HRC 35 - Joint statement to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression

I am makingthis statement on behalf of FIDH, OMCT Reporters Without Borders, IFEX,theBahrain Center for Human Rights and the Gulf Center for Human Rights.

One year ago,on that day, Nabeel Rajab was arrested from his home, one day before he was dueto participate in the UN Human Rights Council. One year on, Nabeel Rajabremains in jail; his health is gravely deteriorating, he has been subjected toinhumane and degrading treatment, denied appropriate health care and he hasspent extensive periods of time in solitary confinement. And still, thisCouncil remains silent.

Nabeel Rajab isa leading human rights defender in the Arab world, who is President of theBahrain Center for Human Rights, Founding Director of the Gulf Center for HumanRights, Deputy Secretary General of FIDH and a member of Human Rights Watch’sMiddle East Advisory Committee.

He has beenheld illegally pending trial for one year, only for expressing his opinions onsocial media, for tweets and retweets he made regarding the war in Yemen andallegations of torture in Bahraini prisons, in addition to media interviews. Hefaces up to 18 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Last year,human rights experts, including yourself, Mr. Special Rapporteur, called on theBahraini government for Nabeel Rajab’s immediate release, and for all chargesagainst him relating to freedom of expression, to be dropped. A year ago therewas some hope that the international community would support your call andpressure the Bahraini authorities to set him free. We are still waiting forthis Council to act.

This sadanniversary comes in the context of unprecedented harassment and violentpressure directed at all critical and independent voices in the media,political parties, and trade unions, which are fighting now simply to beallowed the right of peaceful expression. The numbers of individuals arrestedover charges related to free expression on the Internet and social media websiteshave significantly increased. Journalists, human rights defenders, bloggers,and active members of civil society have been targeted by the government,including being interrogated, sexually assaulted and tortured and forced tostop their human rights activities. Foreign members of the media are beingdenied entry to the country, whilst Bahraini journalists are being deniedlicenses to work for foreign media outlets, like Nazeeha Saeed, anaward-winning Bahrain correspondent for France 24 who was recently found guiltyof reporting without a license. The crackdown directed at the human rightsmovement and the persecution of independent, critical voices in Bahrain is notonly a challenge faced by activists like Nabeel Rajab and others. It is adecisive moment as well for the cohesion and stability of Bahrain. The targetsof the government are currently all those critical and independent voicesstanding against social violence, violent extremism, terrorism, andsectarianism.

Thank you