Bahrain-Human Rights Violations
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Human Rights Violations in Bahrain Backgroun d Informati on Why demonstra te? Human Rights Situation Case Studies Freedom of expressio n? Excessive force To find out more
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'Silence is a war crime' Overlooking the political situation in Bahrain will not detract from the blatant human rights violations. A very brief summary of a few violations which go against articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Many links throughout, which will lead you onto sources regarding statistics and more information. - Was presented to those who were unaware that Bahrain existed let alone of the situations present- (Recommended to download if wishing to view, as hyperlinks are more easily accessible)
Transcript of Bahrain-Human Rights Violations
Human Rights Violations in Bahrain
Background Information
Why demonstrate?
Human Rights Situation Case StudiesFreedom of
expression? Excessive
forceTo find out
more
Background Information
BahrainCapital : ManamaPopulation : 1.234.571 GDP : $26.108 billion (91st)Per Capita : $23,132 (33rd)Area : 765.3 km2 (187th) - 295.5 sq mi Largest City : ManamaPresident : Hamad bin Isa Al KhalifaPrime Minister : Khalifa bin Salman Al KhalifaCurrency : Bahraini dinar (BHD) Languages : Arabic & English
Location
Background Information
Why demonstrate?
Human Rights Situation Case StudiesFreedom of
expression? Excessive
forceTo find out
more
Why demonstrate?
What are people continuing to demonstrate for?
-Democracy
-Fair elections and freedom
-Constitutional monarchy
-Deportation of foreign mercenaries
-Rewrite of the Constitution
-The end to economic and Human rights violations
-Equality for Shias- (a sect of Islam of which equate to approximately 70% of the Bahraini population)
Shias70%
Sunni30%
Active Discrimination- Electoral gerrymandering
- In Ministries- In Defence forces- Infrastructure in parts of the country-In arrests
Senior positions in the country. (2010)
Shias13%
Sunni87%
Population
Background Information
Why demonstrate?
Human Rights Situation Case StudiesFreedom of
expression? Excessive
forceTo find out
more
Human Rights Situation
-After the start of the pro-democracy protests in 2011, the police response was described as a ‘brutal’ crackdown on ‘peaceful and unarmed protestors’
-Midnight house raids in predominately Shia areas, were carried out.Article 9 (UDHR)No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
-Medical care was denied in a ‘campaign of intimidation’. Article 25 (UDHR) Everyone has the right to … medical care.
-More than 2,929 people have been arrested, with at least five having died in custody due to torture. By attending a protest you were putting yourself at risk of being arrested, tortured and in the least losing your job.
- According to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report, physical and psychological abuse was inflicted by the National Security Agency and the Ministry of Interior on a systematic basis (torture). Article 5 (UDHR) No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
- Citizens removed right of Bahraini Nationality Article 15 (UDHR)(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
Background Information
Why demonstrate?
Human Rights Situation Case StudiesFreedom of
expression? Excessive
forceTo find out
more
These are only a limited varied selection of instances which go against Articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDR).
Freedom of Expression?http://www.bahrainrights.org/issue/term/24
‘Freedom of Speech’ is non-existent in Bahrain. From the 19th November 2013, the Kingdoms local Newspaper released a statement reading that ‘People who insult His Majesty King Hamad could face up to seven years in prison or fines up to BD10,000.’ The BCHR has documented 30 cases in which citizens were prosecuted, tried or sentencedover the charge of “insulting theKing”.
Background Information
Why demonstrate?
Human Rights Situation Case StudiesFreedom of
expression? Excessive
forceTo find out
more
Article 19 (UDHR)Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
The ‘Bahrain Centre for Human Rights’ website was blocked from access in Bahrain and still sometimes is.
‘The King of Bahrain is the head of the executive, legislative and judicial authorities. He appointsthe government, its members, the judiciary and public prosecutors and he has promulgated the 2002 Constitution, without any public consultation. Therefore, he holds all powers’
Case Studies
Nabeel Rajab a prominent human rights activist has been in prison since July 2012 for charges related to freedom of expression. He had served almost three months in prison for tweeting about Bahrain’s prime minister, and has remained in prison on the basis of attending ‘illegal gatherings’ (a protest). Although due for early release on the 29th of November 2013, he is yet to be released. He is of course not the only human rights activist being unfairly treated.
Background Information
Why demonstrate?
Human Rights Situation Case StudiesFreedom of
expression? Excessive
forceTo find out
more
Photojournalist Ahmad Fardan was arrested at his home on 26 December 2013. He was brought before the Prosecution on 1 January, 2014 who ordered his detention for 45 days on a charge of “intending to participate in gatherings”. He was tortured during interrogation. ‘beaten until he passed out’ ‘sustained two broken ribs’ More info here http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/6705
After the uprising in 2011. 13 opposition leaders were arrested. Their ‘crime’ was expressing their opinions peacefully: calling for democracy, an end to corruption, opposing the monarchy. After an unfair trial the men were sentenced to between five years and life in prison.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/bahrain-high-price-telling-hard-truths-2013-12-16
Video
Use of excessive force
-As of April 2012, the number of total deaths was estimated at 90, most of which were a result of Birdshot, Gunshot, Tear gas, torture and physical abuse.
-Not only is it used to disperse protests, but police have also been seen deliberately firing it inside houses and at individuals. Tear gas commonly causes crying, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, pain in the eyes, and temporary blindness.
Visit www.stoptheshipment.org to learn more.
Background Information
Why demonstrate?
Human Rights Situation Case StudiesFreedom of
expression? Excessive
forceTo find out
more
Police fired one canister, made in Korea, at a young boy, 14 years old, named Ali. The police fired the canister at Ali's neck from a short distance, and killed him.
-Korean companies, DaeKwang Chemical and CNO Tech exported more than 1.5 million tear gas canisters to Bahrain in 2011 and 2012. The population of Bahrain is only 1.2 million people.
‘The UK government has approved over £30 Million worth of military and dual-use arms export licences to Bahrain; including assault rifles, pistols and naval guns.’
To find out more information
To find out more about the Bahraini Uprising the documentary ‘Shouting in the dark’ by Al Jazeera is recommended. Click right to view.
Click on images below to read articles from varying sources.
Background Information
Why demonstrate?
Human Rights Situation Case StudiesFreedom of
expression? Excessive
forceTo find out
more
Protests continue..
