The Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR) and Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) express their grave concern over the lack of justice in Bahrain. Bahraini citizens, including human rights defenders and journalist, have been victims of the judicial system where trials do not meet the international standards and follow the due process. Human rights defenders, Naji Fateel, and Nazeeha Saeed, are just two examples of the unfair judicial system, which is used to create false charges against human rights defenders and activists.

Naji Fateel, a board member of the Bahrain Youth Human Rights Society (BYHRS), was arrested on 2 May 2013 from his home in Bani Jamra and held incommunicado for 3 days before being transferred to the Dry Dock prison. The Public Prosecution Office ordered his detention for 45 days. On 23 May 2013, Naji was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for “illegal assembly”. On 12 June 2013, Bahrain national television aired names and photos of Bahraini citizens it claimed that they are behind the set up of the so-called “Coalition of 14 February”, Naji was one them.

Naji Fateel faces the alleged charged of “establishing a terrorist group for the purpose of disturbing public security, disabling constitution and law, preventing public institution and authorities from performing their duties, attacking public and personal rights, and harming national unity”, under the internationally condemned 'Terrorism Law'. In his first court hearing, which was held on 11 July 2013, Naji talked publicly about the torture he was subjected to and took his shirt off to show the torture marks on his back. However, instead of  taking immediate action and carry out an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the allegations of torture, the judge did not allow the defendants to complete their testimonies and refused to take note of their allegations. (For more information please see:  http://bahrainrights.org/en/node/6227).

On 26 July 2013, the second hearing of the trial was held, and yet in another violation to his legal rights, Naji Fteel was not brought to court, which is believed to be due to his public allegations that he had been tortured during his interrogation and detention. BCHR’s head of documentation, Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafadha, has attended the trial on behalf of BCHR and GCHR. He stated that “the investigation with Naji Fateel and others involved in the case was not about the “Coalition of 14 February”, rather about their participation in protests, the Pearl roundabout, and other activities.” He added that “the court took an illegal decision when postponed the hearing to 5 September 2013 in order to call the witnesses, although the lawyers did not request that.” He concluded by saying “it is clear that this court is violating the international standards for fair trials as they want to continue this 'mockery of justice' without the lawyers and defendants.”

The lawyers in the “Coalition of 14 February” of which Naji is one of the defendants, have submitted a letter to the court explaining the reasons why the judge Ali Khalifa Al-Dhahrani should step down. The letter stated that the defendants are accused of aiming to “prevent the public institution and authorities from performing their duties” and no doubt the House of Representatives is one of these institutions which is headed by Khalifa Al-Dharani, the father of judge Ali Al-Dhahrani who is heading the court which deals with this case. This, in addition to the fact that the House of Representative and its members have publicly stated their pro-government positions in relation to the case which may influence the court, thus a conflict of interest is present here, according to article 221 of the code of criminal procedure law. The letter was submitted on 25 July 2013, however, the lawyers did not receive any response as yet. (For more information please see: http://www.alwasatnews.com/3975/news/read/795879/1.html).

The second case is that of human rights defender and journalist, Nazeeha Saeed, Bahrain correspondent for France 24 and Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya, who was subjected to torture in Riffa police station at the hand of security personnel in 2011. Describing her torture Nazeeha stated that “she was blindfolded, kicked, punched, and slapped. Her hair was pulled, she was whipped with plastic tubing, had a shoe forced into her mouth and her head dunked into a toilet. An unknown, caustic liquid said to be urine was poured onto her face, she was repeatedly insulted and mentally abused and asked to make a false confession.” (For more information please see: http://bahrainrights.org/en/node/5598).

It is worth mentioning that Nazeeha managed to obtain three independent medical reports which confirmed that she was indeed subjected to torture, two of these reports were issued by doctors working for the Ministry of the Interior. Despite all the evidence in her case and the fact that she was able to identify 5 of her alleged torturers, only one of them, policewoman Sarah Al-Moosa , was taken to court by the Public Prosecution Office.

On 22 October 2012 a Manama Court had acquitted Sarah Al-Moosa of the charges on the basis that the evidence presented by Nazeeha Saeed was ‘contradictory’ and ‘not consistent’ with the forensic report. The policewoman walked free, although the above mentioned medical reports, have corroborated her accounts of torture she suffered while in police custody.

On 23 June 2013, a Court of Appeal in Manama upheld the acquittal of policewoman Sarah Al-Moosa on charges of torturing and mistreating Nazeeha. The Public Prosecution Office has had 30 days, as per the law, to take the case to the Cassation Court, but decided not to do so.

The GCHR and the BCHR call on the US administration as well as other governments that have influence in Bahrain including the UK government, the EU and leading human rights organizations to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to:

1- Guarantee the legal rights and due process of the prisoners of conscious and victims of tortures;

2. Immediately release human rights defender Naji Fateel as well as all other detained human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience in Bahrain;

3. Initiate an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture of Nazeeha Saeed, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

4- Stop the on-going daily human rights violations as well as the escalated attacks against human rights defenders;

5- Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Bahrain are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment;

The GCHR and BCHR remind the Bahraini government that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 5 (b) “For the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels  (b)To form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups” and Article 12 (2) “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jureadverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”

The National Assembly: a Tool of Repression Used by the Government of Bahrain Against Citizens

Hassan Mshaima’, one of the 13 jailed prominent Bahraini opposition activists, told his family that he has been denied urgent medical treatment. He is a prisoner of conscience.

Hassan Mshaima’, a diabetic and former cancer patient, phoned his family from Jaw prison and complained to them that he had had a severe pain in his right ear and a smelly discharge from it for more than a week but that the prison authorities had denied him specialized treatment outside prison because he refuses to wear the prison uniform.

Hassan Mshaima’, aged 65, suffers from multiple health conditions and needs regular hospital check-ups. In February the prison doctor said he needed an examination by a specialist in a hospital and would probably need surgery. The prison authorities have been refusing to take him to a hospital unless he wears the prison uniform. In 2011 he was punched and kicked, including on his right ear, by police officers in a military court during the trial of the 13 prisoners of conscience. He had an operation on the ear in 2012.

Until about two weeks ago all 13 opposition activists had been refusing to wear the prison uniform, saying it is only worn by criminals and to wear the uniform would be to admit criminality. Since mid-March they had been denied family visits: every time families went to the prison they were told they could not visit because the prisoners were “refusing prison instructions”. About two weeks ago, 11 out of the 13 started to wear the prison uniform reportedly under pressure from their families. Hassan Mshaima’ and Dr ‘Abdel-Jalil al-Singace still refuse to wear it.

The High Criminal Court of Appeal in the capital, Manama, issued its verdict on 4 September 2012, upholding the 13 defendants’ sentences of between five years and life in prison on charges including “setting up terror groups to topple the royal regime and change the constitution”. The Court of Cassation upheld the sentences on 7 January 2013. See “Additional Information” for a list of all 13 prisoners’ names.

Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:

Urging the authorities to provide Hassan Mshaima’ with medical care for his right ear and access to regular check-ups in specialized hospitals;

Urging them to release all 13 opposition activists immediately and unconditionally, since they are prisoners of conscience, convicted solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 09 SEPTEMBER 2013 TO:

King

Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa

Office of His Majesty the King

P.O. Box 555

Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain

Fax: +973 1766 4587 (keep trying)

Salutation: Your Majesty

Minister of Interior

Shaikh Rashid bin ‘Abdullah Al Khalifa

Ministry of Interior

P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain

Fax: +973 1723 2661

Twitter: @moi_Bahrain

Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:

Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs

Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Khalifa

Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs

P. O. Box 450, al-Manama, Bahrain

Fax: +973 1753 1284

Email: minister@justice.gov.bh

Twitter: @Khaled_Bin_Ali

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the twelfth update of UA 139/11. Further information: www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE11/019/2013/en

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

An Amnesty International delegation visited Jaw prison on 24 January and met Hassan Mshaima’. He complained about the medical treatment he was receiving, which he said was inadequate. Hassan Mshaima’, who fears that his cancer may have returned, has not been given any test results, though he insisted on receiving them. He said, "It is harassment as when I go to hospital for the treatment that lasts up to six hours, my face is covered and I cannot see the doctor or the medical staff." For further information see the report “Freedom has a price”: Two years after Bahrain’s uprising(http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE11/005/2013/en).

Fourteen prominent opposition activists were arrested between 17 March and 9 April 2011. Most were arrested in the middle of the night by groups of security officers who raided their houses and took them to an unknown location, where they were held incommunicado for weeks. Many of the 14 have alleged they were tortured during their first few days of detention when they were being interrogated by officers from the National Security Agency (NSA). None of the 14 was allowed to see their lawyers during NSA interrogations just after they were arrested. Some saw their lawyers during questioning by the military prosecutor ahead of the trial, while others were only allowed to see them during the first court hearing in May 2011, which was the first time any of the activists had seen their families since their arrest.

On 22 June, Bahrain's National Safety Court, a military court, announced its verdict and sentenced them to between two years and life in prison on charges including “setting up terror groups to topple the royal regime and change the constitution”. Seven of the 14 activists were sentenced to life imprisonment: Hassan Mshaima’, ‘Abdelwahab Hussain, ‘Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Dr ‘Abdel-Jalil al-Singace, Mohammad Habib al-Miqdad, Abdel-Jalil al-Miqdad and Sa’eed Mirza al-Nuri. Four people, Mohammad Hassan Jawwad, Mohammad ‘Ali Ridha Isma’il, Abdullah al-Mahroos and ‘Abdul-Hadi ‘Abdullah Hassan al-Mukhodher, were sentenced to 15 years in prison. Two people, Ebrahim Sharif and Salah ‘Abdullah Hubail al-Khawaja, brother of ‘Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, were given five-year prison terms while Al-Hur Yousef al-Somaikh received a prison sentence of two years.

On 28 September 2011, in a session that lasted only a few minutes, the National Safety Court of Appeal, a military appeal court, upheld all the convictions and sentences imposed on the 14 opposition activists. On 30 April 2012, the Court of Cassation in Manama ordered them to appear before a civilian court for an appeal trial; on the same day it reduced Al-Hur Yousef al-Somaikh's two-year sentence to six months. He was immediately released as he had already served his sentence. However, the other 13 remained behind bars in Jaw prison. Their appeal before a civilian court of appeal started on 22 May 2012.

On 14 July 2012 the Appeal Court ordered the press not to report any information relating to the case of the 13 opposition activists and stated that its future hearings into the case would take place behind closed doors. The final verdict on the case was due to be announced on 14 August 2012 but the session was further postponed until 4 September. Dr Ghanim Alnajjar, an internationally recognized human rights expert who observed the court proceedings on behalf of Amnesty International, said, “The decision to postpone the final verdict is unjustified, and is tantamount to a denial of justice.” Amnesty International sent Ahmad Nashmi al-Dhaferi, a Kuwaiti lawyer, to observe the court hearing on 4 September 2012. For more information on this case and others see the report Flawed Reforms: Bahrain fails to achieve Justice for protesters(http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE11/014/2012/en).

Names: Hassan Mshaima’, ‘Abdelwahab Hussain, ‘Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Dr ‘Abdel-Jalil al-Singace, Mohammad Habib al-Miqdad, Abdel-Jalil al-Miqdad, Sa’eed Mirza al-Nuri, Mohammad Hassan Jawwad, Mohammad ‘Ali Ridha Isma’il, Abdullah al-Mahroos, ‘Abdul-Hadi ‘Abdullah Hassan al-Mukhodher, Ebrahim Sharif, Salah ‘Abdullah Hubail al-Khawaja

Gender m/f: All male

Further information on UA: 139/11 Index: MDE 11/025/2013 Issue Date: 29 July 2013

http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE11/025/2013/en

LONDON, July 28, 2013 – Bahrain Press Association ("BPA"), the London-based association concerned with defending and addressing issues related to Bahraini media and press people, is condemning the outputs of the Bahraini National Assembly, composed of the lower and upper houses that convened for the first time since inception. In an extraordinary session held jointly by both houses, the Assembly, upon a call by King Hamad Bin Salman Al Khalifa to convene in an extraordinary fashion to discuss the toughening of penalties pertaining to terrorism acts committed against the community although the session is believed to have essential constitutional suspicions.

The BPA-after thorough follow-up on the session deliberations, its final concluding statement, and its recommendations- is expressing its disappointment with most of the members' speeches and the recommendations that were full of instigating backed by an open authorization to the security forces to commit atrocious cruelty and threaten the 'citizenship' rights of the Bahrainis calling for the political reforms. Such speeches and recommendations pave the way for an open-ended war that would eliminate the freedom of expression, if any, and the freedom of conscience under no-stand judgments and unacceptable reasons.    

The BPA conceders the outputs of the session a national disaster bringing back the scene Bahrain went through while the State of National Safety was on in March 2011. At the time, many crimes and violations were reported and documented that claimed the lives of 120 Bahrainis and the imprisonment and torture against thousands of other Bahrainis.

The BPA stresses that the recommendations are an open authorization to the country's king, the executive authorities, and security forces to issue decree laws and amend certain laws that would impose and iron fist on civil liberties and press freedoms and would ban demonstrations from being called for in the capital city of Manama. The outputs would also impose the state of national safety 'martial laws', would lead to the arrest of some leaders and political activists, and to deprive them of their nationality in clear violation to the law on the allegations to protect the community. Undoubtedly, this violates the international law and the international conventions of which Bahrain is a signatory with a commitment to implement the bylaws contained therein with the focus on the universal human rights.

The BPA is doubtful about the preamble of the undertaking vowed by the Bahraini authorities to abide by the human rights commitments. The Bahraini authorities, with the testimony of the international community and human rights organizations, still turn a blind eye to the recommendations made by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry "BICI" along with the recommendations made by the Human Rights Council of the UN.

The BPA Chair, Mr. Adel Marzooq, said "The National Assembly's statement – and its recommendations – is a black dot in the history of the legislative authorities with its two houses. It also gives a green light to the fierce security fist practiced by the Bahraini authorities. Furthermore, it is a dangerous escalation paving the way to new violations which the country may witness as per this 'rejected' authorization when it comes to the international law and all other humane considerations."

Mr. Marzooq also stressed that "Such recommendations allow the Bahraini authorities to enact many suppressing policies and laws on the freedom of opinion and the freedom of the press. It also flings to the wall all previous undertakings made by the regime and violates the universal human right to citizenship." 

Therefore, the BPA is calling upon the international community – especially the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom – to very quickly move to stop imposing such recommendations and to oblige the Bahraini regime to satisfy its international undertakings and commitments and to initiate a real and meaningful political solution capable of lifting the country from its long-standing crisis. 

For some time now there has been a need to update understandings of existing human rights law to reflect modern surveillance technologies and techniques. Nothing could demonstrate the urgency of this situation more than the recentrevelations confirming the mass surveillance of innocent individuals around the world.

To move toward that goal, today we’re pleased to announce the formal launch of the International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance. The principles articulate what international human rights law – which binds every country across the globe – require of governments in the digital age. They speak to a growing global consensus that modern surveillance has gone too far and needs to be restrained. They also give benchmarks that people around the world can use to evaluate and push for changes in their own legal systems.

The product of over a year of consultation among civil society, privacy and technology experts (read here, here, here and here), the principles have already been co-signed by over hundred organisations from around the world, including Bahrain Center for Human Rights. The process was led by Privacy International, Access, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The release of the principles comes on the heels of a landmarkreport from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, which details the widespread use of state surveillance of communications, stating that such surveillance severely undermines citizens’ ability to enjoy a private life, freely express themselves and enjoy their other fundamental human rights. And recently, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nivay Pillay, emphasised the importance of applying human right standards and democratic safeguards to surveillance and law enforcement activities.

“While concerns about national security and criminal activity may justify the exceptional and narrowly-tailored use of surveillance programmes, surveillance without adequate safeguards to protect the right to privacy actually risk impacting negatively on the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” Pillay said.

The principles, summarised below, can be found in full at necessaryandproportionate.org. Over the next year and beyond, groups around the world will be using them to advocate for changes in how present laws are interpreted and how new laws are crafted.

We encourage privacy advocates, rights organisations, scholars from legal and academic communities, and other members of civil society to support the principles by adding their signature.

To sign, please send an email to rights@eff.org, or visit

https://www.necessaryandproportionate.org/about

Summary of the 13 principles

Legality: Any limitation on the right to privacy must be prescribed by law.

Legitimate Aim: Laws should only permit communications surveillance by specified State authorities to achieve a legitimate aim that corresponds to a predominantly important legal interest that is necessary in a democratic society.

Necessity: Laws permitting communications surveillance by the State must limit surveillance to that which is strictly and demonstrably necessary to achieve a legitimate aim.

Adequacy: Any instance of communications surveillance authorised by law must be appropriate to fulfill the specific legitimate aim identified.

Proportionality: Decisions about communications surveillance must be made by weighing the benefit sought to be achieved against the harm that would be caused to users’ rights and to other competing interests.

Competent judicial authority: Determinations related to communications surveillance must be made by a competent judicial authority that is impartial and independent.

Due process: States must respect and guarantee individuals' human rights by ensuring that lawful procedures that govern any interference with human rights are properly enumerated in law, consistently practiced, and available to the general public.

User notification: Individuals should be notified of a decision authorising communications surveillance with enough time and information to enable them to appeal the decision, and should have access to the materials presented in support of the application for authorisation.

Transparency: States should be transparent about the use and scope of communications surveillance techniques and powers.

Public oversight: States should establish independent oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability of communications surveillance.

Integrity of communications and systems: States should not compel service providers, or hardware or software vendors to build surveillance or monitoring capabilities into their systems, or to collect or retain information.

Safeguards for international cooperation: Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) entered into by States should ensure that, where the laws of more than one State could apply to communications surveillance, the available standard with the higher level of

protection for users should apply.

Safeguards against illegitimate access: States should enact legislation criminalising illegal communications surveillance by public and private actors.

TechWeek - 30 July 2013

Politically speaking, little has changed in Bahrain, especially when compared to its Middle Eastern neighbours where the Arab Spring brought governments to their knees. Whilst opponents of the Bahrain regime are still very much active, their efforts have brought limited disruption to the rule of the al-Khalifa family.

But for activists in the country, certain things have changed in the last year. For one, they are now being targeted by cruder, but possibly more effective attacks over the Internet. Having been hit by plenty of malware in the past, many are now being targeted by IP trackers, says Bill Marczak, a security expert doing research for Bahrain Watch and Citizen Lab whilst working on his PhD studies at UC Berkeley.

He is currently working on an investigation into IP tracking, and a full report will be delivered later this year. According to Marczak, sites like IPlogger.org are being used, letting the attacker add IP tracking capability to a link. When that seemingly legitimate URL is clicked by the target, their IP address is sent to whoever created that link. Meanwhile, the victim has no idea what has just happened.

It appears the attackers are masquerading as contacts of Bahraini activists, sending them links to get hold of their IP address, Marczak claimed. He has heard that government officials then visit the relevant ISP, hand over the address and the time of the click, and demand the identity of the IP owner.

Twitter the tool to target activists

Twitter is proving a useful attack platform for a number of reasons. First, it’s easy to create a fake account and send links to people. Second, as has been highlighted by recent events, account hijacking is not too tricky to carry out. Third, it’s easy to impersonate people on Twitter.

One handy quirk for those looking to play copycat is that Twitter’s lower case L’s and capital I’s are rendered exactly the same. So to pretend to be anyone with either of those characters is simple and effective. “We have seen cases where accounts look almost exactly like the legitimate people,” Marczak claims.

Sometimes, the accounts of arrested Bahrainis are being used, Marczak says. “I’m not sure how they get their passwords – maybe they confiscate their devices and then get them from there,” he adds.

“People who have clicked on these links have suffered various types of consequences ranging from having their houses raided and being charged for saying insulting things about the king on Twitter, or losing their jobs.

“It looks like, from our investigation so far, in one case, the government did lock up the wrong person. His only crime was running the Internet connection on which the link was clicked.

“Once things like Facebook and Twitter get a significant following from activists, the government will use it to attack them.”

He did not want to reveal the names of those involved, to protect their identity.

The Bahrain government has taken a hard-line on anti-government protesters, who are planning a major demonstration on 14 August. The movement against the monarchy has at times been brutally repressed, most notably Bloody Thursday, when three protesters died following a raid on their encampments in Manama.

Politicians now want to ban any kind of protest in the capital, and to crackdown on “misuse” of social media”, whilst the government has said anyone taking part in the August gatherings will face the ”force of the law”.

The government of Bahrain told TechWeek it was “committed to safeguarding the privacy of its people”.

“We value free speech and this is enshrined in our Constitution. There are established channels for addressing allegations of breach of privacy online or otherwise,” a spokesperson said.

“But the anonymous allegations as presented are too general and vague to permit any sort of investigation and response: there is no date, time, or any sort of identification as to who the perpetrator may be, and further what particular sites and ISP are being referred to in the allegation.”

This IP tracking threat shouldn’t affect those who are savvy about security, those using VPNs or the Tor Browser to hide their IP. But for anti-government activists, or anyone whom the regime dislikes, without adequate protection, IP tracking could cause much grief.

“This demonstrates a disturbing trend, one where repressive regimes are increasingly becoming more technologically sophisticated in how they target those who oppose them,” Eric King, head of research at Privacy International, tells TechWeek.

“Bahrain particularly has been at the forefront of this, using FinFisher and Trovicor [both intelligence gathering software that some have compared to malware], and now this method of IP tracking, to identify, arrest and mistreat those to challenge their authority.”

Read more on http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/cyber-repression-attack-of-the-fake-activists-123239

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: bill@bahrainwatch.org
Twitter: @bhwatch

July 31, 2013

BAHRAIN GOVT USING FAKE TWITTER ACCOUNTS TO TRACK ONLINE CRITICS
Over 120 accounts targeted and 11 Twitter users jailed for insulting King

[Manama] The Bahraini security apparatus has been hunting down activists who conceal their true identity online to avoid reprisal or prosecution for criticizing the Government, according to a new project by activist organization Bahrain Watch.

Since October 2012, the Government has jailed eleven netizens for allegedly writing anonymous Tweets that refer to Bahrain’s King Hamad using terms such as “dictator” (الطاغية) or “fallen one” (الساقط). An eight-month investigation by Bahrain Watch has revealed that the Government apparently identifies these anonymous online critics by sending them malicious IP spy links from a network of Twitter and Facebook accounts impersonating well-known opposition figures or other seemingly friendly individuals. When an individual clicks on an IP spy link, they reveal the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the internet connection they clicked from. The Government can then compel the internet service provider of the IP address to disclose the real name and street address of that internet connection’s subscriber.

The report released today, “The IP Spy Files: How Bahrain’s Government Silences Anonymous Online Dissent,” documents the cases of five individuals arrested for insulting the King on Twitter who received, apparently received, or claimed to receive IP spy links. An examination of court records shows that the Public Prosecution’s case centers around linking the IP address of the defendant to the offending anonymous Twitter account. However the prosecution refuses to reveal how the IP addresses were acquired, citing information obtained through “private methods that cannot be disclosed.” In several cases, the defense argues that the accounts the individuals are accused of operating are still active while they are in prison. Bahrain Watch’s report shows that the Government apparently uses these accounts in secret, and may target their followers, friends, or contacts via private messages.

The report found that using IP spy links to identify the author of an anonymous Tweet is inherently unreliable: individuals other than the author can click on the link, and the link can be clicked from an internet connection not registered in the author’s name. In at least one case documented by the report, an individual with no affiliation to the anonymous account in question was accused, convicted, and sentenced to one year in prison — he was the subscriber of an internet connection used to click on an IP spy link.

The consequences of clicking do not always include prison: the report documents the case of Sami Abdulaziz Hassan, the leader of a labor union at Japanese engineering firm Yokogawa Middle East, who was sacked from his job after he was identified as the author of anonymous Tweets criticizing the company’s alleged violations of labor law. His Twitter account was targeted with IP spy links sent publicly via Twitter mentions. The report also lists over 120 other accounts — both pro- and anti-Government — that were also targeted over the past two years in Twitter mentions with IP spy links traceable to the Government.

The investigation found that in at least six cases, links targeted at activists had also been clicked on from an IP address affiliated with Bahrain’s security forces in the Bahrain Internet Exchange. These links were in turn connected to hundreds of other links sent using the same network of accounts. The investigation also found that one of these accounts appeared to be operated by an employee of the Ministry of Interior Cyber Crime Unit.

“It is outrageous enough that individuals have been arrested and jailed for mere tweets criticizing the Government,” said Bahrain Watch lead researcher Bill Marczak. “That these individuals are being tracked down and convicted based on such weak digital evidence only makes matters worse.”

In its report, Bahrain Watch urged political and social activists in Bahrain, and around the world, to be vigilant about impersonation accounts and malicious links. The report contains a section giving advice about how to protect one’s identity online.

“Given the government’s track record, it comes as no surprise that it would resort to such measures to stifle free speech,” said Marczak. “However, our hope is that this report will spread awareness of the methods that governments around the world use to trap digital activists.”

Last year, Bahrain Watch’s Bill Marczak, along with the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, discovered that the UK-made spyware program FinSpy was operating on servers based in Bahrain.

Bahrain Watch is a monitoring and advocacy group that seeks to promote effective, accountable, and transparent governance in Bahrain through research and evidence-based activism. About Bahrain Watch: https://bahrainwatch.org/about.php

Read the full report on http://bahrainwatch.org/ipspy

Jawad Fairooz was a member of parliament in Bahrain’s Council of Representatives from 2006 to 2010 and was re-elected as a member of parliament in 2010, for a further four-year term. Mr Fairooz has also been a member of the secretariat general of Alwefaq National Islamic Society, Bahrain, since its inception on 2 November 2001, and a member of its board from 2006 to 2012. 

On 17 February 2011, Mr Fairooz and seventeen fellow Alwefaq members of parliament withdrew from the Council of Representatives in protest at the response of Bahraini state authorities to large-scale protests in Bahrain and the deaths of two protesters. The events of this period have been examined in detail by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, and its findings were published in November 2011 (BICI Report). Those protests had begun on 14 February 2011, and after a degree of accommodation by the government, a state of National Safety was declared on 15 March 2011, the protesters were forcefully dispersed, with many arrested and a number of protesters and police killed.  

On 11 and 12 April 2011, Mr Fairooz’s house was attacked by Molotov cocktails.  On 2 May 2011, Mr Fairooz was arrested from his home by three masked and hooded men who forced their way into his home. Mr Fairooz was detained until 7 August 2011. He was held in solitary confinement for more than 43 days, denied access to a lawyer except on two short occasions, and he was not allowed to contact his family until 27 days after arrest.  While detained, he was questioned repeatedly about his political activities, and was subjected to blindfolding, stress positions, beatings, sexual assault and humiliating acts and insults constituting torture and ill-treatment.  During this time his wife was also called into the police station for questioning over a period of several hours.

Mr Fairooz was prosecuted on charges relating to his freedoms of expression and opinion, and freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and sentenced to a suspended prison sentence.  Mr Fairooz was bought both before the National Safety Courts, which demonstrated a lack of impartiality and independence. The structure of the National Safety Courts precluded the possibility of a fair trial. At the end of the period of National Safety, Mr Fairooz’s case was referred to the competent civil courts on 29 June 2011. However, due process failures continued.

Further, together with thirty-one other individuals, Mr Fairooz has also been unilaterally stripped of his Bahraini citizenship, in violation of international law. The reason for the revocation was that those concerned had caused “damage to state security.”  Mr Fairooz is currently residing in the United Kingdom, while stateless.

REDRESS has written to UN special rapporteurs and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on human rights to bring Mr Fairooz’s case to the attention of the Bahraini authorities.

• Allegation letter to UN Special Rapporteurs and Working Group in the case of Jawad Fairooz (29 July 2013)
• Extract from the BICI Report concerning Mr Fairooz 
• UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Press briefing (23 November 2012) concerning Bahrain and other countries (see statement regarding revocation of citizenship).

Source http://www.redress.org/case-docket/allegation-letter-concerning-jawad-fairooz 

AI Index: MDE 11/026/2013

31 July 2013

BAHRAIN: NEW ANTI-TERRORISM POWERS WOULD POSE FURTHER RISK TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Amnesty International warns against the imminent adoption of proposed amendments by the Bahraini authorities to the anti-terrorism legislation as it will lead to further violations of Bahrain’s international human rights obligations.

In response to recent increase in violence and in anticipation of planned large demonstrations by the opposition, on 28 July Bahrain’s parliament held an extraordinary session and then submitted 22 recommendations to Shaikh Hamad Bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain. The recommendations toughen punishments laid out in the 2006 anti-terrorism law. On 29 July the King welcomed the recommendations and ordered his Prime Minister to ensure that they are implemented urgently by the government. Bahrain’s constitution (Article 38) gives the King the power to issue decrees that have the force of law when parliament is in recess. In these circumstances the government prepares the draft amendments and the King ratifies them.

The recommendations include the banning of all sit-ins, public gatherings and demonstrations in the capital Manama indefinitely, giving the security forces additional sweeping powers to “protect society from all terrorist acts and incitement to such acts”; increasing punishment for anyone propagating false information about Bahrain in social media networks; taking legal action against certain political associations which incite and support violent and terrorist acts; taking all possible measures to impose peace and security, even if it means imposing a state of national safety (state of emergency); and the imposition of harsher sentences on anyone involved in acts of “terrorism” and violence and anyone inciting others to use violence; the revocation of Bahraini nationality from anyone committing terrorist acts or incitement to such activities,

Given the manner in which authorities have abused existing legislation to suppress dissent, Amnesty International fears that these recommended amendments will further erode the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

The 2006 anti-terrorism legislation, known as “Protecting Society from Terrorist Acts,” defines terrorism in an overly broad and ambiguous manner. Amnesty International has expressed concern about provisions in the law that place arbitrary restrictions on freedom of expression and gives the Public Prosecution excessive discretion. The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism expressed fears in 2006 that the restrictions on freedom of association and assembly in the law would allow the criminalization of peaceful demonstrations by civil society. The UN Committee against Torture expressed in 2005 concerns about the broad and vague definition of terrorism and terrorist organizations and the erosion of judicial safeguards in the then draft law.

Since February 2011 when large anti-government protests started the human rights situation in Bahrain has deteriorated sharply. Scores of opposition activists were arrested and tried before military courts. Many were tortured. Some, including 13 prominent figures, are serving lengthy sentences of up to life. Dozens of people died, including from torture, but mainly as a result of unnecessary and excessive use of force during protests. Human rights activists have been jailed for their work.

In recent weeks violence has increased. There have been incidents where young men threw Molotov cocktails at policemen and police cars. On 17 July a car bomb exploded near al-Riffa’, south of Manama. No one was hurt and the bombing was condemned by opposition parties. The security forces have responded with mass arrests, excessive use of force, including through the use of shot-guns and tear gas, and reportedly torture and other ill-treatment of detained suspects. In the early hours of 29 July at least 27 people, mostly youth, were arrested in the village of Dar Kulaib where clashes between security forces and protestors had taken place.

Despite these measures sporadic protests have continued. Bahraini opposition groups are planning to organise large protests on 14 August. Planning for this has started on social media networks. The event is called “Tamarrod” (rebellion).

http://amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE11/026/2013/en/d9eef74e-866e-45b1-961f-bd53aeab8839/mde110262013en.html

(Beirut) – The Bahrain parliament’s call at an extraordinary meeting on July 28, 2013, to impose a series of emergency measures will severely restrict basic rights. The action would give the authorities excessive powers to act arbitrarily to restrict such rights as freedom of assembly and speech.

Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdulla al-Khalifa said the meeting was convened “to toughen legal penalties with respect to the protection of community from terrorism acts.” On July 29, King Hamadinstructed the prime minister to codify the recommendations into law as soon as possible. Antigovernment groups told Human Rights Watch that the government is exaggerating the threat of terrorist activity to justify a renewed crackdown in advance of protest demonstrations set for August 14.

“Bahrain has spent the last two years cracking down on peaceful protest, violating people’s rights from start to finish,” said Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East director. “Now it’s planning a whole new set of draconian restrictions, effectively creating a new state of emergency, even while peaceful protesters from the last round are sitting in prison with long sentences.”

The parliament specifically set out 22 recommendations calling for new restrictions on freedom of expression, and an indefinite ban on all public gatherings in the capital, Manama. It also called for the authorities to revoke the citizenship of Bahrainis who have been convicted of terrorist offenses, and proposed declaring a “state of national safety” in order “to impose civic security and peace.”

Bahrain’s government previously declared a National Safety Law on March 15, 2011, one month after large scale antigovernment protests began on February 14. The emergency law provided for the institution of national safety courts, which Human Rights Watch found repeatedly failed to respect and protect basic fair trial rights. The National Safety Law also granted wide ranging authority to the commander-in-chief of the Bahrain Defense Force to issue regulations governing all manner of conduct and to enforce those regulations as well as existing laws. The emergency law ended on June 1, 2011.

The parliament’s “Recommendation 2” called for the authorities to revoke the citizenship “of those who carry out terrorist crimes and their instigators,” raising the prospect that Bahrainis opposed to the government will be arbitrarily deprived of their citizenship rights after unfair trials on terrorism charges.

The parliament’s recommendations, when codified into law, will suspend the right to free assembly indefinitely in Manama and may severely curtail free speech. “Recommendation 6” calls for the prohibition of all “sit-ins, rallies, and gatherings in the capital, Manama.” “Recommendation 16,” although vaguely worded, says that government measures should affect “basic liberties, particularly freedom of opinion, […] so as to strike a balance between law enforcement and human rights protection.”

“The parallels with the 2011 protests and the government’s heavy-handed response then are of the utmost concern,” Houry said. “Clamping down further on people who have legitimate grievances will only fuel discontent and escalate an already tense situation.”

Fifty people are currently on trial accused of “illegally establishing and managing” the 14th February Group – an informal loose-knit group whom authorities have linked to acts of violence – andof “engaging in violence against the persons and assets of state security” or “participation” in the group.

Thirteen of the 50 are in custody. According to court documents obtained by Human Rights Watch, the others have either left the country or have not been apprehended. The documents say that nine of the 13 have either “confessed” to charges or “confirmed” allegations put to them in police questioning during their pretrial detention.

They include Naji Fateel, the alleged leader and founder of the 14th February Group. Fateel alleges that police tortured him in detention following his arrest on May 2, 2013, and that he signed a “confession” rather than endure further torture.

In July 2008, a Bahrain court convicted him of destroying police property and stealing a weapon after a trial that Human Rights Watch found was “tainted with abuse.” He was sentenced to five years in prison, though he was released after nine months.

On July 23, 2013, local media reported that another of the defendants, Ali Mohammed Ashoor, belongs to “an extremist group” known as the al-Ashtar Brigades that allegedly claimed responsibility for planting a car bomb that exploded near a Sunni mosque in the suburb of Riffa on July 17. No one was killed or injured in the explosion.

Revoking citizenship on the basis of unfair trial convictions would violate the rights of Bahraini nationals under international law. Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is considered reflective of customary international law, states that, “Everyone has the right to a nationality,” and, “No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality.” Unlawful deportations would also violate other rights, such as the right not to be subjected to arbitrary interference with family life under article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain is a party.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Bahrain ratified in 2006, permits some restrictions on certain rights during an officially proclaimed public emergency that “threatens the life of the nation.” It requires countries to publicly declare a state of emergency and to ensure that any suspensions or limitations of rights are temporary and strictly required by the exigencies of the situation. Although Bahrain has faced sustained domestic unrest, it is questionable whether this amounts to an emergency threatening the life of the nation, Human Rights Watch said.

It also appears that the measures approved by the parliament are neither appropriate nor proportionate, particularly as they would appear to virtually end any opportunity to exercise the right to peaceful assembly. Moreover, recent history suggests that any declaration of a National Safety Law will open the way for a new government crackdown in which citizens who oppose the government will face severe penalties for exercising their rights to free assembly and expression.

The national safety courts created under the 2011 law flouted basic requirements of international human rights law, as well as many provisions of Bahraini criminal law. As Human Rights Watchdocumented, the courts demonstrated a lack of competence, impartiality, and independence, and they served primarily as a vehicle to convict defendants of alleged crimes stemming from the exercise of fundamental rights of freedom of expression, association, and assembly.

Under international law, countries may not invoke a public emergency to permit arbitrary deprivations of liberty or unacknowledged detentions, nor may they deviate from fundamental principles of fair trial, including the presumption of innocence. People held as administrative detainees under a lawful state of emergency should, at a minimum, have the right to be brought before a judicial authority promptly after arrest, be informed of the reasons for detention, and have immediate access to legal counsel and family. They also should be allowed to challenge the lawfulness of their detention in a fair hearing, and to seek a remedy for mistreatment and arbitrary detention. Certain fundamental rights – such as the right to life, the right to be secure from torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment – must always be respected, even during a public emergency.

“The government has talked a lot about the need for national reconciliation but, once again, its actions in taking on a raft of stern new measures to suppress legitimate protest are undermining any prospects for successful dialogue,” Houry said.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/07/31/bahrain-parliament-moves-curtail-basic-rights

Update - 3 Aug 2013

In an escalation against citizen journalists ahead of the planned Tamrraod (Rebellion) protests in Aug 14, photographer Qassim Zainaldeen has been arrested by masked men in civilan clothes linked to the security forces on Friday morning 2 Aug 2013 from his house at Duraz after confiscating his computer and mobile. His family went to ask about him at the Budiya police station but they were denied any information about him.

Photo: Qassim ZainAldeen

Update- 1 Aug 2013

More than 45 hours after his arrest, there is still no confirmed information on the whereabouts and wellbeing of arrested blogger Mohammed Hassan, who is now considered subjected to enforced disappeared.

Hassan’s family received a brief call yesterday from him in which they were informed he will be transferred to the dry dock detention center, but when they went there today, 1 Aug 2013, the prison administration denied having him. They were not able to get any further information or get access to Mohammed Hassan. His lawyer has been unable to contact him as well.

In addition to the concern of Mohammed Hassan’s enforced disappearance, an award winning photojournalist and close friend of Hassan’s, Hussain Hubail (21), was arrested last night, 31 July 2013, from Bahrain International Airport while on his way to Dubai, UAE. His family went to ask about him at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) but the administration denied having Hubail in their custody. As such, Hussain Hubail is now also considered subjected to enforced disappearance as there is still no information on his whereabouts and wellbeing. Hubail won 1^st place in a photography contest run by Alwasat newspaper in May 2013 for a photograph of protesters amid clouds of tear gas. BCHR has information that a photo in which Hussain appeared covering one of the opposition societies rallies, was shown to detainees in the past months at the CID and the interrogators were trying to find the identity of the photographer in that photo. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights believes that Hussain Hubail has been targeted because of his work as a photojournalist. 

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the international community to apply real pressure on the Government of Bahrain to demand the immediate release of blogger Mohammed Hassan and photojournalist Hussain Hubail. To add to that, the BCHR calls for an end of the Government of Bahrain’s systematic targeting of online users and news providers who are exercising their right to freedom of expression in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Bahrain: Arrest of blogger and media fixer Mohamed Hassan

31 July - 2013

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses grave concern in regards to the recent arrest of blogger and media fixer Mohamed Hassan (27) during a dawn raid on his home.  His whereabouts and charges are still unknown and he has not made any communication with family and lawyer until the time of writing this report.

At around 3am on 31 July 2013, masked men in civilian clothes belonging to the Ministry of Interior raided the house of blogger Mohammed Hassan and arrested him without presenting an arrest warrant and without giving any justification for the arrest or the charges pressed against him. They also confiscated his electronic devices.

This is not the first time blogger Mohammed Hassan is targeted by the authorities in Bahrain.

Mohammed Hassan, also known as @Safybh, was known for expressing his views on twitter and on his blog http://safybh.wordpress.com/ in support of the struggle for freedom and democracy in Bahrain. He stopped tweeting and blogging since April 2013.

Hassan was arrested before on 21 April 2012 while he was escorting reporters to protesting villages to show them the violations of the authorities against peaceful protesters. He was hit with a gun barrel in his leg and reportedly severely beaten before getting arrested. He was denied access to a lawyer, and released the next day. He was then arrested again on 22 April 2012 at a checkpoint in Sanabis with journalist Colin Freeman from The Sunday Telegraph. They were taken to the Exhibition Center police station. Hassan was interrogated about his connection to the journalist and they were later released without any charges.  

In June 2012 Mohammed Hassan was summoned for interrogation, and was accused with three charges: writing for websites and newspapers without a license, illegal gathering and tweeting. He wrote later on his twitter: "They asked me about all tweets, even the ones where I say goodnight, I was also questioned about the articles I write and the journalists I know, especially when I was arrested and beaten last April. I was accused of calling for “unlicensed" marches when I invited people to [participate in] Nabeel Rajab’s “Thank you” march, [the] problem is: it was actually licensed. After asking a lawyer I realized that I was correct about not needing a license for blogging or writing an op-ed for a website." 

Hassan has been also a fixer for multiple reporters, including the Dan Rather crew when they were in Bahrain in March 2012. (Check this behind the scene report: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkoj6jXCKfs&feature=youtu.be

He appeared in the Dan Rather report. He was asked if it was safe for him to speak to the press, he replied “I don’t care anymore. My friends have been in prison, some of them are still in prison, and some of them are in hiding and some of them are dead.” He continues “by now if anything would have happened, I would’ve accepted it, I have no choice but to accept it.”

Mohammed Hassan told his friends after the broadcast of that report: “I started getting some calls after appearing on the DanRatherReport, waiting to see their next move.” Their next move was to have him arrested and beaten in April 2012.

He also participated in a Bahrain debate in Feb 2012, with a group of Bahraini youth of different views aiming to bridge their differences. Mohammed was clear in supporting the rights of people and firmly refused violence.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights believes that Mohamed Hassan is repeatedly targeted merely due to expressing his views publicly over the internet and for assisting international media reporters.

Based on the above information, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights demands that the Government of Bahrain immediately release the blogger Mohamed Hasan as well as all detainees who have been arrested based on reasons related to them practicing their fundamental rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembling which are guaranteed to them by international laws.

The Acting President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights; and Co-Director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights, Maryam Al-Khawaja, has decided to travel to Bahrain on Friday, 09^th August 2013.

She arrives in Bahrain at 7:05pm Bahrain time on Friday and will be staying there for approximately two weeks. Al-Khawaja will be traveling with her Danish passport, getting a visa at the Bahraini airport, due to the expiration of her Bahraini passport.

Maryam Al-Khawaja has chosen to remain in self imposed exile due to the necessity of being abroad for her work and for safety and security reasons. While the same security and safety concerns are still valid, Al-Khawaja finds it necessary to make this trip at this specific time.

In the past few weeks, the human rights situation in Bahrain has rapidly deteriorated ahead of planned mass protests on August 14^th. With many of the country’s most prominent Human Rights Defenders behind bars, local NGOs have inadequate resources to keep up with the unfolding situation, and it is challenging for them to ensure the safety of their members.

Bahraini HRDs should not be left to stand alone. We urge international human rights organizations to attempt to visit Bahrain over the coming week, in order to document and monitor ongoing protests, especially on August 14 when Bahrain is expected to come under lockdown.  The government has already declared that all protests in the capital Manama are banned.

International human rights organizations have done a good job of highlighting the human rights situation in Bahrain, though their physical presence in the country has been lacking due to a state policy of controlled access.  Nonetheless, their presence is important, as witnesses and in solidarity with those fighting for justice, human rights, and democracy.

We call on mainstream media networks to dedicate particular attention to the situation in Bahrain in the build up to August 14 and to send journalists into the country. What happens in the coming week could be critical.

To the Government of Bahrain’s closest allies; Mr. David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, we urge you to remain neutral, if not supportive of the peoples’ right to self-determination. This is not a call for intervention, but rather we urge you to live up to claims of ethical foreign policies that take human rights into consideration and to end your active support of the government of Bahrain.

Finally, we call on the United Nations and its Special Rapporteurs to be proactive and to reiterate the rights of Bahrainis to free speech, freedom of assembly, the right to adequate medical care, and to pressure the authorities to refrain from using force, particularly tear gas and birdshot, ahead of August 14. Public statements reminding those who are responsible of guaranteeing these rights are needed as well as activating direct channels with officials in such positions.

For the past two and a half years, the Bahraini regime has failed to realize its pledges to implement both the Universal Periodic Review and Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry recommendations. Domestic and international accountability mechanisms have so far failed, and Bahrainis have decided that August 14 is another step in the current struggle for justice.

We, the undersigned, will be on the ground in Bahrain during this period to monitor and observe the human rights situation.  We hope that you will commit time, resources, and effort to support HRDs in the country in any capacity.

Signed:

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Bahrain Human Rights Society

European-Bahraini Organization for Human Rights

Bahrain Watch

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights

Bahrain Human Rights Observatory

CC:

International NGO’s:

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Amnesty International (AI)

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Frontline Defenders

Human Rights First (HRF)

IFEX

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)

Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR)

United Nations:

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association

Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression

Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

On February 14, 2011, thousands in Bahrain, both Shia and Sunni, took to the streets demanding democracy and reform in their country. The only Gulf country with a Shia majority governed by a Sunni ruling family, the Bahraini government responded to the protests with violence and suppression. Peaceful demonstrators, along with medics, journalists, and other citizens that came to their aid, were arrested, detained, tortured, and even killed for their involvement.

In response to international pressure, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ordered the establishment of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) to document human rights violations that occurred during the protests. The BICI report found over 500 cases of torture and 46 deaths as a result. Yet even with these documentations and a promise from King Hamad to hold accountable those responsible for human-rights abuses, the culture of impunity continues. The ruling family's suppression and intimidation tactics have included the use of arrest, detention, physical and psychological abuse, torture, and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

Twitter has been frequently used during the Arab Spring as it provides immediate, and often anonymous, information. Witnesses can document abuses by security forces with photographs and inform participants where a protest is to occur. This type of instant news creates a challenge for governments that practice systematic censorship of unwanted information. In an effort to combat this, the government of Bahrain has begun to target Twitter users with harsh punishments, including torture and jail.

Continue reading on http://www.policymic.com/articles/58235/bahrain-s-government-has-declared-war-on-twitte

Two new emergency decrees issued by the King of Bahrain last night, which include the banning of all protests, are a further shameful attempt to completely ban any form of dissent and freedom of expression in the country, Amnesty International said.

“Banning sit-ins, public gatherings and demonstrations in Bahrain’s capital and stipulating that parents could be jailed if their children repeatedly participate in demonstrations is outrageous, and violates international law,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International.

“Authorities in Bahrain have, for years, abused existing legislation to suppress any form of dissent, but these new measures are taking their disregard for human rights to a completely new level. We fear that these draconian measures will be used in an attempt to legitimize state violence as new protests are being planned for 14 August.”

One of the decrees makes new amendments to the 1973 Law on public gatherings and demonstrations, which include the banning of demonstrations, sit-ins, marches and public gatherings in the capital Manama.

The 1976 juvenile law was also amended and now stipulates that, if anyone under 16 years of age takes part in a demonstration, public gathering or sit-in, his or her parents would be warned in writing by the Ministry of Interior. If six months after the warning the juvenile was found in a new demonstration, his or her father could face jail, a fine or both.

The decrees are the latest in a series of measures by the Bahraini authorities to toughen punishments laid out in the 2006 anti-terrorism law, stifling dissent in the wake of increased protests.

In recent weeks, the security forces have used shot-guns and tear gas against protesters and conducted mass arrests of protesters. Amnesty International has also received reports of torture and other ill-treatment of detained protesters.

In the early hours of 29 July at least 27 people, mostly youth, were arrested in the village of Dar Kulaib in west Bahrain, where clashes between security forces and protesters had taken place. Bloggers, photographers and others active in social media networks have been targeted for arrest in recent days.

Despite these measures, sporadic protests have continued with a new mass demonstration planned for 14 August.

“Banning protests and using unnecessary and excessive force against protesters will risk leading to further violent clashes. Instead, the authorities in Bahrain should focus on ensuring people across the country can exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said Philip Luther.

The 2006 anti-terrorism legislation, known as “Protecting Society from Terrorist Acts”, defines terrorism in an overly broad and ambiguous manner.

Amnesty International said some of the provisions in the law place arbitrary restrictions on freedom of expression and gives the Public Prosecution excessive discretion.

Since February 2011 when large anti-government protests began in Bahrain the human rights situation in the country has deteriorated sharply. Scores of opposition activists have been arrested and tried before military courts.

Many were tortured. Some, including 13 prominent figures, are serving lengthy sentences of up to life. Dozens of people died, including from torture, but mainly as a result of unnecessary and excessive use of force by security forces during protests. Human rights activists have been jailed for their work.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/bahrain-new-decrees-ban-dissent-further-protests-organized-2013-08-07

Press briefing notes
​

We are concerned about the recommendations made by the National Assembly’s extraordinary session which was recently held to discuss toughening punishments under the 2006 Law on the Protection of Society from Acts of Terrorism. These recommendations include increasing detention period or revoking citizenship of anyone found guilty of committing or inciting an act of terrorism. They also provide for banning sit-ins, rallies and gatherings in the capital Manama. On 31 July, a royal decree was issued to amend the above-mentioned law in accordance with these recommendations.

While recognizing the responsibility of States to maintain law and order, we remind the authorities that any measure should respect international human rights standards.

We reiterate that the right to nationality is a fundamental right protected by article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her nationality. Any deprivation of nationality provided for by law must comply with procedural and substantive standards, including the principle of proportionality. We are concerned that arbitrary deprivation of nationality may also lead to statelessness with serious consequences for the protection of the human rights of the individuals concerned.

Although we welcome the recommendation by the Parliament that "basic liberties, particularly freedom of opinion, should not be affected to maintain a balance between law enforcement and human rights protection," we reiterate our concern about the restrictions on public demonstrations and other public gatherings. 
We call upon the Government of Bahrain to fully comply with its international human rights commitments, including respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and association – and urge all demonstrators to exercise these rights in a peaceful manner.

In response to a question on Bahrain:

In April 2013, the visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan E. Méndez, to Bahrain - which was scheduled to take place from 8 to 15 May – was postponed for the second time. He has not been able to visit Bahrain since. Discussions are underway to set up new dates for a future visit.
To read the statement issued by the Special Rapporteur on 24 April 2013, please go to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13261&LangID=E

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13608&LangID=E

URGENT ACTION: social media activists risk torture in bahrain

Mohammad Hassan Sadef, a 26-year-old blogger and translator and Hussain Habib, a 23-year-old cameraman, were arrested separately on 31 July. They are held incommunicado and are at risk of torture. They may be prisoners of conscience.

Mohammad Hassan Sadef, was arrested from his parents’ house in Sitra in the early hours of 31 July 2013 by plain clothed security officers ,without an arrest warrant. He was taken to the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) in al-‘Adliya in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, where he is believed to still be held incommunicado and is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. His family and their legal representative have not been allowed to visit him.

Hussain Habib was arrested at Bahrain International Airport as he was due to board a flight to Dubai on 31 July. He was taken to the Criminal Investigation Directorate building for interrogation. He is believed to still be detained there incommunicado.

The exact reasons for the arrest of the two men above are not known, but they may be linked to their use of social media networks. The government is cracking down on people disseminating information about the human rights situation in Bahrain through social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Both have used these networks extensively. On 28 July Bahrain’s Parliament submitted 22 recommendations to the King toughening punishments laid out in the 2006 anti-terrorism law. The King has welcomed the recommendations and has already issued two decrees to this effect. One of the recommendations is to make sending false information on Bahrain through social media networks a crime punishable by imprisonment.

Please write immediately in your own language:

• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammad Hassan Sayef and Hussain Habib if they are held solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression;
• Urging the Bahraini authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of the two men and to allow them to meet with their families, legal representatives of their own choosing and to grant them any medical care needed;
• Urging that they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 13 SEPTEMBER 2013 TO:

King

Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa

Office of His Majesty the King

P.O. Box 555

Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama,

Bahrain

Fax: +973 1766 4587

Salutation: Your Majesty

Minister of Interior

Shaikh Rashid bin ‘Abdullah Al Khalifa

Ministry of Interior

P.O. Box 13, al-Manama,

Bahrain

Fax: +973 1723 2661

Twitter: @moi_Bahrain

Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:

Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs

Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa

Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs

P. O. Box 450, al-Manama,

Bahrain

Fax: +973 1753 1284

Email: minister@justice.gov.bh

Twitter: @Khaled_Bin_Ali

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

URGENT ACTION

social media activists risk torture in bahrain

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

More than two years after the uprising in Bahrain, and beneath the fanfare of subsequent reform, prisoners of conscience, including some arrested during the protests, remain behind bars and the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly continue to be suppressed. In recent months, not only have prisoners of conscience not been released, but more people have been jailed simply for daring to express their views, whether via Twitter or on peaceful marches. Bahraini courts have appeared more concerned with toeing the government’s line than offering effective remedy to Bahrainis and upholding the rule of law.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), appointed by Royal Order on 29 June 2011, was charged with investigating and reporting on human rights violations committed in connection with the 2011 protests. At the launch of the BICI report in November 2011, the government publicly committed itself to implementing the recommendations set out in the report. The report recounted the government’s response to the mass protests and documented wide-ranging human rights abuses. Among its key recommendations, the report called on the government to bring to account those responsible for human rights violations, including torture and excessive use of force, and carry out independent investigations into allegations of torture.

However, many of the government’s pledges remain unfulfilled. The establishment of BICI and its report was considered to be a groundbreaking initiative, but, more than 18 months on, the promise of meaningful reform has been betrayed by the government’s unwillingness to implement key recommendations around accountability; this includes its failure to carry out independent, effective and transparent investigations into allegations of torture and other ill-treatment and excessive use of force, and to prosecute all those who gave the orders to commit human rights abuses. For further information see: Bahrain: Reform shelved, repression unleashed (Index: MDE 11/062/2012, http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE11/062/2012/en).

In response to recent increase in violence and in anticipation of planned large demonstrations by the opposition, on 28 July Bahrain’s parliament held an extraordinary session and then submitted 22 recommendations to Shaikh Hamad Bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain. The recommendations toughen punishments laid out in the 2006 anti-terrorism law. On 29 July the King welcomed the recommendations and ordered his Prime Minister to ensure that they are implemented urgently by the government. Bahrain’s constitution (Article 38) gives the King the power to issue decrees that have the force of law when parliament is in recess. In these circumstances the government prepares the draft amendments and the King ratifies them.

The recommendations include the banning of all sit-ins, public gatherings and demonstrations in the capital Manama indefinitely, giving the security forces additional sweeping powers to “protect society from all terrorist acts and incitement to such acts”; increasing punishment for anyone propagating false information about Bahrain in social media networks; taking legal action against certain political associations which incite and support violent and terrorist acts; taking all possible measures to impose peace and security, even if it means imposing a state of national safety (state of emergency); and the imposition of harsher sentences on anyone involved in acts of “terrorism” and violence and anyone inciting others to use violence; the revocation of Bahraini nationality from anyone committing terrorist acts or incitement to such activities,

Name: Mohammad Hassan Sadef; Hussain Habib

Gender m/f: Both male

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE11/028/2013/en