Bahrain
23.05.00
Urgent Interventions
Bahrain: 3 children detained
Bahrain: 3 children detained
BHR 230500.CC
CHILD CONCERN
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention regarding the following situation in Bahrain.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO), member of the OMCT network, of the detention of three children.
On April 24th 2000, at 2 am, a large group of security forces attacked three houses in Duraz and detained three children. Ammar Ali Mansoor Al-Shehabi, 15, Isa Mahdi Abdul Nabi, 17 and Sadiq Abdulla Qassim, 14. On 30th April 2000, at 8 am, it is reported that the 3 children were dragged by the security forces to Duraz and were forced to paint slogans while being filmed by them. They are currently detained by the Criminal Intelligence Directorate (CID).
The International Secretariat of OMCT recalls that Bahrain is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 37b) which states that “The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.” Furthermore, that “No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Bahrain urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Ammar Ali Mansoor Al-Shehabi, Isa Mahdi Abdul Nabi and Sadiq Abdulla Qassim;
ii. order their immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
iii. put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people, especially children by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international standards, in particular those established in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Bahrain.
Addresses
His Highness Sheik Ilamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa, Office of His Highness the Amir, P.O. Box 555, The Amiri Court, Rifa’a Palace, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 668884. Telex : 8666 Qasar BN; 8500 Qasar BN
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain.
Telex : 9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO BN. FAX: + 973 533033.
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 276765 or 290526 or 754303. Telex : 9572 PSMKT BN OR 8333 ALAMAN BN
Geneva, 23th May 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
BHR 230500.CC
CHILD CONCERN
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention regarding the following situation in Bahrain.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO), member of the OMCT network, of the detention of three children.
On April 24th 2000, at 2 am, a large group of security forces attacked three houses in Duraz and detained three children. Ammar Ali Mansoor Al-Shehabi, 15, Isa Mahdi Abdul Nabi, 17 and Sadiq Abdulla Qassim, 14. On 30th April 2000, at 8 am, it is reported that the 3 children were dragged by the security forces to Duraz and were forced to paint slogans while being filmed by them. They are currently detained by the Criminal Intelligence Directorate (CID).
The International Secretariat of OMCT recalls that Bahrain is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 37b) which states that “The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.” Furthermore, that “No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Bahrain urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Ammar Ali Mansoor Al-Shehabi, Isa Mahdi Abdul Nabi and Sadiq Abdulla Qassim;
ii. order their immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
iii. put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people, especially children by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international standards, in particular those established in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Bahrain.
Addresses
His Highness Sheik Ilamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa, Office of His Highness the Amir, P.O. Box 555, The Amiri Court, Rifa’a Palace, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 668884. Telex : 8666 Qasar BN; 8500 Qasar BN
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain.
Telex : 9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO BN. FAX: + 973 533033.
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 276765 or 290526 or 754303. Telex : 9572 PSMKT BN OR 8333 ALAMAN BN
Geneva, 23th May 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.