Human Wrongs Watch
“United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned at the harsh sentences, including life imprisonment, upheld by a Bahrain appeals court against 20 Bahraini political activists.”
Demonstrators in Bahrain | UN
“He urges the Bahraini authorities to allow all defendants to exercise their right to appeal and to ensure that due process is observed,” his spokesperson added in a statement on 4 Sept 2012.
“The Secretary-General reiterates his appeal to the Bahraini authorities to ensure the application of international human rights norms, including the right to a fair trial, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
The men, who include activists Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and Ebrahim Sharif, were originally sentenced last summer to between two years and life in prison, according to media reports. The charges included espionage and “setting up terror groups to topple the royal regime and change the constitution.”
Since February, there have been clashes in Bahrain between security forces and demonstrators, a year after widespread civil protests first emerged in the Gulf country, the UN said.
Ban called again on the Bahraini Government to complete the full implementation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations. The Commission had reportedly found that Government forces had used excessive force during the crackdown in February and March 2011 and had tortured some detainees.17 recommendations
“He reaffirms his belief that there needs to be an all-inclusive and meaningful national dialogue that addresses the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis, as this is the only way to promote peace, stability and justice in the country,” Ban’s spokesperson said.
The 17 recommendations made by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry included the creation of independent bodies to investigate claims of human rights violations, the review of convictions and sentences of individuals detained during the unrest, and the avoidance of detention without prompt access to lawyers and without access to the outside world, with all cases of detention subject to effective monitoring by an independent body, the UN reports.
Bahrain’s “Campaign of Persecution”
On 23 August 2012 , a group of independent United Nations experts voiced serious concerns about the “campaign of persecution” by the Bahraini authorities against those working to promote human rights in the country, and called for the prompt release of a prominent human rights defender recently sentenced to three years imprisonment, the UN said.
“It is time for the Bahraini authorities to comply with the rights to peaceful assembly and expression and immediately release those arbitrarily detained for exercising their legitimate freedoms,” the experts said in a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
They also called for the immediate release of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, who was convicted on three charges of illegal assembly related to his participation in peaceful gatherings in favour of fundamental freedoms and democracy, including a peaceful protest to denounce the detention of fellow defender Abdulhadi Al Khawaja. Rajab was recently sentenced to three years imprisonment.
Protests, Clashes
Since February, there have been clashes in Bahrain between security forces and demonstrators, a year after widespread civil protests first emerged in the Gulf country.
“The sentencing of Nabeel Rajab represents yet another blatant attempt by the Government of Bahrain to silence those legitimately working to promote basic human rights,” said the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya.
“The Bahraini Government must immediately cease its campaign of persecution of human rights defenders in the country,” she added.
The Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, stressed that “the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly should not be subject to prior authorization from the authorities.”
Contradicting International Human Rights Law
He noted that the criminalization of people participating in peaceful assemblies for the sole reason that they did not seek the approval of the authorities to hold such assemblies contradicts international human rights law.
Rajab is also currently serving three months imprisonment for alleged libel through a social networking site. After a series of postponements, a decision by Bahrain’s Higher Appeal Court on that sentence is reportedly due to be announced today.
“The continuing repression of free speech in Bahrain runs counter to international law and standards that individuals will not be prosecuted for peaceful political speech,” said the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue.
He added, “The authorities must take all measures to guarantee the free expression of all individuals in Bahrain, whether through social media or otherwise.”
Independent experts, or special rapporteurs, are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.
UN Urged Immediate Release
On 13 April 2012, four United Nations independent human rights experts urged authorities in Bahrain to immediately release a human rights defender serving a life sentence handed down by a military court on alleged terrorism-related charges.
Bahrain’s National Safety Court, a military court, sentenced Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja to life imprisonment on 22 June last year, after he was put on trial along with more than 20 other human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteurs said in a joint press release.
Hunger Strike
The Court rejected an appeal September 2011, and Al-Khawaja’s case is being reviewed by the Court of Cassation, which is due to deliver its verdict on 23 April. Al-Khawaja has been on a hunger strike since 8 February and despite assurances from Bahraini authorities, reports and photos documenting his poor state of health continue to emerge, the UN reported.
“I am seriously concerned that Mr. Al-Khawaja’s trial and sentence are linked to his legitimate work to promote human rights in Bahrain,” said the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya. “This case is sadly emblematic of the overall treatment of human rights defenders in Bahrain.”
The Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly and association, Maina Kiai, expressed similar concerns about Al-Khawaja’s detention being directly linked to his human rights activities in the context of the on-going protests in Bahrain, the UN adds.
Clashes
“There have been renewed clashes in Bahrain between security forces and demonstrators since February, a year after widespread civil protests first emerged in the country.”
“Restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly on the grounds of national security should not be used to suppress the legitimate activities of human rights defenders and activists,” said Kiai.
The Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, voiced grave concern over the trial of Al-Khawaja and other human rights defenders who were collectively tried before a military court, despite the fact that they were civilians.
“Confessions Under Duress”
Allegations that the defendants made confessions under duress have reportedly not been investigated and evidence obtained under torture was reportedly not excluded from the trial – in contravention of international law, the human rights experts said.
“The Government of Bahrain has failed to take necessary measures to ensure the physical and mental integrity of Al-Khawaja in accordance with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners,” said the Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan E. Mendez.
The experts added that in light of his health, they strongly called on the Government of Bahrain to seriously reconsider the offer by Denmark to transfer, on humanitarian grounds, Al-Khawaja – a citizen of both countries – to Copenhagen for medical treatment, according to UN.
Independent experts, or special rapporteurs, are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not United Nations staff, nor are they paid for their work.
Read also:
‘Bahrain Must Free Prisoners of Conscience after Outrageous Verdict’
Bahrain – US-backed Regime Crushes Protest
Bahrain, a Year After – Q&A with Activist Ahmed Mohammed
U.S. Hypocrisy on Arab Spring Clear with Arms Sale to Bahrain
2012 Human Wrongs Watch
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Baher Kamal
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 
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