Wednesday, 27 May 2015, Issue #48
BIRD Weekly Newsletter
In this Issue
• Mohammad Ramadan and Husain Moosa death sentence upheld • Report on Women’s Rights in Saudi • Amnesty International Petition on Bahrain •
Mohammad Ramadan and Husain Moosa death sentence upheld, despite strong allegations of torture
27 May 2015: The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) strongly condemn the death sentences upheld by a Bahrain Appeal Court today rejection. Mohammad Ramadan and Husain Ali Moosa were sentenced to death in December 2014 for their supposed involvement in a bombing incident that resulted in the death of a policeman. They took the judgement to the Appeals Court, on the grounds that they were falsely accused, tortured and coerced to confess to the crime.
Five UN experts, including the Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez, expressed “serious concern … regarding, among others, the physical and mental integrity” of the convicted individuals. Mohammad Ramadan and Husain Moosa both state that they were tortured to confess to the crime.
Read the full press release here
BIRD Publishes New Report on Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia
20 May 2015: The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy is pleased to announce the publishing of our new report entitled The Evasion of Equality: A Report on the Implementation of Saudi Arabia’s Recommendations from the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Its Causes.
In order for Saudi Arabia to move into modernity, it must discontinue its practice of discarding constructive criticism and fully incorporate international human rights standards, including those pertaining to gender equality and women’s rights.
Read the full report here
Take Action
Amnesty International:
Campaign to Protect freedom of expression in Bahrain
Insulting the King, the country’s flag and institutions or even a foreign country can lead to seven years imprisonment in Bahrain. One activist, Zainab Al-Kawaja, faces three years in prison for tearing apart a picture of the King. Another, Nabeel Rajab was sentenced in January to six months for ‘insulting public institutions (Ministeries of Interior and Defence)’ on twitter and is currently arrested on a separate investigation. Student and son of a POC Ahmad Mshaima is now serving a one year prison sentence for reading a poem considered offensive to the King. The list goes on, with tens of prisoners of conscience continuing to be held behind bars since 2011 for peacefully expressing dissent.
Sign Amnesty International’s petition here
Updates from the Ground
27 arrested including 3 children
10 sentenced to 42 years in prison
60 trials postponed
Activist Hussain Jawad released on bail and trial postponed
Wefaq leader Ali Salman’s trial postponed to June 16th
Security forces continue the use of force and excessive use of tear gas against peaceful protesters.
#TwitterNation
Weekly Highlights
EU Seek Release of Gulf Activists
When trade trumps human rights
Classified document on Bahrain rankles Britain decades later
News & Commentaries
Gulf Center for Human Rights: Bahrain: Rajab sentenced to prison, Al-Khawaja ends hunger strike, while Al-Singace’s health at risk, Abdulemam fined and Jawad released
The Intercept: In the Same Week the U.S and U.K Hide Their War Crimes by Invoking “National Security”
OMCT World Organisation Against Torture: Bahrain: Conditional release of Mr. Hussain Jawad
Front Line Defenders: Bahrain: HRD Hussain Jawad released on bail
France 24: Bahrain verdict in opposition chief trial next month
Bahrain Center for Human Rights: Two Men Ordered Deported After Bahraini Citizenship Revoked
The National: Bahrain to cut fuel, utility subsidies for expats
