Bahrain
11.04.00
Urgent Interventions
Bahrain: arrest and detention of children during March 2000
Bahrain: arrest and detention of children during March 2000
Case BHR 110400.CC
CHILD CONCERN
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in 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), a member of the OMCT network, of the arrest and detention of a number of children following a wave arrests in Bahrain.
According to the information received, on 22nd March 2000, security forces attacked Karzakkan and arbitrarily detained six persons, (see Case BHR 110400), including 17 year old Mohammed Baqir Al-Meraj.
It is further reported that between 22-24 March, the following were detained during dawn raids conducted against the residents of Bori: Seyyed Hashim Adnan Yousif, 15, Hassan Abdulla Ibrahim, 15, Abbas Ahmad Isa, 16, Yousif Ali Mohammed Al-Aali, 16, Mohammed Ali Salman, 17. Five adults were also arrested. (see case BHR 110400)
Also, in another wave of arrests on Bori, Mohammed Al- Hujairi, 17, the brother of Ali Hassan Al-Hujairi, 22, (see case BHR 110400), and Mohammed Habib, 16 were detained.
The International Secretariat of OMCT recalls that Bahrein 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:
take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons;
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;
put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards;
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, April 11, 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
Case BHR 110400.CC
CHILD CONCERN
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in 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), a member of the OMCT network, of the arrest and detention of a number of children following a wave arrests in Bahrain.
According to the information received, on 22nd March 2000, security forces attacked Karzakkan and arbitrarily detained six persons, (see Case BHR 110400), including 17 year old Mohammed Baqir Al-Meraj.
It is further reported that between 22-24 March, the following were detained during dawn raids conducted against the residents of Bori: Seyyed Hashim Adnan Yousif, 15, Hassan Abdulla Ibrahim, 15, Abbas Ahmad Isa, 16, Yousif Ali Mohammed Al-Aali, 16, Mohammed Ali Salman, 17. Five adults were also arrested. (see case BHR 110400)
Also, in another wave of arrests on Bori, Mohammed Al- Hujairi, 17, the brother of Ali Hassan Al-Hujairi, 22, (see case BHR 110400), and Mohammed Habib, 16 were detained.
The International Secretariat of OMCT recalls that Bahrein 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:
take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons;
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;
put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards;
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, April 11, 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.