On 17 September 2019, the Court of Appeal will hold a hearing on the application submitted by the legal team defending human rights defender Nabeel Rajab to consider altering the charges against him by community service as stipulated in the Alternative Penal Code.

This is the second request submitted by the defense team after the court rejected the first request on 30 April 2019 submitted by the defense team to ask for the use of the alternative penal code adopted by Bahrain in 2018.

The Bahraini authorities arrested Rajab on 13 June 2016 from his home and he has been detained since then.  On 15 January 15 2018, the Court of Cassation upheld Rajab's two-year prison sentence handed down due to the 2015 television interviews he gave on the human rights situation in Bahrain. In another case, Bahrain's Court of Appeal, on 31 December 2018, upheld the sentencing of Nabeel Rajab to five years in prison on charges related to freedom of expression and tweeting about the war in Yemen.

Rajab is subjected to poor conditions in Jaw Central Prison where he is currently detained. Since he was transferred to Jaw Central Prison after being sentenced, he has been held in isolation from other human rights defenders and politicians, and is being held in a cell with nine other prisoners who have been sentenced in cases related to prostitution, which has affected Rajab's psychological state.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) strongly condemns the conditions under which Nabeel Rajab is being held, conditions which violate the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, in particular rule C concerning detainees and persons in pre-trial detention. BCHR therefore calls on the Government of Bahrain to:

- Drop all charges against human rights Defender Nabeel Rajab and release him

- Let Rajab serve his sentence through community service, as according to the alternative penal code at least.

- Stop isolating Rajab from other human rights and political prisoners.

<p><span style="font-size:22px"><strong>Shiite cleric tried for contempt of a sect</strong></span></p>

<p>The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and Bahrain Interfaith express both their deep concern about the continued deterioration of Religious Freedom level in Bahrain. This comes as the Bahraini authorities continue to exercise restrictive procedures and punish people related to speeches and religious opinions, especially Shi&#39;a clerics.</p>

<p>During Ashura in Muharram that was on the first of September this year, the Bahraini authorities made a series of summons and interrogated dozens of preachers, clerics and religious leaders for sermons delivered on religious occasions related to the performance of Ashura rituals. Some of them were charged. They were abused by being deprived of their own rituals. Authorities continued to restrict the revival of these rituals by attacking banners and religious phrases held in Ashura in different parts of Bahrain.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>(For detailed Ashura-related violations, read this statement)</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/9162">Bahrain: Ashura Reveals False Allegations of Respect for Freedom of Religion</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of the government&#39;s most recent violations of religious freedom is the arrest of Sheikh Abdul Nabi Al-Nashaba, whose case will be heard on 27 September by a Bahraini court. He is a Shiite cleric who faces charges of contempt for a sect following a sermon he gave early at a religious event in April 2019.</p>

<p>In detail, Bahraini authorities arrested Sheikh al-Nashaba on July 28, 2019 (about a month before Ashura began) after receiving a call from the Qudaibiya police station asking to be present without explaining the reasons and was arrested upon arrival. The following day, al-Nashaba was brought before the Public Prosecution, which ordered his detention for 15 days pending investigation on charges of &ldquo;contempt of sect&rdquo; and no lawyer was allowed to appear during the investigation session.</p>

<p>45 days after his arrest on pending investigation, the Public Prosecutor ordered on Thursday 12 September, 2019 to extend and transfer the case to the court and set a trial date on September 27, and also requested his release under the guarantee of residence.</p>

<p>It is noteworthy that Sheikh al-Nashaba was previously interrogated on the same charge after being summoned on April 10, 2019 to the Nabih Saleh police station, but was released after interrogation.</p>

<p>In other cases, on September 9, Hamad Town Police Station in Roundabout 17 summoned Mullah Mahdi al-Manami, a religious preacher, and arrested and interrogated him. The next day he was brought before the Public Prosecution, which released him after he was charged with inciting hatred against the regime.</p>

<p>Bahrain faces a lot of international criticism over restricting religious freedoms and the restrictive procedures against clerics and individuals participating and/or related to religious events. The UN Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed grave concern over reports stating that Bahrain&#39;s government is preventing Shi&#39;a prisoners from accessing worship books and other religious texts in prisons, as this contravenes Bahrain&#39;s international human rights obligations. This was as a comment on a press release issued on Thursday 22 August, 2019, by &ldquo;Bahrain Interfaith&rdquo;.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>BCHR and Bahrain Interfaith therefore call on the government of Bahrain to:</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>Immediately and unconditionally release Sheikh Abdul Nabi Al-Nashaba and drop all charges related to religious freedom.</li>
<li>Commit to international conventions and laws that enshrine religious freedom, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.</li>
<li>Stop the practice of restrictions on religious freedom and public freedoms.</li>
<li>Work on promoting and spreading a culture of respect for freedom of religion among society through procedures issued by official authorities.</li>
</ul>

<p dir="ltr">Today marks the International Day of Non-Violence, which coincides with the anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the spiritual leader of India, who worked to spread the culture of civil rights around the world as a result of the struggle he led.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><br />
On this day, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) would like to join the democratic and human rights world in celebrating this anniversary which will promote respect, human rights and principles that encourage the renunciation of violence and hatred.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><br />
It is very unfortunate that this anniversary is passing amid the increasing violence in Bahrain in various forms, especially the violence faced by people exercising their rights such as the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.<br />
BCHR continues to record cases of ill-treatment and torture of persons arrested for expressing their opinions or for issues related to freedom of expression such as peaceful protests.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><br />
On this occasion, BCHR would like to reiterate its call on the Bahraini authorities to stop using violence in all its forms and to hold accountable the perpetrators of these violations, which are rejected by all human rights principles, covenants and international conventions that work on the principle of non-violence.</p>

<p>On the occasion of the 17th World Day Against the Death Penalty, The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) condemns the ongoing use of death sentences in Bahrain and call for the abolition of this practice in the kingdom. This anniversary comes at a time when detainees in Bahrain are exposed to the most severe violations of the basic rights.</p>

<p>Bahrain&rsquo;s use of the death penalty is in breach of Bahrain&rsquo;s international commitments. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights make clear that all people are entitled to the equal protection of the law without discrimination, Human Rights Defenders are either in prison, exile or under threat. Whoever expresses his views is harassed, arrested or has his family members targeted as a tool of pressure to stop his activism. Death penalty is the most brutal of all shapes of restrictions which authorities in Bahrain apply to guarantee a complete closure of civic and political space.</p>

<p>In Bahrain, death sentences continue to be imposed in violation of major international standards, including the right to a fair trial and the principle of non-discrimination.&nbsp; The most recent cases were on 27 July, 2019, when authorities in Bahrain executed both victims of torture Ahmed al-Mullali and Ali al-Arab. On 06 May 2016, the Supreme Court of Appeals upheld the death sentence of detainees Ahmed Issa al-Mullali and Ali Ahmad al-Arab. The court largely based its judgment on confessions obtained under conditions of torture of Al-Mullali, Al-Arab and others, where detainees were subjected to ill-treatment and incommunicado detention in circumstances that can be considered as enforced disappearance. The executions took place despite reported concerns that the convictions were based on confessions extracted under torture.</p>

<p>BCHR and other human rights organizations have repeatedly called on Bahraini authorities to restrict the use of the death penalty and reduce the number of crimes susceptible of such punishment. Today, BCHR reiterates its concern over the continued use of the death penalty in Bahrain, and also calls on the International Community, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to support the adoption of the resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the death penalty.</p>

<p>Therefore, BCHR call on the government of Bahrain to:</p>

<ul>
<li>Commute immediately all death sentences;</li>
<li>Dismiss any and all judgments made with confessions obtained under conditions of torture;</li>
<li>Abolish the death penalty.</li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;&ldquo;Death Courts&rdquo; is a report issued by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) to highlight the violations of military justice to try civilians before and after the amendment of the Military Justice Act.</p>

<p>In order to guarantee a fair trial, military judiciary must not have the jurisdiction to try civilians. However, the report examines how military courts in Bahrain have expanded powers and jurisdiction to prosecute civilians after constitutional amendments in 2017. The report is based on the study of Bahraini laws and legislation related to the prosecution of civilians in military courts and shows the compatibility of Bahraini laws with the International Bill and international laws. The report reviews the state of military justice and the violations of the trials.</p>

<p>The report concluded with recommendations to the Government of Bahrain urging them to repeal the constitutional amendment and the Military Justice Act, and also calling them to accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the abolition of the death penalty. In addition, BCHR made recommendations to the international community to confront the death penalty and to review the situation of courts in Bahrain.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Read full <a href="http://www.bahrainrights.org/sites/default/files/media-icons/%D8%AA%D9%8...

<p>On 10 October 2019, a group of inmates in Jaw Central Prison started a mass hunger strike to demand an improvement of the poor conditions in the prison, and that measures are taken by the prison administration regarding family visits and other matters that prisoners consider retaliatory and restrictive.</p>

<p>Prisoners in Bahrain suffer from severe and variable measures and a continuous restriction on their basic rights. More than 500 prisoners went on a hunger strike a few months ago for the same mentioned reasons. They broke their strike after administrative promises to meet their demands, but these promises were not fulfilled. The prisoners therefore resumed their hunger strike, which indicates that their poor conditions have not been improved.</p>

<p>Among the hunger strikers, 13 are sentenced to death in various cases, including a Sudanese national, as well as human rights activist, Naji Fateel, another group of activists are sentenced in political and other various cases.</p>

<p>The hunger strikers are demanding that prison guards:</p>

<p>- respect their families during the visits;</p>

<p>- remove glass barriers that prevent direct contact with parents, and to facilitate the procedures followed during the visit time;</p>

<p>- extend the visit time to one hour instead of half an hour and increase the number of monthly allowed visits, currently only one visit a month is allowed,</p>

<p>-giving married prisoners the right to meet with their wives and give them extra time.</p>

<p>The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) has previously showed concern about the conditions inside the prisons which lead prisoners to go into hunger strikes as an expression of their protest against what they are subjected to.</p>

<p><a href="https://twitter.com/BahrainRights/status/1163420932632748033?ref_src=tws...

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to former prisoners who spoke to BCHR, conditions in the prison are bad in terms of the treatment of prison guards for prisoners. The guards search the cells in humiliating ways such as destruction and confiscation of personal properties. They mention as well the absence of uniform law and standards within the prison to deal with prisoners, where each official comes with a group of guards who perform different procedures from the procedures carried out by other groups that enter the cells and inspect each time.</p>

<p>BCHR considers that prisoners are subjected to abnormal procedures and sometimes to deliberate measures taken to further restriction on prisoners, particularly those convicted on political issues. What they are subjected to is considered a violation of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) calls upon the Bahraini authorities to:</p>

<p>- Stop all unnecessary and inhumane measures against prisoners;</p>

<p>- Meet the demands of prisoners and ensure that the hunger strike is not repeated;</p>

<p>- Establish specific mechanisms for dealing with prisoners and hold police officers accountable (prison guards and those responsible for the abuses suffered by prisoners).</p>

<p>&nbsp; &nbsp;The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) has learned that 13 people convicted to death have begun a hunger strike to demand better conditions of detention and to amend the measures taken recently by the prison administration, especially the decision to reduce the visit to only once every two months for a period not exceeding 30 minutes; not to mention the glass barrier that prevents direct contact between the detainee and his family.</p>

<p>According to testimonies from former prisoners and testimonies of relatives of prisoners, Bahraini prisoners suffer from severe and persistent harassment and deprivation of basic rights. This is not the first time that prisoners have gone on hunger strike. A month ago, more than 400 prisoners in the Dry Dock and Jaw Central Prison went on hunger strike to protest against what they saw as harassment and deprivation of their basic rights as prisoners. When the prison administration intervened, the prisoners broke their strike after promises of improvement, but things are still the same.</p>

<p>The hunger strikers are demanding that the search by prison guards of prisoners and their relatives be refined; to remove the glass barriers that prevent direct contact with their families; extend visit time; and allow married prisoners extra time with their wives.</p>

<p>In a previous statement, BCHR discussed the deteriorating conditions inside the prison and the procedures and harassment of prisoners, which leads them to the possibility of hunger and thirst and the consequences of the strike (isolation, beatings and insults) in order to achieve their demands.</p>

<p class="rteleft" dir="RTL"><a href="https://twitter.com/BahrainRights/status/1163420932632748033?ref_src=tws... target="_blank"><strong>https://twitter.com/BahrainRights/status/1163420932632748033?ref_src=tws...

<p>Activists on social media posted audio recordings of prisoners on death row announcing their hunger strike and complaining that the prison administration was not interested in their demands. According to previous testimonies, procedures and harassment by vandalizing prisoners&#39; property and personal needs and subjecting them to humiliating searches have exceeded reasonable limits, so that they are applied to their relatives as well. The prisoners are confused and unstable. They also talked about the absence of the law and the standards set within the prisons. Each shift official has different laws that conflict with other officials, which makes the prisoners confused and unstable.</p>

<p>BCHR considers these measures to be a flagrant violation of prisoners&#39; rights and opposes the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Therefore, BCHR calls upon allies of the Government of Bahrain to:</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>Pressure the Government of Bahrain to respect and implement the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>It also calls on the authorities in Bahrain to:</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>Respect and apply the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners;</li>
<li>Listen to prisoners and apply their demands;</li>
<li>Improve conditions and adjust procedures within the prison;</li>
<li>Stop cracking down on prisoners;</li>
<li>Hold accountable those responsible for harming prisoners through these arbitrary procedures and decisions.</li>
</ul>

<p>Bahrain enacted the Penal Code on alternative sentencing for prisoners facing cases and prison sentences, after a royal decree that was issued in 2017. On May 20, 2018, Bahrain&#39;s <a href="https://www.ppb.gov.bh/arabic/news-details.aspx?id=RvtIiGtGpNg=">Attorney General</a> Ali al-Buainain said that the Public Prosecution had started implementing the provisions of the Penal Code and alternative measures. Following the completion of the law enforcement mechanisms through the issuance of regulatory decisions, it implemented the guidelines on the implementation of the law issued by the Public Prosecution pursuant to the decision of the Attorney General No. 1 of 2018.</p>

<p>He pointed out that the law shows the judge additional options in determining the punishment other than the punishment of restricting freedom. It also imposes, to the judge and the Public Prosecution, alternative measures to preventive detention, which would alleviate the overcrowding of convicts who could only be monitored or prevented from visiting places to prevent any problems leading to crime. There is no doubt that the new law is beneficial to the accused and his family at the same time, especially if the implementation of the negative punishment of freedom affects the stability and livelihood of the family.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.alayam.com/alayam/local/825550/News.html?utm_campaign=magnet... said</a> during a ceremony at its embassy in London that since the introduction of the Alternative Penal Code, it has replaced the punishment of 856 people who have been sentenced to prison sentences in various cases. Of those convicted, 71% were sentenced to community service, 16% were included in rehabilitation and training programs, and 8% were treated for criminal harm, with the remaining 5% divided into other measures.</p>

<p>Despite the good step taken by the government of Bahrain in this direction and the number that has replaced their sentences, the share of political prisoners and detainees on issues related to freedom of expression is very small and negligible. Despite the release of a number of women detained on issues related to freedom of expression and the political situation in Bahrain, the government rejected dozens of requests made by prisoners&#39; relatives or their representatives to replace the sentence of those sentenced for political cases.</p>

<p>The legal defense team for human rights activist Nabeel Rajab has twice applied to replace his sentence under the Alternative Penal Code, but the court rejected the requests. Nabeel Rajab is serving up to seven years of sentences on cases related to freedom of expression. The <a href="https://news.un.org/ar/story/2019/01/1024722">United Nations</a> and international human rights organizations have called on Bahrain on several occasions to release Rajab for serving a prison sentence for exercising freedom of expression, but Bahrain has consistently rejected such calls.</p>

<p>The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) believes that, despite the positive step of the Alternative Penal Code, Bahrain still needs to take more serious steps to implement this law properly to include all persons facing prison sentences without excluding political prisoners. It remains unclear whether this step has already been taken by Bahrain to alleviate international criticism of the human rights situation in Bahrain, or whether to release political prisoners; there is no indication yet.</p>

<p>BCHR fears that this step will be similar to the previous steps announced by Bahrain, such as investigating cases of human rights violations, holding perpetrators accountable, or human rights reforms that are still locked up.</p>

<p><strong>On the eighth anniversary of the issuance of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry&#39;s report &ldquo;Bassiouni report,&rdquo; Bahraini organizations call on the government of Bahrain to launch a genuine and comprehensive national reconciliation initiative.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>London, November 23, 2019:</strong> Today, November 23, marks the eighth anniversary of the release of the BICI report, known as the Bassiouni Report.</p>

<p>Although many local and international parties, with all their different political and rights-based aspects and interests, were counting on this government / UN report and its recommendations to play an active role in achieving national reconciliation, overcoming the political and security crisis and reducing human rights violations in the country, the authority is still evading the implementation of the report&#39;s recommendations eight years after the issuance of the Bassiouni report. We recall here the statements of the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Mahmoud Sharif Bassiouni, on May 10, 2016, that the government has implemented only 10 out of 26 recommendations, and didn&#39;t deal well with reforms of priority, such as those related to accountability and prisoners of conscience; this is a reality that has not changed since the year 2016 till today.</p>

<p>The committee, composed of eminent international human rights experts, analyzed and verified various violations in Bahrain during 2011 and concluded its work with recommendations to the government on how to prevent such incidents and address their consequences and repercussions. The committee delivered a final report on November 23, 2011, to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The report identified 26 recommendations to the Bahraini Government, which aimed at meaningful reforms to end continued systematic violations.</p>

<p>Furthermore, we at the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, the Bahrain Press Association and&nbsp;Bahrain Interfaith ,&nbsp;urge the Government of Bahrain to adopt the option of dialogue in order to achieve comprehensive national reconciliation and fix the current crisis, and to commit to the recommendations adopted in the report; in particular Recommendation No. 1725-b, which states the importance of &ldquo; the development of a national reconciliation program that addresses the grievances of groups which are, or perceive themselves to be, deprived of equal political, social and economic rights and benefits across all segments of Bahrain&lsquo;s population.&quot;</p>

<p>Referring to recommendation 1719 - &ldquo;to adopt legislative measures requiring the Attorney-General to investigate claims of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and to use independent forensic experts. Such procedures should guarantee the safety of those raising such claims. Furthermore, the legislation should provide for remedies for any person claiming retribution for having raised a claim of torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment&rdquo;- we again call on the Bahraini authorities to invite Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, to visit Bahrain and to take the necessary measures against both the Authority on the one hand and the victims on the other.</p>

<p>Moreover, we emphasize the need for serious government&rsquo;s actions regarding the media incitement issues, as the Committee made the following recommendations (recommendation 1724):</p>

<ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
<li>To consider relaxing censorship and allowing the opposition greater access to television broadcasts, radio broadcasts and print media. The continuing failure to provide opposition groups with an adequate voice in the national media risks further polarizing the political and ethnic divide.</li>
<li>To establish professional standards for the media and other forms of publications that contain an ethical code and an enforcement mechanism, designed to uphold ethical and professional standards in order to avoid incitement to hatred, violence and intolerance, without prejudice to internationally protected rights of freedom of expression.</li>
<li>To undertake appropriate measures including legislative measures to prevent incitement to violence, hatred, sectarianism and other forms of incitement which lead to the violation of internationally protected human rights, irrespective of whether the source is public or private.</li>
</ol>

<p>In light of the importance of the Bassiouni report and its recommendations, and in order to reach a solution to the crisis in Bahrain, we at Bahrain Center for Human Rights , Bahrain Press Association, and Bahrain Interfaith&nbsp;emphasize the following:</p>

<ol>
<li>Adhering to the 26 recommendations of the report and working on their implementation, including allowing local and international civil society institutions to monitor their progress.</li>
<li>Working hard to open the prospects of dialogue and make way for a genuine and comprehensive national reconciliation in a way that results in the satisfaction of all parties and segments of society.</li>
<li>Allowing the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to enter Bahrain and prepare a detailed report on cases of torture and to compensate the victims. This includes the launching of a national project on transitional justice.</li>
<li>Allowing independent media, visual, print and audio, to be present and work in Bahrain, and monitoring all media outlets and preventing the use of hate speech and incitement to violence.</li>
<li>Reunifying in Bahrain and allowing all its citizens to return to their homeland without any threat or danger, including returning the citizenship to Bahrainis, whose nationalities have been revoked.</li>
<li>Terminating all legal legislation contrary to the two International Covenants and Bahrain&#39;s human rights obligations issued after February 2011, particularly with regard to the abolition of the so-called Political Isolation Law, the dropping of political and civil rights to a broad community, the abolition of Bahraini nationality, and laws restricting freedom of opinion, expression, and the press.</li>
<li>Releasing all political detainees, especially the elderly, women and children</li>
</ol>

<p>The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) releases a statement on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This day is celebrated each year to raise awareness of the reality of women status around the world. Moreover, it aims to shed light on the fact that women are still subjected to violence, torture and different forms of ill-treatment, especially in countries like Bahrain.</p>

<p>Women human rights defenders who advocate against torture are being subjected to torture all across the globe. Although they are facing gender-based discrimination on many levels, they aim to grant peace to all individuals regardless of their gender. However, they are being continuously targeted and attacked while seeking a dignified kind of life.</p>

<p>Bahrain is one of the countries with deteriorating situation of human rights where women fight for their basic rights, as transferring nationality to their children for example. In Bahrain, women human rights defenders face imprisonment, threats, beating, torture and even death. The forms of violence -that women are subjected to- are beyond what other human rights defenders might experience, including sexual violence, harassment and defamation. Furthermore, BCHR documented during 2018 and 2019 an increasing level of violence against women human rights defenders in Bahrain. Many were arrested, tens were detained and dozens were ill-treated.</p>

<p>Among those women human rights defenders who were subjected to different types of repression while doing their work was Nedal Al-Salman, the Acting President of BCHR. She was subjected to gender-based discrimination and was banned from traveling abroad just for being a woman human rights defender, speaking up for what happens in Bahrain and seeking justice for those who suffer from all forms of repression. Another victim of detention, torture and travel ban by Bahraini authorities is the journalist Nazeeha Saeed, who was covering security forces&rsquo; violent suppression of peaceful protesters. So many other females faced the attacks of the government, which tried to silence them, in its various forms: prevention of career practicing, unfair trials, nationality revoked, confined imprisonment&hellip; This shows that all women in Bahrain should be protected and supported by the International Community.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, BCHR calls on the concerned international bodies to put pressure on the government of Bahrain to:</p>

<ul>
<li>Maintain a safe environment for women human rights defenders in order to proceed with their work;</li>
<li>Abide by the International laws that guarantee protection for women human rights defenders.</li>
</ul>

<p>BCHR calls, further, on the government of Bahrain to:</p>

<ul>
<li>Release immediately and unconditionally those arbitrarily detained;</li>
<li>Put an end to violations against women human rights, in particular the right to express opinions and freedom of peaceful assembly;</li>
<li>Hold accountability those responsible for violations, regardless of their position.</li>
</ul>

<p>The <strong>Bahrain Center for Human Rights</strong> (BCHR), in cooperation with the<strong> Bahrain Interfaith Center</strong>, issued a book on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the release of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, known as the &ldquo;<strong>Bassiouni Report</strong>&rdquo;. The book dealt with the international conference entitled &quot;<strong>8 Years of Repression Under International Silence</strong>&quot; organized by the two centers. The conference highlighted the repressive methods used by the Bahraini government since 2011, which focused on crushing civil society and violently suppressing freedom of opinion, through the arrests, issuance of death sentences, and dissolution of civil and political associations.</p>

<p>The book examined the conference which included three panels. Saloua Boukaouit moderated the first one that focused on the situation of &ldquo;Human Rights Defenders in Bahrain,&rdquo; and the panelists were Khalid Ibrahim, Ahmed AlWedaei, Mohamad Najem, and Kristina Stockwood. Additionally, Annie Game moderated the second session, in which the panelists, Devin Kenny, Aya Majzoub, and Brian Dooley discussed &quot;The International Community&#39;s Positions on Human Rights Violations.&quot;The last panel, entitled &quot;Bahrain&#39;s Civil and Political Space,&quot; was moderated by Ariel Plotkin, and the panelists were Fadi al-Qadi, Drewery Dyke, and Joe Stork.</p>

<p>Human rights activists and civil society and human rights organizations in Bahrain, attended the conference from around the world (more than 19 countries) to discuss practical steps to address the international community&#39;s failure to take necessary actions to address the deterioration of human rights in Bahrain.</p>

<p>To read the full book, <a href="https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/62944689/8-years-of-repression">c... here</a>.</p>

<p>In the Belgian capital, Brussels, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) organized a stand in solidarity with the president of the Center, detained human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, on December 10, 2019. This coincided with the International Human Rights Day and in the presence of a number of international human rights organizations.</p>

<p>It is worth mentioning that in 1999, the General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which articles emphasize that human rights must be a priority whatever the circumstances. The Declaration also states that rights are common to all and that equality, justice, and freedom represent peace and safety.</p>

<p>Amnesty International stated in its report on the review of the human rights situation in the Middle East (Bahrain section) that &ldquo;The punitive nature of Bahrain&#39;s prison procedures continued to dominate, with detainees being humiliated, denied medical care, or unjustifiably delayed it. Prisoners of conscience in Bahrain&#39;s Jaw Central Prison called for nothing more than medical care and better services.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Commenting on the humanitarian situation in Bahrain, Ireland&#39;s top diplomat and Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said that &ldquo;the human rights situation in Bahrain remains a concern&rdquo; and that he is &ldquo;aware of reports of inhumane conditions of detention as well as reports showing that political prisoners in Bahrain have been tortured&rdquo;. He calls on Manama and all countries to respect the human rights of prisoners and detainees.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2019, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Bahrain to release Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab. The spokesperson for the UNHCR, Ravina Shamdasani also reported that: &ldquo;The court&#39;s decision highlights the continued repression of opposition by the government of Bahrain through arbitrary arrest, travel bans, harassment, threats, and withdrawal of nationality and other methods.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The International Federation said that the human rights icon Nabeel Rajab entered his fourth year today (Friday 14 June 2019) and is in prison only for defending human rights. In a statement, the federation said that Rajab was subjected to &ldquo;judicial harassment and parody of justice in trials,&rdquo; stressing that his sentence of seven years in prison in two different cases was condemned by the international community.</p>

<p>Bahrain has a worrying human rights record, as witnessed in the reports issued by human rights organizations until today. We, therefore, call upon the member states of the Human Rights Council not to condone such violations committed in places of detention in Bahrain and to release immediately the prominent human rights activist Nabeel Rajab.</p>

<p><strong>Alice Mogwe, FIDH President</strong><br />
(Paris) 10 December 2019 &ndash; Popular uprisings are occurring in all regions of our world. Although seemingly disparate and unconnected, these movements are united in their rejection of an elitist socio-economic model which enables inequalities, corruption, discrimination, abuses of power and violations of human rights. In response, these movements call for building societies which are more resilient, inclusive, respectful, and equitable,so that communities and people may thrive. This ambitious vision strives to prevail in a world marred by racism, hate speech, bullying and the existential threat of climate change.</p>

<p><br />
These popular uprisings are expressions born of lived experiences of exclusion. Generally not structured around an ideology or political party, they transcend existing political movements. They provide a voice for those who have felt silenced and excluded by systems of governance. We must pay tribute here to the courage of the women, men and others, both young and old, who have taken to the streets, in many cases, in countries where the right to demonstrate or the right to claim rights are contested and suppressed.</p>

<p><br />
On 10 December, the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, we reaffirm its significance as a benchmark against which we measure our achievements and challenges in our civil, political, economic, social, cultural and developmental spheres.</p>

<p><br />
The UDHR also provides the necessary guidance for the resolution of these crises, through the respect and protection of particularly, the right to demonstrate; the right to freedom of expression; the right to equal protection of the law; the right to life, liberty and security of the person; the right to education, health care, food, housing and social security; equality between women, men and others; the right to be free from all forms of discrimination; the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; the right to due process and a fair trial; and the right not to be subjected to torture or to unlawful or arbitrary arrest or detention.</p>

<p><br />
Human rights organisations around the world, are today, actively engaged in challenging this status quo by using the courts and functioning institutions of democracy; by denouncing violations of human rights; by increasing public awareness through the media; by using regional and international mechanisms &ndash; all aimed at seeking redress, enforcing decisions, and encouraging states to guarantee the protection of their citizens.</p>

<p>However, human rights defenders are increasingly targeted because of their work, through threats, smear campaigns, intimidation, harassment and enforced disappearances. In 2018, at least 318 human rights defenders were killed for defending rights. Reliable information has indicated that there have been reprisals against human rights defenders in for example, Turkey, where human rights and&nbsp;humanitarian organisations were shut down and human rights defenders arrested and imprisoned. In<br />
Honduras, as of early this year, more than 200 human rights defenders had been attacked.</p>

<p><br />
In December 2018, on behalf of hundreds of human rights defenders who had met at the Human Rights Defenders&rsquo; World Summit in Paris in October 2018, I presented the Declaration of the World Summit of Human Rights Defenders to the United Nations General Assembly. Through it, we denounced how, around the world, those who defend the rights for all are intimidated, harassed, attacked, imprisoned or even killed. We called upon States &quot;to recognise the essential role of human rights defenders, protect those at risk, and take concrete measures to foster a safe and enabling environment, including through adoptions of national action plans on the protection of human rights defenders&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over the past year, as popular uprisings have multiplied, repression against defenders has only increased, particularly in cases where human rights defenders have demanded social, economic or environmental justice. Yet, these defenders are the agents of change in and for our societies. They are the observers, the whistleblowers and the stewards of our collective well-being.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, due to the state capture of independent regional and international investigative mechanisms and judicial institutions, the ability of defenders to protect human rights is curtailed. Bodies such as the International Criminal Court, the UN Special Procedures and Treaty Bodies, and regional human rights mechanisms, risk being compromised due to their budgetary dependence on member States. They also risk becoming powerless when their recommendations are not respected and not<br />
implemented by member States, on the basis of their sovereignty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Populism and nationalism are on the rise &mdash; used as a rallying cry by political leaders who have failed to respond to the needs of their societies, which are consequently riven by fundamental socioeconomic inequalities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the anniversaries of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1948), and of the International Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (9 December 1998), let us work together &ndash; both citizens&#39; movements and civil society organisations &mdash; to consolidate the three essential pillars of a global human rights-based public order: the defence of universal human rights standards; the protection of defenders; and the strengthening of independent institutions which monitor the<br />
implementation of human rights. This three-pronged approach comprises the compass which directs and keeps us on course to achieving thriving societies in which the dignity of everyone is respected and upheld.&nbsp;</p>

<p>_____<br />
Botswana activist Alice Mogwe was elected president of the International Federation for Human<br />
Rights (FIDH) in October 2019. Ms. Mogwe, a staunch human rights advocate and civil society<br />
leader, will lead the Federation for the next three years, ushering in its 100th anniversary in 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In December 2018 Ms. Mogwe was the first civil society leader to address the United Nations General<br />
Assembly on behalf of over 250 human rights defenders from around the world. As founder and<br />
director of DITSHWANELO &ndash; the Botswana Centre for Human Rights &ndash; she has spearheaded efforts<br />
to advance human rights in Botswana and its Southern African neighbours.</p>

<p>Universal Health Coverage Day is at the top of the World Health Organization&#39;s goal list in order to ensure that everyone gets the care they need, when they need it. However, millions of people around the world are still denied any access to health care.</p>

<p>On this occasion, which coincides on the 12th of December, and in light of the international community&#39;s continuing shameful engagement with human rights issues in Bahrain, especially while prisoners are still suffering, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) would like to remind the international community of its responsibility towards human rights issues and the ongoing violations taking place in Bahrain. These violations including those related to the medical rights of prisoners and detainees, and to the increased suffering of detainees and the ill-treatment they are subjected to at the hands of the responsible police officers inside the prison.</p>

<p>The Acting President of BCHR and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Nidal Al-Salman emphasized the suffering of the detainees from the continuous harassment, mistreatment and deprivation of human rights, including receiving treatment and taking medications, which caused the spread of many diseases on the one hand, and the deteriorating health conditions of some detainees on the other hand.</p>

<p>According to reports received by BCHR from Jaw Central Prison, many detainees suffer from &quot;diabetes&quot;, and face difficult health conditions due to the denial of the necessary treatment, as 10 prisoners with severe illness frequently fall inside the prison because of the lack of provision of required health care. Moreover, a report prepared by 10 activists inside the prison stated that there are risks to the lives of a number of sick patients, while the prison authorities continue their procedures in preventing medicines and refusing to transfer them to outpatient clinics, in addition to the poor public health conditions inside the prison.</p>

<p>Bahrain&#39;s prisons contain thousands of prisoners, including nearly 4,000 prisoners on issues related to freedom of expression and the political situation in Bahrain. Many of them suffer unfair and inhuman prison conditions, and about 600 prisoners recently went on hunger strike to protest against poor conditions and mistreatment inside the prison. Hunger strike is the way which the prisoners resort to every time to demand an improvement in their conditions.</p>

<p>On the conditions in Bahrain&#39;s prisons, Human Rights Watch said in a statement issued in October 2019 that the prison authorities in Bahrain &quot;arbitrarily deprive prisoners of urgent health care, refuse to present them to specialists, and do not reveal the results of their medical examinations; authorities also withhold medication as a form of punishment related to detainees&rsquo; prominent roles in the opposition and protests&quot;.</p>

<p>&nbsp;Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East division at Human Rights Watch said: &ldquo;It is shameful that the Bahraini authorities are denying prisoners the medical care they urgently need, sometimes putting their lives at risk.&rdquo; He added: &ldquo;Many of these people should not have been imprisoned at the first place, and arbitrary deprivation of medical care may amount to extrajudicial punishment&quot;.</p>

<p>On this day, BCHR calls on the authorities of Jaw Central Prison and all prisons in Bahrain to abide by the provisions of international law and standards for human rights in treating prisoners. Bahrain, as a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, is legally obliged to respect, protect and fulfill &ldquo;the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health&rdquo; of detainees and prisoners. Furthermore, the Nelson Mandela Rules stipulate in Rule 27 thereof that prisoners whose condition requires specialist treatment must be transferred to specialized institutions or to hospitals outside the prison when such treatment is not available in prison.</p>

<p>BCHR calls on the government of Bahrain to take necessary measures to reduce violations and stop ill-treatment of prisoners, especially those related to medical care, and to develop strict laws that protect prisoners from being subjected to violations and hold accountable those found to be involved.</p>

<p>On the International Migrants Day, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and the Bahrain Interfaith Center call on the government of Bahrain to pay special attention to the suffering of domestic workers in the country.</p>

<p>On December 18 of each year, the world celebrates the &quot;International Migrants Day &quot;, to highlight the issue of migration and the profile of migrants from their countries of origin to other countries. On this day, the United Nations announced that migration, throughout human history, was a courageous expression of individuals&#39; determination to overcome difficulties and seek a better life. The UN has made it clear that globalization and progress in communication and transportation have led to an increase in the number of people who have the desire and ability to move to other places.</p>

<p>Concerning Bahrain and the Gulf States, the term (migrant labor) is not a current one, and another term is used which is (foreign labor) or (expatriate labor). The United Nations&#39; International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates the number of migrants worldwide at about 214,000,000, about half of whom are women. The organization warns that the global financial and economic crisis has exacerbated the conditions of women migrant workers, especially in the developing countries. Migrant workers around the world face policies and procedures of discrimination and abuse, including low wages. Bahrain is home to more than 438,000 migrant workers, most of them from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Eritrea.</p>

<p>In Bahrain, migrant women face multiple forms of discrimination and harassment at work. For example, migrant domestic workers in Bahrain - estimated of about 70,000 - suffer discrimination and some manifestations of racism against the background of differences in religion, sect, or race, as well as insulting and degrading violations.</p>

<p>Migrant workers find themselves obliged to leave their home countries in search of an appropriate income. Many of them had to pay exorbitant fees to facilitate immigration and find a job, and in the hope of obtaining better work opportunities in Bahrain. However, they are often surprised when they arrive that the high cost of living and the nature of work available are not equivalent with the money they had to pay to come to the country.</p>

<p>On this occasion, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) publishes, in association with the Bahrain Interfaith Center, a report on migrant domestic workers in Bahrain. The report deals with files related to the rights of this group in society, including the strengthening of laws that guarantee the care and respect of freedom of belief and religion, for both citizens and migrant workers alike. In addition, the report urges the government to develop the laws related to domestic workers, in a manner that respects international standards and achieves security and commitment to the rights of this group, including the rights to practice religious rituals and the freedom of belief.</p>

<p>BCHR and Bahrain Interfaith call on the local and international community to pay special attention to the suffering of migrant domestic workers in Bahrain, and call on the government to: ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; as well as to ratify the relevant International Labor Organization treaties, including Convention No. 97 (1949) on labor migration, and Convention No. 143 (1975) on migration in abusive situations; and to promote equal opportunities and treatment for migrant workers.</p>

<p>Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Bahrain Interfaith published this&nbsp;study which aims to discuss the conditions of domestic workers, and to propose solutions for their improvement.Methodology: This paper primarily relies on secondary data, scholar books, and articles, as well as research reports published by international NGOs, organizations and institutions from Bahrain and the Bahraini Ministry of Labor website.</p>

<p>Results: The average number of domestic workers has decreased during the past two years in Bahrain. The government of Bahrain had executed several steps to reform this situation, but unfortunately, it was insufficient.</p>

<p>Discussion: Some solutions were proposed to the Government of Bahrain, the employers, and employees to maintain appropriate working conditions for all parties.</p>

<p>Conclusion: Freedom of religion in Bahrain, for both citizens and migrant workers, needs to be improved by enhancing the laws that protect it. Moreover, the laws concerning the domestic workers must be upgraded and improved to ensure their religious freedom and basic human rights.</p>

<p><a href="https://bahraininterfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Domestic-worker... here to read it fully </a></p>

<p>As the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), we are writing to express our deepest concern over the cases of death row inmates Mohamed Ramadhan Issa Ali Hussain and Hussain Ali Moosa Mohamed. The verdict on their case has been delayed to 08 January 2020.</p>

<p>They were sentenced to death in December 2014 for their alleged involvement in the explosion in al-Dair on 14 February 2014 that resulted in the death of a policeman. They took the judgment to the Appeal&rsquo;s Court, on the grounds that they were falsely accused, tortured and coerced to confess to a crime they had not committed.</p>

<p>On 16 November 2015, the Bahraini Court of Cassation rejected their final appeal and upheld their death sentence. The two men are now at imminent risk of execution.</p>

<p>BCHR therefore urges the international community to condemn the high number of death sentences passed in the country; to call for an official moratorium on all executions; to call for a review of all death sentences to ensure that the trials in question adhere to international standards; and to continue makimg reference to Bahrain in the EU and Member States&rsquo; statements under item 4 in the upcoming sessions of the UN Human Rights Council;</p>

<p>We call on the Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, the Council and the Member States to systematically raise the concerns about the violation of human rights in Bahrain and to consider the introduction of targeted measures against those responsible for grave human rights violations.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>BCHR also calls on the Government of Bahrain to:</p>

<p>&bull;Postpone the verdict to a later date in the cases of the Mohamed Ramadhan Issa Ali Hussain and Hussain Ali Moosa Mohamed in view to ensure an outcome of a trial that has fully complied with international fair trial standards that excludes evidence obtained under torture, and without recourse to the death penalty;</p>

<p>&bull;Cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteurs (notably on torture, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and belief, independence of judges and lawyers, and human rights defenders) and to issue a standing invitation in their favour;</p>

<p>&bull;Allow an official delegation of Members of the European Parliament and civil society representatives to visit prisons concluding for the purposes of making contact with detained human rights defenders;</p>

<p>&bull; Release immediately and unconditionally Mr. Rajab, for any remaining charges against him to be dropped, and for the authorities to ensure that, pending his release, he is not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment and has regular family visits and access to lawyers of his choice, as well as adequate healthcare;</p>

<p>&bull;Abide by their international obligations and commitments to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and ensure a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders;</p>

<p>&bull;Deplore the poor prison conditions in the country and the use of torture by Bahraini security and prison personnel;</p>

<p>&bull;Refrain from all torture, cruel and degrading treatment of detainees, to fully investigate all allegations of violation of basic rights of prisoners and torture and to bring the perpetrators to justice;</p>

<p>&bull;Release all illegally detained prisoners, including human rights defenders arbitrarily arrested, charged and convicted for carrying out their legitimate and peaceful human rights activities;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the BCHR, we recommend that the government of Bahrain abolishes the death sentence legally and judicially, and invite them to join the second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the abolition of the death penalty.</p>

<p>Alternative penal laws are among the pioneering ideas in which contemporary society addresses the problem of overcrowded prisons. As human thought has evolved, a new way of human interaction with the prisoner evolved according to a reformist vision, reducing pain and suffering, and easing economic burdens on the state and its financial system. This way also reduces the constant psychological and physical exhaustion of inmates and their families.</p>

<p>Recently, Bahrain witnessed the release of a number of prisoners within the Alternative Penal Code that Bahrain began to implement in early 2018. Among the prisoners who were released within this law, are prisoners who face cases related to the political situation in Bahrain. Previously, in November, the Bahraini authorities released three women within the same law, and then four other women were released.</p>

<p>After the Bahraini team won the Gulf Cup, a number of prisoners sentenced in various cases with different sentences were released gradually. They were from those who had served half of their sentence and who, according to official statements, numbered 800. The largest proportion of those released were prisoners of foreign nationalities, who were sentenced in Bahrain in drug trafficking and other criminal cases.</p>

<p>Indeed, the number of prisoners associated with the political crisis in Bahrain is no less than 4000 people, according to unofficial statistics, which is a large number for the total population of 1.6 million, in a country whose citizens do not exceed 45 percent. Despite the small number of released politicians, there is only a few days or months left of the sentence issued against the largest number of them, with a very limited number of those who still have five years of their sentences to serve.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) believes that the beginning of the application of the Alternative Penal Code is a positive step in the right direction, and it is a step that will ensure justice for prisoners who have been subjected to harsh sentences in politically tense conditions. This step will contribute to clear the atmosphere in front of any corrective process for the deadlocked political track since 2011.</p>

<p>However, it is evident that the implementation of the law is very slow, especially considering the number of complaints of ill-treatment in prisons, and the denial of access to medical care and medicine. Additionally, this law was started nearly two years after the King of Bahrain ratified the same law on July 17, 2017.</p>

<p>BCHR considers that the steps to release political prisoners in Bahrain are still in need of a clear official intention to do so. Despite being a positive step, the implementation of the Alternative Penal Code needs more steps to support it in order to become a fixed law implemented in accordance with specific and clear criteria for every person to whom the law applies and includes prisoners who face clear political issues and issues related to freedom of expression and opinion.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, BCHR, through this statement, calls on the Bahraini authorities to lay down a clear executive plan for the implementation of the Alternative Penal Code, and to extensively include political prisoners and prisoners of conscience within this law.</p>

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) is highly concerned about the cases of Mohamad Ramadan and Hussain Moosa, sentenced to death, and therefore, urgently calls for the stop of all death sentences in Bahrain.

In December 2014, the two men were sentenced to death following a bombing that killed a police officer in the village of al-Dair on 14 February 2014.

In 2015, the Court of Cassation upheld the death sentence of Muhammad Ramadan and Hussein Musa for their alleged involvement in the killing of a policeman. Both were tortured by interrogators resulting in enforced confessions.

Today, on 08 January 2020, the Fourth Supreme Court of Appeals upheld the death sentence of both men. The court based its judgment on confessions obtained under conditions of torture, where detainees were subjected to ill-treatment and incommunicado detention in circumstances of enforced disappearance.

Human rights organizations report that Hussain Moosa and Mohamed Ramadan were severely tortured which led to extracted confessions, which served as the main evidence in their trial for the murder of the policeman, Sayed Mohamed Faqir during a bombing in the village of al-Dair.

International standards, including the "Arab Charter on Human Rights", which Bahrain ratified, stipulate that countries that adopt the death penalty must use this punishment only for "the most serious crimes", and in exceptional cases. Many human rights defenders and organizations issued urgent appeals to rescue detainees Mohamed Ramadan and Hussain Moosa, calling on the Bahraini authorities to retry them in accordance with international standards of fair trial, and to stop extracting confessions under torture.

Based on the above, BCHR urgently calls on the Government of Bahrain to:

• Immediately refrain from the application of the Death Penalty against Mohamed Ramadan and Hussain Moosa;

• Commute all death sentences;

• Establish a moratorium on the death penalty with a view to abolition;

• Investigate and prosecute all acts of torture, mistreatment, enforced disappearance;

• Grant immediate access to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions;

• Establish procedures to ensure the fairness of all criminal trials and appeals.

<p>The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) issued a <a href="/sites/default/files/pictures/2019%20Updates%20ENGLISH%20VERSION%202.pdf">report </a>which reviews the situation and the violations on human rights in Bahrain throughout 2019. The report covers different important headlines including prisons and conditions of prisoners, death sentences, the violations against women and children and so many others.</p>

<p>Civil and military courts continue to condemn and imprison peaceful opponents, including prominent human rights defenders and opposition leaders, on the pretext of protecting national security.</p>

<p>In light of the international community&rsquo;s continuing dealing in a shameful way with human rights issues in Bahrain, especially the humanitarian and rights anguish of prisoners, the authorities did not held accountable those responsible for torture and other forms of ill-treatment despite the establishment of monitoring mechanisms as recommended by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), which was created in the wake of the popular protests in 2011.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>