The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), in cooperation with Amnesty International, Peace Media, the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, Maharat and the Gulf Center for Human Rights, organized a solidarity stand with prisoners in Bahrain and human rights defenders Nabeel Rajab and Abdulhadi Al Khawaja.
The conference was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the presence of a number of journalists from various Arab and foreign stations, as well as jurists from several organizations.
The Bahraini Human Rights hustler, Mr. Ibrahim Sarhan, opened with a talk about the tragic situation of the detainees in Jaw prison. He referred to the denial of the most basic human rights, calling the prison "cemetery of the living." He added that the government in Bahrain must abide by the laws accurately, because laws without rights are considered as nothing. He also called for the urgent need for the immediate release of Abdul Hadi Khawaja and Nabeel Rajab and all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain
It was followed by a speech of the representative of the Gulf Center for Human Rights, Mrs. Sabah Afour, which she called for pressure on the authorities to release the detainees and to ensure that all prisoners are able to receive appropriate treatment and get all their rights. It also stressed the importance and the need to end all forms of retaliation against jurists and to allow human rights organizations to operate freely from all forms of harassment.
The representative of the Maharat Society Mr. Hussein Al-Sharif, spoke about their cooperation with other organizations in order to release the detainees. Al-Sharif says that Bahrain is not alone in suffering from the suppression of freedoms, but there are other forms in most Arab countries such as Egypt and Lebanon.
Also a speech was made by Amnesty International representative Devin Kenny, who reiterated that prisoners of conscience should be released, saying that the expression of opinion is not a crime.
In addition, a statement by CPJ delegate Ignadio Delgado confirmed that the press in Bahrain suffers from repression of freedoms and public opinion, and this is professionally rejected.
Theconference ended with the Chairperson of the Peace Information Organization, Mrs. Vanessa Basil, who returned and confirmed the main objective of this stand, wich is the release of Abdul Hadi Khawaja, Nabeel Rajab and all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain.
