Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) has compiled a brief summary of the Joint Communications Report, released by the Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council on 23 Feb, 2017. The report documents human rights violations from recent complaints they have received and taken up with respective governments. The summary by ADHRB consists of all the cases raised for GCC States (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman) and Yemen.
Access the full summary here: GCC Cases Raised in the HRC 34 Special Procedures Joint Communications Report
See the section written on Bahrain below:
Bahrain
Complaint: 04 Jul 2016, Bahrain, JUA, BHR 3/2016
Mandate(s)
- arbitrary detention
- freedom of opinion and expression
- freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- health
- human rights defenders
- torture
Communication Summary and Findings
Information received concerning Mr. Nabeel Rajab who has been repeatedly arrested and has served several prison sentences as a result of his human rights work and for leading a pro-democracy uprising in 2011.
“Concern is expressed at the arbitrary arrest, detention and charges brought against of Mr. Rajab, as well as the raid of his residence and the confiscating of his personal electronic equipment, and the that these actions appear to be directly related to the exercise of the right to freedom of expression through his peaceful and legitimate activities advocating for human rights in Bahrain. Grave concern is expressed at the alleged placement of Mr. Rajab in prolonged solitary confinement and the consequent deterioration of his health status, which may require access to specialized medical treatment. Finally, we express concern at the continued use of repressive legislation that constitute restrictions to the right to freedom of expression that are incompatible with international human rights law.”
Complaint: 07 Jul 2016, Bahrain, JAL, BHR 2/2016
Mandate(s)
- freedom of opinion and expression
- freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- human rights defenders
Communication Summary and Findings
Information received concerning the alleged condemnation of Mr. Ali Salman to 9 years of imprisonment as well as the suspension of Al Wefaq National Islamic Society.
“We express particular concern the measures undertaken against Al-Wefaq, including the ordering of its dissolution and blocking of its website, represent limitations to the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association that are incompatible with the standards of international human rights law. Serious concern is expressed about the broader impact of the above allegations, in particular the criminalization of speech, which may have a “chilling effect” on civil society and human rights defenders, particularly on individuals exercising their rights to freedom of association and expression, such as political activists, human rights defenders and organizations.”
Complaint: 08 Jul 2016, Bahrain, JAL, BHR 4/2016
Mandate(s)
- freedom of opinion and expression
- freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- human rights defenders
Communication Summary and Findings
Information received concerning allegations of a travel ban imposed on human rights defenders, Mr. Hussain Salam Ahmed Radhi, Ms. Ebtesam Abdulhusain Ali-Alsaegh, Mr. Ebrahim Al-Demistani and Mr. Abdulnabi Al-Ekry in an act of reprisal for their cooperation with the United Nations Human Rights Council, and their human rights work through the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association.
“Grave concern is expressed at the allegations that the travel bans issued against Mr. Radhi, Ms. Ali-Alsaegh, Mr. Al-Demistani and Mr. Al-Ekry constitute acts of reprisal for the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association in relation to their human rights work, including in seeking to cooperate with the United Nations, its mechanisms and representatives in the field of human rights, namely with the Human Rights Council. Additional concern is expressed about the broader effect of the imposition of travel bans as a means of preventing the legitimate exercise of rights, which may have a chilling effect on human rights defenders and civil society as a whole, particularly those with dissenting opinions, exercising their rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression.”
Complaint: 10 Aug 2016, Bahrain, JUA, BHR 5/2016
Mandate(s)
- arbitrary detention
- freedom of opinion and expression
- freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- human rights defenders
- independence of judges and lawyers
- migrants
- privacy
- religion or belief
- terrorism
Communication Summary and Findings
Information received concerning systematic persecution and repression of the Shias in Bahrain through undue restrictions to their rights to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including: dissolution of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, shutting down of faith based organizations, restriction on the practice of Khums, harassment of Shia clerics, restrictions on Friday Prayers and peaceful assembly, denaturalization of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim and other Shias, discriminatory treatment of Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace in prison and the travel ban imposed on Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman. Alleged victims: 28
“While we do not wish to prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, we are deeply concerned by the systematic persecution and repression of the Shia population, religious leaders, peaceful dissidents, including human rights defenders, in Bahrain based on their religion or belief. Concerns are expressed at the harassment of the religious clerics through arbitrary arrests, detention and interrogation; violation of freedom of expression, including by criminalizing legitimate speech and undue restriction to access to the Internet. Additional concern is expressed at the restrictions of movement and freedom of 6 assembly and association of the Shias, including for Friday prayers. Further concern is expressed at the unfair processes of denaturalization of many dissidents and religious clerics that lead to statelessness and arbitrary deportation. We are also concerned at the discriminatory treatment and the lack of medical attention to Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace.”
Complaint: 15 Aug 2016, Bahrain, JAL, BHR 6/2016
Mandate(s)
- executions
- independence of judges and lawyers
- torture
Communication Summary and Findings
Information received concerning the alleged lack of investigation into torture and other ill-treatment of Mr. Mohammed Ramadan, a Bahraini citizen, resulting in a false confession that led to his conviction and the imposition of the death penalty.
“Concern is expressed at the absence or at least serious delay of a thorough, independent and impartial investigation or prosecution into the allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Mr. Mohammed Ramadan and the continued upholding of his conviction and imposed death sentence following judicial proceedings that do not appear to have fulfilled the most stringent guarantees of fair trial and due process, particularly in connection with the reliance on false confessions extracted under torture as a basis for the verdict. While we welcome the opening of a new investigation into the allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Mr. Ramadan, we express concern at the entrusting of this important investigation to the same State institution, the Ombudsman’s Office, whose earlier investigations raised serious doubts regarding their independence, professionalism and thoroughness.”
Complaint: 25 Nov 2016, Bahrain, JAL, BHR 7/2016
Mandate(s)
- freedom of opinion and expression
- freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
- human rights defenders
Communication Summary and Findings
Information received concerning allegations of a travel ban imposed on human rights defenders, Mr. Mohammed Jawad, Ms. Nedal Al-Salman, Mr. Hussain Salam Ahmed Radhi, Mr. Mohammed Al-Tajer and Ms. Enas Oun in an act of reprisal for their cooperation with the United Nations, and their human rights work through the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and of association.
“Grave concern is expressed at the travel bans issued against Mr. Mohammed Jawad, Ms. Nedal Al-Salman, Mr. Hussain Salam Ahmed Radhi, Mr. Mohammed AlTajer and Ms. Enas Oun, in connection to their human rights work and exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and association. We also express serious concern that the travel bans may constitute an act of reprisal against the above-mentioned human rights defenders for their efforts seeking to cooperate and share information with the United Nations and its mechanisms of human rights, including with the Human Rights Council and with the COP 22 of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Additional concern is expressed about the broader effect of the increased and repeated imposition of travel bans as a means of preventing the legitimate human rights work and exercise of rights, which may have a chilling effect on human rights defenders and civil society as a whole in Bahrain.”