security, Nuwaidrat
and threatening civil peace. Journalist
Ahmed Radhi was also summoned by the
prosecution for interrogation and was
accused of assembling. The Bahraini Useful links:
authorities have intensified their campaign
against activists and journalists and created
malicious charges against them to justify the
measures practiced against them. In the
same context, human rights activist Dr.
Monzer Al-Khor was prevented from leaving
the country through King Fahd Causeway in
a series of arbitrary measures against the Al Wefaq National Islamic
activists and journalists. Society

Al-Wefaq challenges dissolution verdict

Al-Wefaq National
Islamic Society has
launched a legal
challenge against
the verdict to dissolve
the society. The high Bahrain Centre for Human
civilian court ordered the dissolution of Al- Rights
Wefaq on 17th July and instructed its funds to
be seized by the government for harboring
terrorism, inciting violence and encouraging
demonstrations. In October, a court ordered
that Al-Wefaqs confiscated assets be
auctioned on 26th October, later postponed
to 6th November without mentioning reasons
and issued later an official decision to stop
the measures of the auction. Bahrains
security forces immediately raided the Bahrain Mirror
headquarters of the society and its branch in
Malikiya and confiscated its properties and
belongings. This is despite the presence of
Bahrain Watch
vital evidence in the buildings that lawyers
had been unable to retrieve.

Family of Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei

allowed to leave Bahrain
Manama Document
Bahrain authorities
prevented the wife of
a Bahraini dissident
Sayed Ahmed Al-
Wadaei and their
infant son, from
leaving Bahrain to London after Sayed
Ahmed took part in a protest against the visit
of Bahrains King to the UK. The authorities
arrested Sayed Ahmeds wife, Duaa, and his
son for 7 hours at Bahrains airport and
prevented them from obtaining food and
drinks. A few days later, Al-Wadaeis family
was finally allowed to leave Bahrain and they
were accompanied with an American
diplomat, Ahmed said, adding that his family
landed safely in London.

Activist Ghada Jamsheer released from

prison

Ghada Jamsheer, a
prominent Bahraini
and women rights
activist, has been
released from prison
having been in
detention since August. She was sentenced
to nearly 2 years in prison after criticizing
the CEO of King Hamad University Hospital,
a member of the Bahraini Royal Family, on
Twitter. She has now been released and will
serve instead the remainder of her sentence
doing community work.

Bahrain upholds 3 death sentences

A Bahraini court upheld three death
sentences and -7year jail term against
defendants accused of killing police and
an Emirati officer in a bomb attack. The
court also upheld a decision that stripped
the defendants of their citizenships, although
the court of cassation ordered in October
the retrial of the 10 defendants. The Emirate
officer who was killed was among the Gulf
troops that entered Bahrain in 2011 to help
the government quash the pro-democracy
protests.

News from Outside Bahrain

Amnesty says torture continues in Bahrain,

ministry denies reports findings

Amnesty International,
the NGO, has issued a
new report in which it
said that torture and
other forms of ill-
treatment continue in
Bahrain despite reforms supposedly
introduced to address alleged human rights
abuses. The organisation assessed the work of
the bodies established to deal with
grievances or guard against further abuses
and said it had found serious shortcomings in
the work of two British-supported institutions;
the Ombudsman and Special Investigations
Unit. In this context, it said There is no
denying that the Bahraini government has
taken a step in the right direction by setting
up institutions to investigate human rights
violations and hold those suspected to be
responsible accountable. Sadly these reforms
remain woefully inadequate. Torture and
other ill-treatment by security forces persist
within a system of entrenched impunity
marked by the lack of an independent
judiciary. However, Bahrains Minister of
Foreign Affairs rejected the report, saying it
was inaccurate and selective in saying that
new oversight bodies, such as the Ministry of
Interiors ombudsman, lacked independence.
The statement carried by state news agency
BNA did not address Amnestys findings of
ongoing abuses by security forces, nor its
allegations of impunity for unlawful killings,
injuries, torture and other ill-treatment since
November 2011.

UK PM reaffirms commitment to the Gulf in

Bahrain visit
Theresa May, the UK
Prime Minister, used
a visit to Bahrain
to reaffirm the
commitment of the
British Government
to the region. As Guest of Honour to the
GCC Summit she said, We in the UK are
determined to continue to be your partner
of choice as you embed international norms
and see through the reforms which are
so essential for all of your people. During
the visit she held bilateral talks with all 6
leaders from Gulf countries, although British
Parliamentarians and rights activists criticized
the visit for failing to press on human rights
violations.

Prince Charles opens naval base in

Bahrain

Prince Charles arrived

in Bahrain according
to a scheduled visit
marking the 200th
anniversary of
diplomatic relations
between the two countries. Campaigners
criticized the Princes visit to the country over
human rights abuses in Bahrain after he
opened part of naval base in Mina Salman
Port. Bahrain has paid over 30 million of the
40 million base. The British government
believes that this base will reinforce stability in
the region. Nonetheless, opposition figures in
Britain accused the Government and Prince
Charles of forgetting British values in return
for a new base. Amnesty International called
on Prince Charles to talk about free speech
when meeting with Bahrain King Hamad bin
Isa Al Khalifa in Manama. It also condemned
the British Government and Ministers role,
who they accuse of helping to paint a
picture of Bahrain as a country pushing
ahead with reforms.

British Think-tank received 25 million from

Bahraini Ruling Family

The Bahraini ruling

family donated a sum
of 25 million to a
British think-tank.
According to
documents, Bahrain
has donated the sum to the London-based
International Institute for Strategic Studies
(IISS) over the last five years. Documents also
revealed that IISS and the Bahraini donors
agreed to keep most of the donations secret,
which critics say undermines the
independence of the institution. Bahrain
Watch which obtained the confidential
documents said: Any organization should be
concerned about receiving donations of
such a large sum from a single donor, but
they should be even more concerned when
that donor is an autocratic government with
such a terrible track record for human rights,
adding that The Bahraini government is
willing to spend so much on the IISS and the
Manama Dialogues because they allow the
government to portray itself as modern,
liberal and business-friendly, in contradiction
to the evidence of torture, abuse and
political disenfranchisement that has been so
well documented by countless credible
organizations already.

Irish company refuses to stop security

projects in Bahrain

Northern Irelands
Economy Minister
rejected calls to
suspend security
and justice projects
with Bahrain and
Egypt, despite the fact that its projects
contribute to the human rights violations in
these two countries. Reprieve, the anti-torture
organization, wrote to Stormonts Economy
Minister, Simon Hamilton, warning that a
Northern Irish government-owned company
was involved in security and justice programs
that risked complicity in torture and death
sentences in the Middle East. However, the
Minister claimed that responsibility lies with
the UK Foreign Office and the European
Union, who fund the multi-million pound
projects, adding that he is not in a position to
suspend the companys work in the Kingdom
despite the severe human rights violations
practiced against citizens.

Protests in London as UK PM meets

Bahrains King

Protesters in the British

capital London threw
themselves at a car
carrying the King of
Bahrain Hamad bin
Isa Al Khalifa, outside
Downing Street; the residence of British Prime
Minister protesting against the kings meeting
with the PM. One man burst through the
crowd and approached the Kings car
before police arrested the man who was
later known to be the exiled human rights
activist Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei. The two
parties held the meeting to discuss the
bilateral relations between the two countries,
however, this move was met with severe
criticism due to Bahrains notorious human
rights record.

Nabeel Rajabs arrest is unjust, should be

immediately released

The US Ambassador
to the UN Samantha
Power said that the
prominent human
rights defender Nabeel
Rajab is unjustly
detained in Bahrain, demanding his release
without further delay after a Bahraini court
postponed his trial until December 15. In
the same context, Amnesty International
considered Rajab a prisoner of conscience,
adding that Nabeel Rajabs trial began on 12
July on charges of spreading false rumours in
time of war, insulting public authorities [the
Ministry of Interior] and insulting a foreign
country. Although Rajab denied all the
charges brought against him, he faces up to
15 years in prison if found guilty. Amnesty also
called on the Bahraini authorities to release
Rajab immediately and unconditionally as he
is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely
for peacefully exercising his right to freedom
of expression; urged them to lift Nabeel
Rajabs travel ban and to uphold the right to
freedom of expression and repeal laws that
criminalize the peaceful exercise of the rights
to freedom of expression, association and
assembly, including Article 216 of the Penal
Code.

Bahrain holds event at Trump-owned

hotel, Congressman expresses concerns

Congressman James
McGovern expressed
his deep concern
over the information
revealing that Bahrain
will hold its 2016
Bahrain National Day celebration at the
Trump International Hotel in Washington DC.
McGovern sent a letter to Trump stating that
the US president is held to the highest
standards of ethics and transparency and
each president must ensure that there is not
even the appearance of impropriety and
using the office for no private gain. The
congressman also talked about Bahrains
bad human rights record and repressive
system, urging Trump reject all business
income from the monarchy, release all
correspondences between the Bahraini
monarchy and his business, including price
negotiations and final contracts and release
all the correspondences between any
foreign government and any of his businesses
since he announced his campaign for
president.

ISIS vows attacking Shiites in Bahrain

our Bahrainis affiliated

to the so-called Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) posted a video
vowing to attack
Shiites in Bahrain. The
four Bahrainis incited Sunnis in the Kingdom
to perform Jihad against Shiites, who control
hospitals, medicine, education, water and
electricity, according to their claims. The
video included parts for the ISIS-affiliated
members saying that Bahrain rules in ways
against what Allah has ordered and that the
Bahraini government obeys tyranny. They
further stated that Shiites were a minority
in Bahrain, however, the government
naturalized them which made them the
majority. The members expressed their
happiness towards the operations against
Shiites in the Gulf, vowing to send so-called
Caliphate Troops to Bahrain, Kuwait, and
the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

About Bahrain Justice and Development Movement:

Bahrain Justice and Development Movement (BJDM) is based in London, UK and

promotes democratic reform in Bahrain. We work with opposition figures both inside
and outside Bahrain, supporting their efforts to raise awareness of the situation in
Bahrain, as well as advocating political reform of a democratic nature.

Contact:

info@bahrainjdm.org www.bahrainjdm.org / http://bahrainjdm.hopto.org

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