Two Bahrainis win High Court case, Lawlor defends Saudi detained HRDs
Today, the High Court in London issued its verdict in a case brought by two native Bahrainis against the khalifi regime. Dr Saeed Shehabi and Moosa Abd Ali lodged the case after it was confirmed by experts that the regime in 2014 had hacked into their computers and compromised their privacy. The case lasted several years before the court issued the verdict. It has finally decided to indict the Government of Bahrain for its criminal actions. The verdict is a victory for justice, rights and human and state sovereignty. The audacity of the Bahraini regime to wage a transnational attack on individuals that had not committed any punishable crime is shameless and criminal. Judge Knowles based his decision to dismiss the defence of the Government of Bahrain on two fundamentals: that states are not immune from prosecution and that the hacking of the computers can cause psychological and not just physical trauma as a form of injury. Jeremy Corbyn MP tweeted: Today, the UK High Court indicted the Bahrain government for hacking the computers of British-Bahraini activists. This is a crucial step towards justice. It’s a reminder of the brutality of Bahrain’s security services that the UK government continues to fund and support.
As the 12th anniversary of Bahrain’s Revolution approaches preparations are underway to mark it in style. Yesterday an Early Day Motion (EDM 843) was tabled at the UK Parliament to mark the pro-democracy uprising. It noted the continued protests “over 200 years of the AlKhalifa ruling dictatorship, state repression and structural inequalities, which authorities brutally crushed”. It says that “Hassan Mushaima, Dr Abduljalil AlSingace and Abdulhadi AlKhawaja, remain behind bars and calls “for their immediate and unconditional release”. The EDM “decries that Bahrain holds 26 prisoners on death row at imminent risk of execution, many of whom allege torture including Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa. It also condemns UK’s support to the regime which “has failed to lead to demonstrable human rights or democracy improvements and yet continues the provision of assistance through the Gulf Strategy Fund despite its repeated implications in violations of international law and cross-party calls for its suspension;”
The Bahraini opposition held a landmark conference to review the political, organizational and dynamic situation in order to prepare for a strong programme of civil resistance action against the hereditary dictatorship. The regime was angry that Bahrainis are now more united than every in their struggle to achieve better results. The khalifi mouthpieces were mobilized against native Bahrainis who have escalated their civil resistance to the reactionary, corrupt and torturous regime. In Bahrain most towns and villages are planning to mark the anniversary in their own peaceful and civilized ways.
In a statement Bahrain’s Prisoners of Conscience said: “Are we sentenced to a slow death? We have been surprised by the intransigence and denial (of wrong doings) by Jau prison’s administration; yet we will continue our peaceful movement until our just demands are met”. Political prisoner Salman Ali Salman who has been complaining of his detention with other common law criminals has been transferred to hospital after his condition worsened. He has been on hunger strike since 15th January. Another political prisoner, Mohsin Baddao from Duraz has decided to let out a high cry from within. He has been under intensive methods of persecution but remained quiet for long. He has now shouted for help and called for medical treatment for his various ailments. In an audio message, a third prisoner, Sayed Ahmed Sayed Mahdi has given a graphic description of the ill-treatment of other political prisoners. Taher Sayed Amin described the serious lack of rights in Jaw Prison. Other prisoners who cried for help include Ali Hassan Hammad and Ali Hassan Al Aradi. Khalil Al Qassab has appealed to Amnesty International to put pressure on the khalifis to provide the basic rights of prisoners. Also, Mujtaba Jaffar Fateel has complained of the policies of humiliation adopted against the political prisoners. The wife of Sayed Ahmed Ali Mohammad, from Al Malikiyah Town has demanded to know his fate after a long period of news blackout with no contact from him. He joined other prisoners to protest against the policies of the prison officials. Political prisoner, Mohammad Hassan Al Qayem has complained of the lack of freedom of religious freedom inside the jail.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor tweeted: “I’ve written to the Government of Saudi Arabia expressing concerns over the continued arbitrary detention after the expiry of their sentence of Mohammad al-Rabia, Issa Al-Nukhaifi and risk to life of Dr. Mohammad al-Qahtani.” In the letter Ms Lawlor said: We are concerned that due process has not been followed and that the above-mentioned human rights defenders have not been released upon completing their sentence, in violation of international standards for fair trial. We are particularly concerned by what appears to be an emerging trend to keep human rights defenders in prison after having completed their sentence by overturning their original sentence and ordering new trials without providing them with sufficient information or legal assistance, in violation of the ‘non bis in idem’ principle (the prohibition of double jeopardy). On 2 February the Saudi Specialised Criminal Court upheld prison sentences ranging from 10 to 18 years on ten Egyptian nationals belonging to Nubian civic associations in Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
8th February 2023