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BFHR’s Symposium on the International Human Rights Day: Bahrain Systematically Infringes Human Rights The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights: A new attack on press freedom, and the OHCHR is required to publicly and clearly condemn the crimes of the occupying entityRecommendations by Int’l rights groups condemning Gaza’s horrific genocide181 Organización de derechos humanos exige una sesión urgente de la Asamblea General Sobre la base de la decisión "Unidos pro Paz" y la formación de una Corte Penal Internacional EspecialOrganizzazioni in difesa dei diritti umani richiedono una sessione urgente dell’Assemblea generale dell’Onu In base alla decisione “Unirsi per la Pace” e per la formazione di una Corte penale internazionale straordinaria181 Menschenrechtsorganisation fordert eine Dringlichkeitssitzung der Generalversammlung auf der Grundlage des "Uniting for Peace"-Beschlusses und der Einrichtung eines internationalen Sonderstrafgerichtshofs181 Une organisation de défense des droits de l\'homme demande une session d\'urgence de l\'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies sur la base de la décision "S\'unir pour la paix", et la formation d\'un Tribunal Pénal International Spécial181 Human Rights Organization Demands an Urgent Session of the General Assembly On the Basis of the “Uniting for Peace” Decision and the Formation of a Special International Criminal Court111 Organisationen der Zivilgesellschaft fordern den Schutz der palästinensischen Bevölkerung, ein Ende der Belagerung des Gazastreifens und die Freilassung aller Gefangenen.111 organizzazioni della società civile chiedono  La protezione del popolo palestinese, la fine dell\'assedio di Gaza e il rilascio di tutti i prigionieri111 organizaciones de la sociedad civil piden que se proteja al pueblo Palestino, se ponga fin al asedio de Gaza y se libere a todos los presos111 Organisations de la société civile appellent à la protection du peuple palestinien, mettre fin au siège de Gaza et la libération tous les prisonniers111 Civil society organizations call for Protecting the Palestinian people, ending the siege on Gaza, and releasing all prisonersBahrain: UN expert alarmed by health of human rights defenders in prisonA report by three human rights organizations about violations during the Ashura season in Bahrain this yearBFHR: The security authorities summoned nine citizens after they performed Friday prayers in DurazGhina Rebai: The Forgotten Prisons in Qurain Military Prison - Al-Mayadeen EnglishHuman Rights Organisations: Escalating Cases of Arbitrary Executions in Saudi Arabia Raise Concerns about the fate of Dozens Inmates on Death Row16 Human Rights Organizations Urge Bahrain to Protect Inmates on Death RowFollowing the execution of 2 Bahraini victims of torture: 3 Bahraini Human Rights Organisations: Saudi Arabia reveals its black judicial record: Relentless political executions*The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights: The arbitrary arrest of religious scholar Sanqour portends a new wave of targeting religious freedom... and resisting normalization is not a crimeA news report on the event titled “Bahrain, an Environment that Represses Press Freedom”The BFHR in cooperation with the KRC in an oral intervention at the Human Rights Council: Failing to end the normalization of relations with the authority that occupies the Palestinian territories means that the promotion and protection of human rights announced by the government will be in the Israeli way of unlimited increase of violations and repression.Joint Statement by 127 Human Rights Organizations Over the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference Calling on participants to work on stopping all forms of repression and political persecution in Bahrain.BFHR’s panel, PoCs’ families: Our beloved ones are victims of the systematic retribution; GoB’s oversight bodies are implicatedPrisoners of Conscience in Bahrain’s Jau Prison: We will have to go on an open strike if the deteriorating situation is not addressed The Bahrain Forum documents the violations against the prisoner of conscience Ahmed Jaafar166 organizations from more than 21 countries, including the Bahrain Forum for Human Rights, call on the international community for emergency aid and for lifting sanctions on SyriaBFHR’s symposium: Supporting prisoners of conscience is a human and moral duty172 Zivilgesellschaftliche und menschenrechtliche Organisationen und Netzwerke  fordern ein Ende der humanitären Katastrophe im Jemen, die Aufhebung der Blockade und die Stiftung des Friedens unter den Jemeniten. rete e organizzazione legale e civile172 pretendere di fermarsi catastrofe umanitaria nello Yemen, revocando l’embargo  e costruendo la pace tra gli yemeniti172 Red y organización civil y de derechos humanos Pide el fin de la catástrofe humanitaria en Yemen, levantando el bloqueo y construyendo la paz entre los yemeníes172 Network and human rights and civil organization calls for an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, lifting the blockade and building peace among Yemenis162 Bahraini political prisoners demand provision of humane conditions in the regime’s prisonsThe BFHR organizes a photo exhibition about human rights violations in front of the Human Rights CouncilA news report on the attendance of the BFHR at the Universal Periodic Review in GenevaA symposium by the BFHR, SALAM DHR and GIDHR issuing the joint report \'Bahrain: The Lost Religious Tolerance (2)’The participation of Ghina Rebai, researcher in the Bahrain Forum for Human Rights on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, and Arbitrary Judicial Rulings in Bahrain, in the UPR pre-sessions145 Networks and Human Rights Organization Condemn the Assault on Dr. Aziz Ghali, President of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights41st session of the UPR Working GroupMemorandum of Understanding with the UN High Commissioner and Bahrain’s National Plan for Human Rights: Rights concerns over the seriousness of the authorityA written statement by the Khiam Center and the Bahrain Forum in the Human Rights Council on: Violations of political rights in Bahrain Arbitrary Arrests in Bahrain (2011 – 2021)Bahrain Forum for Human Rights commenting on the Ministry of Labor and Social Development’s banning the candidacy of members from a longest-standing rights association in the country: the procedure is a disappointing message to the High Commissioner confirming the miscarriage of freedom of association and the perpetuation of political isolationMembers of the advisory body of the Bahrain Forum for Human RightsBFHR: Security authorities force activist Ali Muhanna to sign a pledge not to demonstrate in solidarity with prisoners of conscienceParmi eux se trouve le Forum de Bahreïn pour les droits de l\'homme .. 99 coalition, réseau, organisation de défense des droits humains  condamnent le coup d\'État militaire au Soudan Il salue le peuple soudanais pour avoir résisté à son renversement et traduit les putschistes en justice Il appelle les Nations Unies et l\'Union européenne à ne pas le reconnaîtreEntre ellos se encuentra el Foro de Derechos Humanos de Bahrein ... 252 redes y organizaciones de derechos humanos condenan la decisión del gobierno de ocupación y apartheid sobre las seis organizaciones palestinas de la sociedad civil y de derechos humanosParmi eux se trouve le Forum de Bahreïn pour les droits de l\'homme…252 réseauxet organisations de défense des droits humainsThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights: Security authorities use excessive force to suppress two demonstrations against normalization with the Zionist EntityA symposium by the KRC and the BFHR on the sidelines of the 47th session of the Human Rights Council entitled “Bahrain: The Reality of Political RightsBFHR: Among them is a football player… The Bahraini authorities arrest four citizens for inciting hatred against the regime A written statement by the KRC and the BFHR to the Human Rights Council on the violation of political rights in BahrainA written statement by the KRC and the BFHR to the Human Rights Council on: The US Department of Justice’s blocking of the LuaLua Satellite Channel website and more than 30 websitesNGOs: The Bahraini Authorities Took Advantage of the Covid-19 Pandemic to Restrict the Religious Freedoms of Shia Citizens in this Year’s AshuraTémoignage d’un prisonnier d’opinion, Younis Al-Nasiri, sur les émeutes dans la prison centrale de Jau – En avril 2021 à Bahreïn. Traduit par Savine Gilibert.Testimony of Prisoner of Conscience, Younis Al-Nasiri, on Disturbances in Jau Central Prison – Bahrain in April 2021A symposium by the Khiam Center and the BFHR at the Human Rights Council on violations of political rights in BahrainThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights: US blocking of the LuaLua TV website and more than 30 media websites is a flagrant violation of the freedom of the pressHuman rights organizations demand respecting the right of the Palestinian people to resist the occupation and determine their destiny and expel the apartheid state from the United NationsCivil Society Organizations\' Memorandum for the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the right to elections in JerusalemA Memoir of the Suppression of Prison Unrest in BahrainThird Bahrain Forum and SALAM DHR Update: No Transparency by Authorities over Number of Infected Detainee Cases, and 24 Summonses issued in the Last 2 DaysBahraini human rights groups welcome appointment of Dr. Agnes Callamard as Amnesty International\'s Secretary-GeneralBahrain Forum and SALAM DHR Update: Prisoners Complain of Hunger and Infected Cases exceed 50Bahrain Forum and SALAM DHR : An Update on Prisoner COVID Cases in BahrainEuropean Parliament condemns death penalty, torture and harassment of human rights defenders in Bahrain.Ghina Rebai: How do we assess the roundup of a decade of abuse in prisons?In a webinar on the Black Decade for Rights in Bahrain: Relentless suppression of freedomsBahrain Forum for Human Rights: The Royal Court exercises religious persecution by nationalizing the Jafari endowments to undermine the independence of religious affairsThe deployment of the Covid-19 pandemic for religious persecution – A report on Ashura 2020 in BahrainForum de Bahreïn pour les droits de l\'homme: les déclarations du président français concernant les caricatures offensives contre le prophète (PSL) encouragent au discours de haine contre les musulmans*Bahrain Forum for Human Rights: French President\'s Statements Regarding Offensive Cartoons against the Prophet (PBUP) Encourage Hate Speech against MuslimsThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights emphasizes the right of Secretary-General of the Haq Movement, Mr. Hassan Mushaima, to receive the necessary treatment and obtain full freedomThree Bahraini human rights organizations: The declaration of normalization between Bahrain and the Israeli occupation entity is the most dangerous decision by the ruling authorities that undermined the concept of national sovereignty and violated local and international lawsAt a digital symposium by the Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR), the report "False Justice" was launched, with the participation of human rights and judicial figuresThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims of the Beirut explosion.Trois organisations de défense des droits humains saluent la déclaration du Haut-Commissaire aux droits de l\'homme sur les condamnations à mort au Bahreïn.Three human rights organizations welcome the statement of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on death sentences in BahrainThree Bahraini human rights organizations congratulate HRD Nabeel Rajab on his release and confirm his right and the rest of the prisoners of conscience to obtain complete freedom without conditionsThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights: The Jaafari Endowments Directorate encroach on religious freedoms by exploiting the Coronavirus crisis under government guidanceThree Bahraini organisations call on the Bahraini authorities to take measures to protect the health of detainees and free all prisoners in light of Coronavirus pandemicThree Bahraini HROs: Yemen is facing Novel Corona Virus danger while 95% of its healthcare system capacities are damaged since the beginning of the Saudi-led warThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights: The Ministry of Labor and Social Development escalates assault on civil societyBFHR responding to NIHR: You are busy denying violations while scabies cases in prisons need medical follow-up and deprivation of treatment is a main way of torturing prisonersBahrain Forum for Human Rights: The murder of Soleimani and al-Muhandis is "state terrorism" and proves that the US military bases were used to commit the violationsBahrain Forum for Human Rights: 24 cases of enforced disappearance were monitored in NovemberSALAM DHR and BFHR issue report: No Tolerance for Religious Rituals of Ashura in Bahrain54 violations of religious freedom duringNGOs In an urgent appeal to International CommunityBFHR Health of torture victim Hussein Khamis deteriorates while security members amuse themselves by calling him crazyBFHR The NIHR is lying about torture victim Hussein Khamis and instead of investigating his case it is doing what it does best circumventing and sugar-coating violationsThree Bahraini organisations call on Member States of the Human Rights Council to stand up for human rights in Bahrain at HRC41 and beyondBahrain Forum for Human Rights: 1,102 hate-inciting media materials and messages were detected in May in BahrainJSC AND BFHRThe shocking crime against 37 victims reflects the SaudiUN human rights chief deeply concerned by mass terrorism convictions in BahrainBahraini Human Rights Groups: Interior Minister a model of immunityBrief statement: Protecting Perpetrators and Prosecuting VictimsBFHR: Arbitrary sentences amounting to 680 years issued after an unfair trial of 171 Bahrainis that was based on false investigationsAnimation: Watch the full story of Hameem al-AraibiBFHR: Thank you Australia and human rights organizations supporting Hakeem al-AraibiReport: Electoral intimidationHuman rights organisations call upon Thailand to release Bahraini footballer al-Araibi who faces risk of deportation to Bahrain where he fears for his safetyThree human rights organizations launch a report that monitors electoral intimidation in BahrainReport summary Bahrain Elections Without IntegrityBahraini NGOS Condemning the decision of Germany to deport Bahraini citizen Ahmed Nawar to BahrainSheikh Ali Salman sentenced to life in prison and systematic violations increase in BahrainChased without Protection: Silence, or Prison, Death, and DeportationThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights records 1272 human rights violations in the Monthly IndicatorJOINT STATEMENT: 127 Rights groups call for immediate release of Nabeel Rajab after UN group calls his detention arbitrary and discriminatoryFour Bahraini Human Rights Organizations hold the Bahraini authorities responsible for the deterioration of the health situation of opposition leader Hassan MushaimaBFHR: Ending the security siege does not eliminate the right to hold individuals accountable legallyMonthly IndicatorThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights records 1272 human rights violations in the Monthly IndicatorBFHR: Two women arrested from Nuwaidrat on Thursday at dawn during an illegal raidThe human rights situation in Bahrain continued to deteriorate in April 2018THE ANTI TERRORISM LAWThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights calls on the OHCHR and international human rights bodies to urgently intervene to stop the death sentences in BahrainMonthly report for examining the human rights situation and monitoring violationsBFHR: Monthly report for examining the human rights situation and monitoring violationsbfhr: 145 violations were observed in one day on the occasion of February 14The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights launches the Monthly Indicator: 995 violations in January in BahrainKingdom of PersecutionBFHR: Enforced disappearance of 15 citizens from 7 different areas continuesBFHR: The Prospects of the continuation of military trial for civilian victims are crumbling and the authorities insist on intensifying sanctionsMisinformation on Amnesty International in Bahraini embassy reportBahrain: Relatives of exiled activists continue to be targeted amid ongoing unrestBFHR in response to the NIFHBFHR commenting on the sentences issued by the military judiciary: A black day in the history of justice in Bahrain"Death or Confession": a report by human rights organizations monitors the torture of civilians in Bahrain's first military trialA Crime Outside Coverage a human rights report on the grave violations in suppressing the peaceful assembly near the house of Ayatollah QassimBahraini human rights organizations welcome the statement of four UN experts on the health situation of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa QassimBahrain: UN experts welcome medical care for Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim but urge full respect for rightsThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights calls for enabling an independent medical body to supervise the health status of Ayatollah QassimBFHR: 64 peaceful protests over Ayatollah Qassim's case, twelve of them were repressed, in five daysBFHR: Enforced disappearance of 7 citizens, including 2 children, from 5 areas continuesBFHR: 20 raids and 17 arbitrary arrests in 8 areas in 3 daysBFHR to NIHRBFHR: 439 media materials and messages inciting hatred were recorded in October in BahrainBFHR: Secret military courts begin to try civilians, some of whom have been subjected to enforced disappearance for 13 monthsBahraini Human Rights Organizations: The Political Space in Bahrain is turning Dark Black amid the Dissolution of "Waad" Political Party Revealing Lack of Judicial IndependencyJaw Prison administration devises new ways to retaliateBahraini human rights organizations appeal to the international community and human rights organizations to save prisoners in BahrainBFHR: 144 hate-inciting materials by journalist Saeed al-Hamad were observedBFHR: 82 provocative media materials against the campaign #arresting_children_of_Bahrain were recordedBahraini human rights organizations submitted 13 reports to the 36th session of the Human Rights Council in cooperation with Arab and international organizationsBFHR: Enforced disappearance of 12 citizens from 4 Bahraini areas continues, one of whom has been in that state for more than one yearBFHR: 255 media materials and messages inciting hatred were recorded in September in BahrainBFHR: The enforced disappearance of five citizens from three areas of BahrainBFHR: 519 hate-inciting media materials and messages were recorded in August in BahrainFive Bahraini human rights organizations launch joint report on Bahrain 3rd UPR discussed in the UN Human Rights Council next ThursdayThe 27th UPR Session in Geneva on Bahrain's Human rights RecordBahraini NGOs Welcome Speech given by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Urge Bahraini Authorities to CooperateBAHRAIN: 'NO ONE CAN PROTECT YOU': BAHRAIN'S YEAR OF CRUSHING DISSENTFormer MP spends more than 700 days in solitary confinement in BahrainChambers of Death" is a report that monitors violations by the National Security Agency (NSA) in BahrainBFHR: The Bahraini authorities use their political dispute with Qatar to bring malicious charges against Al-Wefaq senior member, Sheikh Hassan IsaBFHR: 373 media materials and messages inciting hatred were monitored in July in BahrainBFHR: Ayatollah Qassim has been under house arrest for more than 70 days amid tight security measuresBahraini human rights organizations: The execution in Saudi Arabia is an instrument of persecution and political revenge and we demand to freeze Saudi Arabia's membership in the Human Rights CouncilBFHR: Enforced disappearances of 8 citizens from Diraz continue, and one of which exceeded 270 daysBFHR: Bahraini authorities forcibly deport wife of a dissident cleric for retaliatory and illegal reasonsUN experts urge Bahrain to investigate reports of torture and ill-treatment of rights defender Ebtisam AlsaegBahrain Forum for Human Rights: 689 media materials and messages inciting hatred have been recorded in June in BahrainBahrain Forum for Human Rights: 11 Bahraini female detainees and the Bahraini authorities put them among targets of political revengeBahraini human rights organisations strongly condemn the execution of four activists in Saudi ArabiaUrgent Appeal) Bahrain: Human rights activists are targeted after being exposed to torture in earlier periods)Bahraini Alleged Torture Victim Arrested-Rights GroupSaudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE must stop their actions that violate human rights principles following the severing of ties with QatarBAHRAIN: WOMAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER TORTURED, INCLUDING SEXUALLY ASSAULTEDBahrain - Urgent Appeal: Rights activists and bloggers are tortured and forced to suspend and resign from their activitiesBFHR: The Military judiciary in comparison with the standards and guarantees of fair trialsThe Military judiciary in comparison with the standards and guarantees of fair trialsDraft report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic ReviewGeneva 2017 Sees no Activists from BahrainHR Organizations Thank HRC Member-States for Fundamental Recommendations on Violations in BahrainFront Line DefendersFreedom HouseBFHR: Preliminary interrogations of activists are used in order to besiege their legitimate activities to promote human rights coinciding with the UPRUSCIRF : RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CONDITIONSAmnsty:Bahrain: 32 dissidents rounded up within days in clampdown ahead of UN human rights sessionRead : Bahraini authorities started harassing the religious activities carried out by citizens in preparation for Ashura Season.Read from the report : VIOLATION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOMRead : the number of victims who have a legal or special statusRead : The number of violations by month in 2016BFHR Issues Its Annual Report: Violations became More Systematic, 2389 Violations Documented in 201618 Commitments on Faith for RightsBirut Declaratione on Faith for RightsGIDHR : Updates on the Crackdown on Human Rights in the GulfAmnsty : Bahrain Disastrous move towards patently unfair military trials of civiliansArchive :The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR) held its sixth conference under the title "The International Community and Challenges of Human Rights Reform in Bahrain"Archive : Rights activist Sultan: Authorities in Bahrain are avenging human rights defenders and suppressing their freedom of expressionArchive : Salam for Democracy and Human Rights: Bahrain has failed to implement the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendationsArchive : Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (GIDHR): The Bahraini authorities deny Shia citizens the right to worship and to practice their religious beliefsArchive : Human Rights Activist Mohammed Khalil: The Terrorism Law created a fertile ground for the continuation of torture and ill-treatmentReport : The Missing JusticeRebort : the Effectiveness of the National Institute for Human Rights NIHROpening statement of the Sixth International ConferenceThe Right to Independent JudiciaryReporters Without Borders described the official royal speech as brazen lyingThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR)said that sentencing Bahraini journalist Faisal Hiatt to three months in prisonwithThe Bahrain Forum: the Bahraini authorities are working on a project of abolishing the Shiite community from the political presence by a royal decisionThe Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR) paper during a parallel session in the Human Rights Council: the Saudi Authorities are Committing the Century’s Massacre against the Yemeni ChildrenYoussef Rabif before the Human Rights Council: criticizing the rulers is not a crime and not a reason for the sectarian and ethnic discrimination and deprivation of health care in BahrainYoussef Rabih: This decision reveals clearly that the government is walking in the opposite direction of the international commandments and announces the Bahraini government’s failure to implement Bassiouni’s recommendationYoussef Rabih before the Human Rights Council: We urge you to protect the freedom of political activity in BahrainThe speech of the Bahrain forum for Human Rights in cooperation with the Khiam Rehabilitation Center in front of the Human Rights CouncilThe Bahrain forum for Human Rights (BFHR) discussed the recent developments in Bahrain with officials from the European Union and ParliamentBahrain Forum for Human Rights condemns preventing the Emirati academic Abdul-Khaleq Abdullah from entering ManamaBFHR: Exiling Sheikh Khojasteh is a Bad Message for the UN Commissioner Delegation in BahrainBFHR: The Bahraini Judiciary Resends the Message of “Sectarian Persecution” to Geneva by Accusing Al-Mishal of Malicious ChargesRabie: Arresting Milad, the Opposition Leader, and Acquitting the Security Member Accused of Firing Shotgun Pellets are Clear Proofs that the Judiciary is disclaiming the International StandardsBFHR Launches its Report Regarding Freedom of Assembly: the Bahraini Authorities Rejected 149 Notifications for Peaceful Assemblies since 2015BFHR: President Obama Should Call on the Gulf Rulers to Allow their People to Participate & Stop the Prosecution against Shiites in BahrainThe final report of the fifth international conference for human rights 2016Bahrain forum welcomes the statement of the US State Department and calls on the Bahraini authorities to stop justifying its failure to improve the human rights situationBahrain Forum for Human Rights condemns preventing the Emirati academic Abdul-Khaleq Abdullah from entering ManamaBFHR: Exiling Sheikh Khojasteh is a Bad Message for the UN Commissioner Delegation in BahrainBFHR: The Bahraini Judiciary Resends the Message of “Sectarian Persecution” to Geneva by Accusing Al-Mishal of Malicious ChargesRabie: Arresting Milad, the Opposition Leader, and Acquitting the Security Member Accused of Firing Shotgun Pellets are Clear Proofs that the Judiciary is disclaiming the International StandardsNGOs: Shockingly unlawful execution of prominent Saudi scholar Sheikh al-Nimr in appalling violation of right to lifeSerious concern for Fadhel Radhi Bahraini activist detained in ArmeniaBahrain Forums: journalist Mahmoud Jaziri arrested arbitrarily new violation against journalistsAn Appeal from Human Rights organizations to drop the death sentences based on confessions extracted under tortureBFHR: We made 11 complaints to the United Nations about the attacks on the authorities Alashouraiah events that will last for two weeksBHFR calls upon UNESCO in a speech on the occasion of World Teachers' Day to review its OpinionRegarding King Hamad’s Award#Third Session: Bahraini Regime Endangers International Peace and SecuritySecond Session: Key Word to Describe Actios in Bahrain is ArbitraryBahraini Regime Breaches Code of Criminal Procedures: Unfair TrialsOpening Session: Violations in Bahrain are Criminal OffensesExecutive Session of 4th International Conference Urges Just Trial for Sheikh Ali Salman26Human Rights NGOs: Arrest of Nabeel Rajab confirms the Bahraini Government’s hostility towards human rights defenderBahrain Forum for Human Rights declares that 58 prominent lawyers from 8 Arab countries are ready to defend Al Wefaq’s Secretary GeneraBahrain Forum for Human Rights: Stripping 72 citizens of their nationalities is a calamity of basic rights of citizenship and a moral execution37Human Rights Organizations Call for the Immediate Release of Al-Wefaq Secretary General19 Human Rights Organizations urgently call the Thailand authorities not to extradite the Bahraini youth Ali Haroun to the Bahraini government fearing from him being tortured againHolding the Bahraini government legally accountable, Bahrain Forum for Human Rights condemns raid on Ayatollah Qassim’s home by security forcesA seminar for the Bahrain Forum for Human Rights discloses facts about the grave consequences of discrimination and naturalization in relation to the absence of justice in BahrainBahrain Forum for Human Rights: Bahraini authorities are arresting women in retaliation for their demands for political changeBahrain Forum for Human Rights: Bahraini authorities are turning the right to lasting citizenship into a toy in the hands of political decisionsSaudi Arabia sentences the political dissident al-Nemer to death for exercising internationally preserved rightsYusuf Rabie: Violating Hussaini rites is an incriminated action by law and accordingly the violator has to be handed in to the justiceBahrain Forum for Human Rights: the British support for Bahrain’s government formal measures helps continue the deterioration of Human RightsYusuf Rabie: New distribution of electoral districts in Bahrain undermines equality among citizens, Cabinet document violates articles in the ConstitutionBahrain Forum for Human Rights: Arresting human rights activist Nabeel Rajab reveals to what extent repression is being exercised in the name of law by targeting human rights defendersBahrain Forum for Human Rights: Keeping Ghada Jamsheer under arrest proves the government’s repressive policiesThe authority’s new electoral district distribution reinforces sectarian oppression in BahrainBahrain Forum of Human Rights: the exclusion of the Bahraini authorities to the citizens with dropped nationalities is a built-up crimeBahrain Forum of Human Rights: the Bahraini authorities used those with withdrawn nationalities as a paper of political blackmailBahrain Forum of Human Rights: the way of arresting doctor Samahiji is humiliating and intimidatingVictims of Torture in Bahrain are in front of two systematic torture crimes and official protection for their tormentors.Bahrain Forum of Human Rights: The prisoner of conscience Hussein Al- Bannaa is on hunger strike because of mistreatment and he is handcuffed and restricted in feet16Human Rights Organizations: The Detention of Abd Al Aziz Al Abbar Corpse is an acknowledgement of the Impunity Policy in Bahrain17 Human Rights Organizations: We call on the international community to take immediate measures to stop the targeting of the Shiites and exert pressure to return Ayatollah Al-Najati to his countryDuring his meeting with a delegation of the Bahrain Forum, Kabalan demanded to stop the forced deportation of Ayatollah Al-NajatyUrgent: Twenty human rights organizations: the threat by forced deportation of Ayatollah Al-Najaty is a consecration of the sectarian oppression in Bahrain, and it is an infringement of laws systemYusuf Rabi: the Bahraini authorities are still using the tools of intimidation in the arrestsBahrain Forum of Human Rights: the invocation of the jurist Al-Musawi is a strike for the human rights work and violation pledgesBahrain Forum of Human Rights: the procrastination of the Bahraini authorities in the treatment of Mushaimeh, endangers himThe Bahrain Forum of Human Rights: the Bahraini authorities’ resorts to the Jordanian gendarmerie which is for the repression and torture purposesThe Bahrain Forum of Human Rights: on the Doctor Day, the Bahraini judiciary supports the imprisonment of Dr. Al- Samahiji for one yearYusuf Rabia: Giving priority to the security option in Bahrain reveals the dominance of the oppressive environment against human rightsCalling for the appointment of a Special UN Rapporteur of transitional justice in BahrainThe Bahrain Forum of Human Rights: the Bahraini authorities use the judiciary to issue ironic sentencesThe Bahrain Forum of Human Rights: the security services punish the childhood: it arrested the family of a baby girl and left her alone at homeBahrain Forum of Human Rights: the patterns of torture which the playwright Sadek Al-Shaabani has submitted divulges the secret of preventing the rapporteur on torture of visiting BahrainYoussef Rabih: the persistence of the security authorities to target the consultant doctors is not devoid of sectarian revengeThe Bahrain Forum of Human rights: ban the site “Bahrain mirror” by a government enemy of the internetBahrain Forum of Human Rights: security authorities are practicing policy of revenge from Bahraini families based on political backgroundsBahrain Forum of Human Rights: the Bahraini government exploited the incident of Al-Diyah to launch a wide campaign of violations"Bahrain… Policies of Oppression and Impunity": a new book for "the Bahrain Forum of Human Rights"The Bahrain Forum of Human Rights showed his concern over the safety of the photographer Ahmed Al Musawi after his subjection to hard tortureCalls for the Immediate Release of Bahrain Human Rights Nabeel Rajab in the second day of the third international conference Bahain: Ongoing Violations and ImpunityThe 3rd International Conference: Ongoing Violations and ImpunityA press conference for Arab institutions in Beirut: more than 480 Bahrain child have been arbitrarily arrested since 2011, and we call upon UNICEF to adopt an immediate humanitarian initiative concerning themThe Bahrain forum filed a complaint for FIFA: Hold the Bahraini government accountable for continuing its violations against athletes and prosecute it politicallyYoussef Rabie: the Bahraini Government is internationally embarrassed due to its failure in front of the peacefulThe forum of Bahrain Human Rights: Bahrain is not tolerating the accumulation of violations anymore, and Bassiouni confirmed the authorities lieThe announcement of the seizure and thwart of weapons smuggling with the end of 2013The Bahrain Forum addressing the Pakistani Government: don't be partners in human rights violationsAt a press conference on the occasion of two years since Bassiouni's reportIn response to the statement of the Supreme Council of judgmentDanish ambassador in Beirut: Our people respect Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja and compares him to Nelson MandelaJoint Statement on the OHCHR and the human rights situation in BahrainBahrain: Still paying a heavy price for freedomClosing Statement of 'International Conference to Support Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain"Events of International Bahraini Conference Continue for the Second Day
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statements and appeals

41st session of the UPR Working Group

 

                      

 

Universal Periodic Review

Bahrain

Joint Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review

41st session of the UPR Working Group

Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, Bahrain Forum for Human Rights, Human Rights Sentinel

 

Introduction

  1. Salam for Democracy and Human Rights (SALAM DHR) is a non-governmental human rights organisation that promotes adherence to international human rights standards and universal principles of democracy. It focuses primarily on Bahrain and other Gulf countries. It is registered in France, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, while its personnel are geographically distributed. It is prohibited in Bahrain, where the organisation nevertheless has members.
  2. The Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (GIDHR) is a non-governmental organisation based in Australia aiming to promote the respect for democratic principles, as well as establishing the human rights and social justice principles, and stopping the human rights violations in the Gulf Region in general and in Bahrain in particular.
  3. Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR) is an independent human rights organisation based in Lebanon. It seeks to promote commitment to the principles of human rights and to peruse those involved in human rights violations in Bahrain.
  4. Human Rights Sentinel is a transnational non-governmental organisation based in Ireland and promotes the global empowerment and mutual participation of civil society to foster the compliance of and adherence to human rights values, standards, and law in contexts where those fundamental principles are denied or at risk.
  5. At the 3rd cycle of the UPR Bahrain supported 139 out of 175 recommendations. SALAM DHR’s midterm assessment in 2019 assessed Bahrain’s progress.
  6. This joint submission addresses the organisations’ core concerns in respect to civil and political, economic and social rights, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and citizenship.
  7. The methodology of this report is based on the research of the contributing organisations listed above, along with statements, laws and policies set out on websites belonging to the Government of Bahrain (GoB); reports from non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others.

 

Previous UPR for Bahrain Under the First, Second, and Third Cycles

  1. Bahrain was previously reviewed during the 1st, 13th and 36th sessions of the UPR, in 2008, 2012 and 2017 respectively.
  2. In the first cycle, during the 1st session, Bahrain received nine recommendations to prioritise drafting a law on the provision of citizenship to children where the father is not a Bahraini citizen, which Bahrain accepted.
  3. In the second cycle, during the 13th session, six recommendations were made to Bahrain regarding nationality and statelessness in relation to gender discrimination.
  4. In the third cycle, during the 36th session, fourteen recommendations were made to Bahrain regarding statelessness and the right to a nationality, seven of which it accepted, and seven it noted.
  5. Since 2016, various international human rights committees have also made recommendations to Bahrain on the matter of statelessness and discrimination against women and children.
  6. Bahrain has engaged in some reforms. However, SALAM DHR continues to receive reports of torture and ill-treatment, particularly of detainees arrested on suspicion of terrorism, including minors.
  7. Most legislation criminalising the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly remains in place.  It continues to be used to detain prisoners of conscience.
  8. Many prisoners of conscience - including those detained in 2011 – remain incarcerated. Human rights defenders continue to work in a hostile environment, and impermissible restrictions on political associations remain in place.
  9. Bahrain continues to strip citizenships - often resulting in statelessness - and using the death penalty. In both cases, “confessions” are often rendered under torture and verdicts rendered by unfair trials.

 

Bahrain’s Mid-Term Review

  1. The 2019 midterm assessment conducted by SALAM DHR and BFHR indicated a fundamental lack of willingness by Bahrain to address human rights concerns raised in successive UPR cycles. Since 2011, the GoB has refused to effectively implement the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and UN human rights bodies: it has rejected appeals to release prisoners of conscience or to improve its trial procedures. Discriminatory practices remain. These practices violate freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Additionally, women remain politically and economically marginalised and migrants remain highly vulnerable. Finally, the use of the death penalty continues, despite considerable concerns about due process.
  2. The submitting organisations urge the international community to learn from these examples and to assess critically all claims of progress by the GoB.
  3. The submitting organisations implore the international community to reiterate and expand the recommendations it made in 2017.
  4. Finally, the submitting organisations call on the international community to place meaningful pressure on Bahrain to support and implement all recommendations it receives, including via adherence to legally binding conventions.

 

Economic Rights

  1. The GoB has failed to implement safeguards under the ICESCR, including the recruitment and employment of migrants. Foreign workers lack key labour protections and remain vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, violating Article 6 of the ICESCR and Article 13 of the Bahraini Constitution. Bahrain is also in violation of recommendation 114.88 from ithe 3rd UPR.
  2. The GoB has discriminated against members of Bahrain’s Shi’a community in respect to employment in the public sector. Bahrain is in further violation of Article 6 of the ICESCR, Article 13 of its constitution, and recommendation 114.88 from the 3rd UPR.
  3. There are numerous instances of domestic workers not receiving legally guaranteed 30 days of annual leave. Female workers are also subjected to a range of religious impositions and frequently suffer abuse. Additionally, a range of occupational health and safety issues are alleged. This means Bahrain is in violation of Article 7 of the ICESCR and recommendation 114.154 from the 3rd UPR and has failed to ensure that domestic workers enjoyed the contracted terms and conditions of their employment.
  4. The GoB has failed to ensure that employers abided by laws preventing employers from withholding workers’ passports. These practices fundamentally restricts workers’ rights by removing their freedom of movement. Bahrain is in violation of Article 7 of the ICESCR and recommendations 114.170, 114.171, and 114.172.
  5. Bahrain has not ratified Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise  or Convention No. 98 on the right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, meaning workers have no guarantee of rights.
  6. While Bahrain permits strike actions in some contexts, it submitted a declaration stating this does not extend to essential utilities. It has not elaborated on the meaning of “essential utilities”, meaning it could be interpreted broadly, undermining the right to take industrial action.
  7. Bahrain’s minimum wage is applicable only to the public sector, threatening the right to an adequate standard of living because.

Recommendations

  1. SALAM DHR echoes calls made by Bahrain’s National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) that Bahrain:

 

  1. Contributing organisations call on Bahrain to:
  • Ensure that discrimination in the recruitment process is ameliorated
  • Ensure that discrimination against Shi’a in the public sector is addressed
  • End discrimination against migrant workers by amending labour laws to include domestic workers
  • Clarify as precisely as possible what strikes are permitted.

 

Social Rights/Combating Racial Discrimination

  1. The GoB engages in a range of discriminatory, sectarian practices. The recent Khums case is an example, where a religious leader was arrested for misappropriation of funds and collecting money without a licence. This ignored the fact that all the correct procedures were followed. The paying of Khums is a religious obligation for Shi’a Muslims. Additionally, Shi’a clerics face harassment and prosecution.
  2. Women’s rights are violated. The Bahraini penal code states that a person who commits rape or sexual assault is exempt from criminal prosecution if the women states that she wishes to marry the offender.[i] Additionally, Bahrain’s reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women renders the convention effectively meaningless. This is shown by paragraph 52 of the Bahrain’s state report to the Committed on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. The fact this reservation remains in force means Bahrain is in violation of recommendation 114.1 from its 3rd UPR.
  3. There are concerns regarding the right to health enshrined under Article 12 of the ICESCR. Bahrain’s migrant workers have suffered significantly from the COVID-19 pandemic, both in terms of cases and economically. Bahrain’s migrant workers have had their wages by half during the pandemic. Concurrently, employers in Bahrain have been eligible for a range of government support measures. This means Bahrain is in violation of Article 7 of the ICESCR.
  4. There have also been violations of freedom of conscience with various violations of the Shi'a community's right to conduct religious rites, specifically Ashura rites. In respect to Ashura SALAM DHR recorded a total of 42 violations in 2020. These violations include:
    • Threatening organisers with long prison sentences and heavy fines, even though organisers would have implemented precautionary, safety measures. Confusingly, gyms, swimming pools, malls and others were allowed to remain open in accordance with the health measures in place.
    • Prohibiting the broadcast of commemorations via loudspeakers.

 

  1. Several violations also occurred in 2021, with several arbitrary arrests carried out, along with another 15 instances of religious scholars being interrogated.
  2. The extent of the problem is shown by the Human Rights Committee’s expression of concern and restrictions of the right to worship, and that freedom of conscience is not adequately protected in Bahrain. The discriminations faced by Shi’a groups means Bahrain is in violation of recommendations 114.62 and 114.63.
  3. As of 2022, Bahrain has taken no additional measures to address an increasing use and legitimisation of hate speech and violence against the Shi’a population. This failure to take concrete measures has worsened discrimination and the welfare of the targeted persons.

Recommendations

  1. Salam DHR and contributing partners call on Bahrain to:
    • Cease practices of religious and sectarian discrimination
    • Cease the practice of cultural oppression of excluded groups
    • Withdraw reservations to the Articles 2 and 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
    • Amend the penal code to remove the exemption from criminal prosecution for those accused of rape, sexual assaults, or immoral acts if the woman declares she wishes to marry the offender.

 

Prisoners’ Rights

  1. Article 13 of the ICESCR provides everyone with the right to education. Despite this, 221 children were arrested between 2017 and 2019. While detained, these children were denied an education. At the beginning of the 2016-2017 academic year, 400 students under the age of 18 were imprisoned.
  2. Article 13 of the ICESCR has been interpreted to mean that all members of the academic community have the right to develop and transmit knowledge. Despite this, in April 2021 Dr Ali Al-Singace had a draft of an apolitical book confiscated.
  3. Article 12 grants the right of everyone to the highest possible standards of health. Bahrain's prison authorities have failed to implement even basic standards of infection control. There are also credible reports of overcrowding of cells and denial of medical care. This means Bahrain is in violation of Article 12 of the ICESCR and recommendation 114.84 from its 3rd UPR.

Recommendations

  1. Salam DHR and collaborating organisations calls for Bahrain to:
  • End overcrowding in Jau Central Prison
  • End the practice of incarcerating those under 18 in all possible cases, release as many detained minors as possible, and provide the best possible education to those who remain detained
  • Respect its obligations under Article 13 of the ICESCR
  • Respect its obligations under Article 12 of the ICESCR and ensure effective medical treatment to all of Bahrain’s prisoners
  • Release all persons detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression or peaceful assembly.

 

Political and Civil Rights

  1. The 2018-enacted Exercise of Political Rights Law disqualified those with sentences of over 6 months along with leaders and members of forcibly dissolved political parties.
  2. In 2018, an amendment to Article 3 of decree law (no 14) of 2002 was enacted, prohibiting leaders of dissolved political societies from running for parliament. The same measure was used against those who had resigned from parliament.
  3. Consequently, the November 2018 election to the Council of Deputies systematically excluded political figures from formerly prominent political groupings such as Al-Wefaq and Wa’ad as well as human rights defenders not affiliated with any political association.
  4. The Ministry of Labour also requires that candidates for boards of directors of NGOs should be subject to security checks. This is likely meant to exclude former leaders and members of dissolved societies.
  5. The GoB’s 2017 Exercise of Political Representation Law removed the right of association for swathes of activists and people.

Recommendations

  1. SALAM DHR and co-signing organisations call on Bahrain to:
  • Abide by articles 1, 4 and 31 of its constitution
  • Fulfil its obligations on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by implementing Articles 2, 25, and 26.
  • Repeal law (no.25) of 2018, which amended Article 3 of degree law (no. 14) of 2002
  • Repeal law (no 15) of 2018, which amended decree law (no 21) of 1989
  • Withdraw the circular of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development No.2020/36/731. This document requires that the names of candidates for the board of director of NGOs should be sent to the Ministry of Labour for evaluation.
  • Lift all restrictions on the political opposition regarding candidacy and voting in parliamentary and municipal elections.
  • Restore normalcy to political life through reconsidering the decision to dissolve Al-Wefaq, the National Democratic Action Society, and the Islamic Action Society.
  • Launch a comprehensive national dialogue to resolve contentious points with the opposition, so that rights violations can end.

 

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment

  1. Bahrain is a signatory to the Convention Against Torture (CAT) and the Arab Charter on Human Rights. Torture is also prohibited under Article 19 of Bahrain’s constitution and Articles 208 and 232 of Bahrain’s penal code. These various laws are in conformity with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).
  2. Despite this, instances of torture remain widespread in Bahrain with one such example being provided by the case of Ebitsam Al-Saegh, who gave her consent for her story to be shared. A Bahraini human rights activist, Al-Seagh was subjected to torture for her human rights activism in May 2017. Ebitsam testified to SALAM DHR that she suffered physical torture and was sexually abused.
  3. Ebrahim Sarhan, a Bahraini lawyer who gave his consent for his account to be shared, was also subjected to torture in May 2017. Sarhan was kicked continuously in his privates, threatened with rape, and sexually harassed. Throughout his ordeal, officers insisted he confess to a crime he had not committed.
  4. Torture is also used as a form of reprisal against family members of activists. For example, Younis Ahmed Sultan, who gave his consent for his story to eb shared, was questioned regarding his brother. Younis was tortured, sexually harassed, and ill-treated in November 2017. A week later he was recalled to the same police station, where he was severely beaten and raped.
  5. Due to conditions in prisons several prisoners have lost their lives including Abbas Mal Allah and Hussein Barakat. Hussein Ahmed Eissa Barakat died of COVID-19 complications. He was denied serious medical care.
  6. Prisoner H.A. (identity withheld for their protection) gave testimony in which they claimed torture and ill treatment are frequently used. On 16th June 2021 they were attacked by prison officers. They stated that to this day they bore the arks of torture.
  7. Younis Abdel Aziz Mansour Ahmed Al-Nasiri was arbitrarily arrested on 31 October 2018. HHHe was beaten and suffered degrading treatment. Younis informed his family that he had been subjected to electric shocks, sleep deprivation, and being forced to stand for extended periods of time.

Recommendations

  1. SALAM DHR and contributing partners calls on Bahrain to:
    • Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.
    • Ensure that independent investigations are undertaking for all allegations of instances of torture.
    • Extend an invitation to the Special Rapporteur for Torture and facilitate regular visits.
    • Cease the practice of institutional torture and hold those who partake in torture and ill-treatment to account.
    • Improve the health conditions within Bahraini prisons.

 

Revocation of Nationality

  1. Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to nationality, and no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their nationality. Article 29 of the Arab Charter on Human Rights also states that every person has the right to a nationality and that no citizen shall be deprived of their nationality.
  2. Despite this, revocation of nationality continues to be practised by Bahrain as shown by the fact that in 2018 alone the GoB stripped 232 individuals of their nationality. That same year, a Bahraini court stripped 115 individuals of their nationality in a single trial.
  3. All power to revoke nationality in Bahrain currently sits with the Minister of Interior and is subject only to cabinet approval. Bahrain claims that these practices are done only to protect against terrorism.
  4. However, the US Central Intelligence Agency claims that while there are terrorism cases involving violence against Bahraini security, they have concerns that the GoB utilizes counterterrorism laws and punishments – specifically citizenship stripping – to prosecute and harass individuals for criticising the government.[ii] The Ministry of Interior (MoI) and other security apparatuses routinely act on wide interpretations of these ambiguous legal provisions, imposing ad hoc bans on activism or dissent.
  5. The consequence of citizenship stripping is that it effectively revokes a person’s right to have rights. Victims lose access to their bank accounts, their right to work, their pensions, and any housing allowances. Moreover, their official documentation becomes invalid, and, in some cases, their assets are liquidated by the state.
  6. Citizenship stripping also impacts the children of victims. Bahraini citizenship is only inherited through the father. Any children born after their father has lost his citizenship are born stateless, even if the mother is a Bahraini citizen.
  7. Some Bahrainis become ‘illegal aliens’ when they lose their nationality. These victims are often detained, tortured, and coerced into signing statements confessing their illegal status in Bahrain and deported soon after.
  8. Those with restored citizenship do not enjoy full rights regarding housing, social allowances, social welfare, healthcare, and continue to face discrimination. They are also barred from running for office even if their citizenship is returned. Additionally, they’ve received no compensation for any assets seized.
  9. There has been some improvement regarding citizenship stripping since the 3rd UPR cycle. Revocation via royal decree appears to have ended. Since 1 January 2018, all known incidents of citizenship stripping have been handed down by civil or military courts. However, there have been widespread fair trial violations in both courts. These violations include a lack of access to lawyers, especially during interrogation, and coerced confessions.
  10. In April 2019, by royal decree, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, restored Bahraini citizenship to 551 individuals. Moreover, the power to strip nationality was restricted to the cabinet. Under these amendments, the King and the judiciary claim that they can no longer unilaterally strip Bahrainis of their citizenship for the purpose of national security or terrorism. Such reforms have not truly rectified the issue of citizenship stripping, however.
  11. Moreover, 343 former Bahraini citizens remain stripped of their nationality. The GoB has made no comment on whether their citizenships will ever be restored.
  12. The GoB’s reforms hold no parties accountable for citizenship stripping and its harmful consequences. The King can to rule by decree via numerous avenues and Bahrain’s law-making system is loyal to him, with many of its members being relatives.
  13. In previous UPR cycles, Bahrain has received various recommendations relating to citizenship and for Bahrain to speed up the legislative process to address the problem of statelessness.

Recommendations

  1. SALAM DHR and contributing partners call on Bahrain to:
    • Align its legislation with international law. Furthermore, citizenship should only be revoked in extreme circumstances and only if the party has another nationality.
    • Ensure any decision to revoke nationality should be subject to separation of powers, judicial review, and appeal.
    • Ensure local authorities do not have the power to revoke citizenship.
    • Permit women to pass on their citizenship to their children.
    • Restore citizenship to those made stateless by revocation of their nationality.
    • Pay reparations to all victims of citizenship revocation.

 

Summary Findings

  1. Salam DHR and its partners continue to welcome the commitments made by the GoB as expressed through many, broad-based recommendations it has accepted. However, the GoB continues to pursue a strategy of accepting broad, generally framed recommendations but rejecting specific ones. By doing this, the GoB can present itself as positively engaging with the OHCHR. 
  2. The GoB has not meaningfully engaged with the OHCHR: it has not extended a standing invitation to special procedures since 2006 and continues to resist requests for country assessment missions. Its correspondence with the OHCHR continuously counters recommendations based in international human rights law and practice.
  3. The GoB has not verifiably acted on treaty body recommendations made during the reporting period. Instead, it has restored practices ruled out in the BICI report. The GoB remains in non-compliance with the OHCHR and the purpose of the UPR process.
  4. Bahrain’s failure to address the central socio-political conflict between the GoB and recognised leaders and supporters, including human rights activists from the Shi’a community, inhibits the country from developing its international human rights standards. This is expressed by its reintroduction of laws and practices ruled out by the BICI. This core conflict results in other human rights shortcomings, including:
    • The GoB’s failure to meaningfully engage with the OHCHR, including its rejection of repeated recommendations made by the OHCHR in respect to release prisoners of conscience Ali Al-Singace, or in respect and trial procedures
    • Flawed and discriminatory provisions and practices relating to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, constituting rights violations in themselves but which have aggravated other violations in relation to the administration of justice, which can be tempered by a freer media environment
    • Limited verifiable initiatives undertaken by the GoB in respect to gender equality and the rights of women and girls, including migrants, across the range of rights recognised under international standards
    • Until 2020, high rates of arbitrary citizenship stripping of Shi’a Bahrainis
    • High levels of judicial, police and intelligence, as well as social harassment of political and human rights activists
    • Cases of arbitrary arrest and prolonged pre-trial detention based on vaguely framed, flawed provisions that criminalise acts that are not internationally recognisable as criminal such as “terrorist activities”, where ill-treatment or torture are often features culminating in unfair trials carrying multiple-year sentences
    • The effective re-instatement of the death penalty for acts that are not violent or have lethal consequences
    • Targeting and abuse of human rights defenders.

 

Rights of Women

  1. In 2017, Bahrain reaffirmed aspirations to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Legislative Decree No. 70 of 2014 amending certain provisions of Legislative Decree No. 5 of 2002 rephrases some reservations to the Convention. It states that Bahrain is committed to implementing the provisions of Articles 2, 15(4) and 16 of the Convention without breaching the provisions of the Islamic sharia.
  2. In 2018 CCPR/C/BHR/CO/1, reported significant shortcomings relating to gender equality in Bahrain.
  3. Bahrain has made little progress in achieving equitable representation of women in public and political spheres, particularly in decision-making positions or ensuring that women have equal access to employment opportunities and that the labour laws do not perpetuate stereotypes about women. Female participation in the labour force has in fact decreased.
  4. Bahrain has made no verifiable progress in combating, preventing, eradicating, and punishing trafficking in persons and forced labour.
  5. It has also failed to expand labour law protection to domestic workers, ensuring that they can exercise their rights and that they are protected from exploitation and abuse, and provide access to effective legal remedies for the protection of domestic migrant workers’ rights, which are essential to preventing the gendered exploitation and abuse of migrant women.

 

Rights of the Child

  1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESC), confirm the necessity to protect children’s rights and provide a safe environment for them. Bahrain is a signatory to all three.
  2. Although Bahrain acceded to and ratified the UNCRC in 1991, signed it without reservations in February 1992, and it indeed came into force in March 1992, legal loopholes regarding children remain.
  3. Bahraini laws do not prohibit employers from employing children. Article 7 of the law stipulates that “a child’s employment shall not affect their safety, health or the essence of the rights provided for in the law, and as per the Bahrain Labour law.”
  4. At the same time, Bahrain Labour Law states in Article 24 that “it is prohibited to employ anyone who is less than fifteen years of age”, while Article 4 of the Bahraini Child Law states that “the term ‘child’ shall apply to all persons under the age of 18.” This does not comply with the UNCRC, which states that children shall not be subject of human trafficking, in any form, nor be admitted to employment before an appropriate minimum age.
  5. In Bahraini legislation, no financial assistance is given to children of low-income families. Additionally, children of families whose fathers or mothers face long prison terms are forced to work, often in dangerous conditions. Many children also must leave school when their parents are prohibited from work because they can’t obtain work permits from the security authorities. The system obliges employers not to employ a job seeker if they have not obtained a certificate of good conduct from these agencies.
  6. In addition to legal shortcomings, Bahraini authorities have used children of political and human rights activists as forms of blackmail and reprisal. For example, arbitrary deprivation of nationality has been used against children born while their parents are imprisoned for their demands for political and civil rights. Such examples include Sara, the daughter of Sheikh Ali Salman, who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment, the child Hadi Wafi Kamel Al-Majid, and the child Hussein Mortetha Abdul Jalil Al-Meqdad.
  7. In Bahrain, children are subjected to the citizenship stripping. For example, in 2016, a Bahraini court in absentia sentenced Mehdi Farhan, aged 17 at the time, to ten years’ imprisonment and the revocation of his citizenship.
  8. The authorities have also refused to grant citizenship to children who were born following the citizenship revocation of their parents, including Zahrra Saber Al-Salatnh and Ruqayya Yousef Imran. These children are deprived of the right to treatment in public hospitals because they do not have basic documents such as a passport or national ID card, and as such are denied the right to study, travel, and many other basic civil rights.
  9. There are hundreds of children arrested and sentenced on political charges in Bahrain’s juvenile prions, often from confessions extracted under torture.
  10. For example, on 14 August 2018, Salam DHR published a report on 108 cases of torture and ill-treatment, including a child in juvenile detention, Mohammed Isa Al-A’adab, who was beaten and severely harassed by the prison administration. They are also deprived of the right to adequate education and medical care.

Recommendations

  1. While many countries have been quick to implement and respect the UNCRC, Bahrain is lagging. Children are still being subjected to widespread and systematic human rights violations, including enforced disappearance and torture, sexual harassment, denial of education, and the deprivation of many basic rights guaranteed in the constitution and international treaties. Therefore, we urge the government of Bahrain to:
    • Enact legislation that protects children from the dangers of poverty or labour
    • Respect the international charters and treaties that have been ratified, especially the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
    • Fully realise children’s rights, including their rights to life, development, education, and care
    • Immediately release children in detention and fully compensate for all the suffering they have endured.

 

Conclusions and Recommendations

  1. The characteristics set out above in the findings constitute are, we believe, socio-politically unsustainable: that isolating whole swathes of a community will only result in further socio-political tension and, with it, frequent and grave human rights violations that to prevent unrest which, in turn, fuels future strife and instability. 
  2. We, the submitting organisations, implore the GoB to use this UPR review to re-evaluate and reassess its trajectory, with a view to the GoB deciding to engage with the OHCHR, notably by acting on repeated recommendations. 
  3. Such recommendations could be a declaration of a moratorium on the death penalty or the release of one or more prisoners held for protected conduct, although these would only be the beginning of a more comprehensive reform agenda.

 

 

[i] Bahrain Gender Justice & Law, United Nations Development Programme, 2018, page 14.

[ii] United States State Department Country Report Terrorism in Bahrain 2014 (footnote 168);

Cordesman, Markusen, and Jones, Stability and Instability in the Gulf Region in 2016: A Strategic Net Assessment, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), 15 Jun 2016.

Added on: 2022-05-09 12:58:44
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