RNA – 32 human rights organizations from around the world denounced the continued harassment of human rights defenders by the authorities in Bahrain and their policy of restricting their right to free expression. The rights groups further called on the government of Bahrain to drop all charges raised against Shaykh Maytham al-Salman.
In a joint statement the signatories said that “Shaykh Maytham al-Salman has been called for interrogation at Ministry of Interior on Sunday 14 August 2016 due to exercising his right in defending religious freedom and exposing human rights violations in Bahrain. This latest reprisal is part of a disturbing trend of crackdowns by the Bahraini government against human rights defenders and civil society organizations.”
“Bahraini authorities have harassed Shaykh Maytham on numerous occasions in the past, including two separate incidents in 2015 when he was detained for his human rights activities. He was also summoned in connection to the content of a speech he gave on 27 December, the anniversary of the arrest of prisoner of conscience Shaykh Ali Salman, in which he drew attention to the violations of international fair trial standards that took place,” they stressed.
“This harassment is in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Bahrain has been a signatory to since 2006. It also contradicts the obligations of the state to protect human rights defenders, as derived from their obligation to protect all human rights under Article 2 of the ICCPR,” the statement further read.
“Rather than ensure their protection, Bahrain has made a habit out of persecuting dissidents and activists. Shaykh Maytham joins other high-profile individuals like BCHR President Nabeel Rajab, activist Zainab al-Khawaja and human rights defender Naji Fateel that have been targeted for their work and denied their right to freedom of opinion and expression,” the rights groups added.
Concluded the statement, the signatories called on the Government of Bahrain to allow the important work of Shaykh Maytham and others who bring human rights violations to light to be conducted unimpeded, as provided for under the ICCPR and other relevant international human rights standards by taking the following steps:
- Drop all charges pending against Shaykh Maytham al-Salman for exercising his right to freedom of speech.
- Release all prisoners who have been convicted for their political opinions; and
- Fully comply with the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI); particularly those that ensure the right to freedom of expression, opinion and assembly are respected.
The joint statement was signed by the following:
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
ActiveWatch - Media Monitoring Agency
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain
ARTICLE 19
Association of Caribbean Media Workers
Bytes for All
Cambodian Centre for Independent Media
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Cartoonists Rights Network International
Centre for Media Freedom and Responsibility
Centre for Independent Journalism - Malaysia
Foundation for Press Freedom - FLIP
Freedom Forum
Gulf Centre for Human Rights
Independent Journalism Centre - Moldova
Index on Censorship
Initiative for Freedom of Expression - Turkey
Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information
Journaliste en danger
Maharat Foundation
MARCH
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
Media Foundation for West Africa
National Union of Somali Journalists
Observatorio Latinoamericano para la Libertad de Expresión - OLA
Pacific Islands News Association
Pakistan Press Foundation
PEN American Centre
PEN Canada
Social Media Exchange - SMEX
Vigilance pour la Démocratie et l’État Civique
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers
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