The undersigned express serious concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain and the insistence of the Bahraini government to use force against civil society and human rights activists. They are also involving the judiciary in political issues and the trial of these activists before military tribunals, which is in clear violation of the provisions of Article 14 of the International Covenant on civil and Political Rights and right to fair trial. As a result, harsh sentences are meted out to them simply for exercising rights and freedoms guaranteed to them under international and national laws.
The undersigned also confirm that the sentence to life imprisonment by a court of national integrity against Human Rights ActivistAbdul-Hadi al-Khawaja, is an arbitrary ruling, and a message from the authorities to intimidate all human rights defenders in the Kingdom of Bahrain, issued in violation of the provisions and rules of international conventions ratified by the Kingdom, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Defenders, which imposes an obligation on states to ensure the protection of defenders and enable them to exercise their activities in an atmosphere of freedom.
The undersigned demand the Bahraini authorities to respect its international obligations under the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to provide a safe environment for activists to exercise the rights guaranteed in the present Covenant, as well as to abide by the terms and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Defenders, and work on improving the political and security situation in the country.
The undersigned appeal to journalists, media and civil society organizations worldwide to join with us in our campaign for the release of Abd al-Hadi al-Khawaja, whose lawyers will petition the Court of Cassation to request a review of the legal proceedings on Saturday, 12/11/2011.
The Undersigned:
1 / The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists
2 / The Arab Coalition for Darfur
3 / Arabic Network for Crisis Reporting
4 / Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
5 / Human Rights Network and Al-Naserah for Democracy
6 / Egyptian Association For Transparency
7 / Egyptian Association for Scientific and Technological Development
8 / Kuwait Society for Human Rights
9 / Tunisian Observatory for Trade Union Rights and Freedoms
10 / Human Rights and Democracy Media Center, “Al-Shams” – Palestine
11 / Human Rights Information and Training Center-Yemen
12 / South Center for Human Rights
13 / Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights
14 / Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression
15 / Association of Article (57) for the Defense of Human Rights
16 / Human Rights Activist Mo’awiyah Michael Khater- Brussels
17 / Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (Monitor)
18 / Human Rights Activist Hussein Marhoun- Administrative Council Member of the Bahrain Journalists Association
19 / Human Rights Activist Eissa Algaab – Bahrain
20 / Human Rights Activist Sayyed Sharaf Muhsin Al Musawi
21 / Human Rights Activist Abdul Nabi Al-Akri – Bahrain
22 / Human Rights Activist Abdullah Hassan Bu Hassan, Member of the Promise Association- Bahrain
23 / Human Rights Activist Najeeb Al Nuaimi, – Qatar
24 / Human Rights Activist Rifa’at Mirghani Abbas Al-Amin – Sudan
25 / Human Rights Activist Sherif Al-Hilali
