Nabeel Rajab On Hunger Strike

BAHRAIN: Detained Human Rights Defender Nabeel RajabOn Hunger Strike

Paris-Geneva, October 8, 2012 – The Observatory for the Protection ofHuman Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation forHuman Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), ishighly concerned about the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. NabeelRajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), Director of theGulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and FIDH Deputy Secretary General. TheObservatory deplores the ongoing judicial harassment and arbitrary detention ofMr. Rajab.

According to information received, on October 5, 2012,Mr. Nabeel Rajab announced that he had started a ”dry” hunger strike (refusingwater in addition to food) and had stopped taking his medication in protestagainst the Public Prosecutor's decision to withdraw the authorisation grantedto him on October 4, 2012, to attend the second day of his mother's funeral whodied on October 3. On October 5, 2012, the Public Prosecutor announced that hehad withdrawn this authorization, stating that Mr. Rajab had « violatedthe law as he spoke to the mourners and incited them to join illegal protests »[1].The Observatory is concerned by such a statement as it clearly aims to curtailand punish Mr. Rajab's fundamental right to freedom of expression and opinion.

Today, the court rejected the appeal lodged againstthe decision to maintain Mr. Rajab in provisional detention. Mr. Rajab isexpected to appear before the Bahraini Appeals Court on October 16. TheObservatory reiterates its call to the Bahraini authorities to immediately andunconditionally release him and to put an end to all acts of judicial harassment against him, as his prolongeddetention seems to merely aim at sanctioning his activities in favour of humanrights.

The Observatory urges the Bahraini authorities toguarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr.Rajab, as well as of all human rights defenders in Bahrain.

TheObservatory recalls that the rights to freedom of expression and of peacefulassembly constitute fundamental freedoms, and that no form of criminalisationof those rights can be tolerated or justified under any circumstances.

The Observatory also urges the Bahraini authorities toensure that international observers will be able to attend Mr. Rajab's nextappeal hearing on October 16 without any hindrances.

For more information,please contact:

· FIDH: ArthurManet/Audrey Couprie: + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18

· OMCT: DelphineReculeau: +41 (0) 22 809 49 39

[1] Bahrain News Agency,October 5 2012, http://www.bna.bh/portal/news/527621#.UG3-hGwqZnM.twitter