Issue 36: 16th Dec '15 - 7th Jan '16 View this email in your browser

Share Tweet Forward

News from Inside Bahrain

Protesters detained as security forces fire teargas on demonstration

Bahraini security forcesfired tear gas and detaineddozens, in response toprotests against theexecution by Saudi Arabia

of Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr, a prominent Shi’ite cleric.They fired birdshot gun bullets and used watercanons, as well as tear gas in an attempt to dispersethe protests. Bahrain's Ministry of Interior stressedthat Saudi Arabia has the right take any securitymeasures and procedures it deems suitable tomaintain the security and stability of the country andpeople. The Bahraini authorities warned of criminalprosecution against anyone who voices opposition toSaudi Arabia, saying that they will take legalmeasures against those who criticise the executioneither by written statements, public announcements oronline.

Bahrain sentences one to death and revokescitizenship of 23

Quote fromBahrain:

Abdulnabi Alekry -Bahrain Human RightsObservatory

"The political situation isblocked in Bahrain now.This February will markthe 5th anniversary of theBahraini uprising and thegovernment hasn’t beenconvinced yet that itshould makecompromises or evenmeet the opposition’sbasic demands,represented indemocratic reform andreal transformation to aconstitutional monarchy.Bahrain’s allies are notpressuring enough on thegovernment to push itreach a compromise.Three rounds of dialoguebetween the governmentand opposition haveended with failure; eventhe entrance of foreigntroops couldn’t put an end

te

A Bahraini court sentencedone to death and handeddown life imprisonmentsentences to 22 othersover forming a “terroristgroup” that killed two people, including a policeman.The court also revoked the citizenships of all of thedefendants and fined two of them 200,000 Bahrainidinars. Seven of the convicted are in custody whilethe rest were tried in absentia, including the individualsentenced to death. Bahrain also sentenced 29citizens to jail terms ranging from 5-25 years over a2014 bomb that targeted a police officer. The courtrevoked the citizenship of two of those jailed andordered 27 to pay damages of 2782.130 BahrainiDinars.

Prominent figures questioned and detained

Two prominent figurescritical of the Bahrainigovernment were called forquestioning, with oneremaining in detention for aminimum of one week.

Sheikh Maytham Al Salman, the head of the religiousfreedom unit at the Bahrain Human RightsObservatory received a summons by the CriminalInvestigations Directorate, to appear before the PublicProsecution. He was questioned regarding a speechhe had made the previous month regarding thedetention of Sheikh Ali Salman. Sheikh Maytham is aworld-renowned figure, working closely with theUnited Nations to promote interfaith dialogue inBahrain.

Dr. Saeed Al Samahiji was also called in forquestioning at the turn of the year, followingcomments he made on Twitter, criticising theexecution of Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia. Hewas then detained for a minimum of one week. Al-Samahiji has been arrested twice previously in recentyears, and was one of the dozens of medicssentenced in 2011. After a serving a year in prison he

to the crisis. Neither theopposition can force thegovernment to makecompromises, nor is thegovernment able to bringthe protest movement toa halt."

"The government isproceeding in its strategyof repression throughdifferent means;besieging andsuppression besides theother security, politicaland economic means tomarginalize theopposition. Despite thefact that there are about3000 political detainees,160 deaths andthousands ofunemployed, this did notmake the Bahrainissubmit to thegovernment. Thegovernment, that ownsthe decision, has to admitthat the security solutionis not the best way to endthe crisis."

"We are facing a severepolitical crisis in Bahrainas oil prices have made asharp drop. The country,therefore, is heading to adifficult phase in which itneeds the combinedefforts of the governmentand opposition. Thissituation will aggravatebecause the governmentis spending so much onsecurity and becausebusinesses aretransferring their assetsoutside Bahrain."

Bahrain in theMedia:

was re-arrested in 2014 and detained for another yearbefore his release.

Journalist arrested for publishing article

A leading Bahrainijournalist has beendetained after penning areport on a session of theparliaments Shura Council.Mahmoud Al-Jaziri,Parliamentary Correspondent for Al-Wasatnewspaper, reported on comments by Fatima AlKooheji about removing housing of the families ofthose who’ve had their citizens hips revoked. Maskedindividuals raided the journalists home and arrestedAl-Jaziri, despite failing to produce a search warrant.His electronic devices were confiscated during theraid. Bahrain has regularly detained journalists whoare critical of the government, as well as threateningthe closure of Al-Wasat, the country’s soleindependent newspaper.

Sheikh Ali Salman: One year in prison convincedme more than ever of political reform

In a statement releasedfrom prison, Sheikh AliSalman, Secretary-Generalof Al-Wefaq NationalIslamic Society, said thatafter spending one year in

prison he is convinced more than ever of the need forreform.  He added that the only way to find a solutionfor Bahrain is through a serious and compatiblepolitical solution and further stated that Bahrainis willcontinue their struggle for democracy. Marking oneyear on from Sheikh Salman’s arrest, Al WefaqNational Islamic Society called for a solidarity event todemand his immediate release. Sheikh Salman wasarrested in December 2014 and sentenced to fouryears in prison for his peaceful political activism fordemocracy and political reform.

Bahrain: The forgotten story

Bahrain, Sudan and UAE followSaudis in diplomatic actionagainst Iran

Tear Gas and the WorldwideShrug

BNA - The Toaster in theBathtub of Bahrain's Credibility

Sheikh Salman: Bahrain royalaccused of 'crimes againsthumanity' favourite to replaceFifa's Sepp Blatter

Human Rights Defenders Fleeto Europe as BahrainCelebrates “Freedom” FromBritain

NGO's onBahrain:

Bahrain: Restrictions onfreedom of movement againstNabeel Rajab

Opposition leaders issue a statement from theirprison cells

The opposition leadersissued a statement on theNew Year from their prisoncells in which they wished2016 to be a blessed yearfor the Bahrainis. In their statement, the leadersstressed that the demands for freedom, democracy,justice and equality are legitimate. They added thatthe Bahraini people will adhere to the peacefulness intheir movement. The leaders called on all those whobelieve in the democratic change and respect ofhuman rights to organize a program in order toachieve their aims. The leaders highlighted that theyare willing to help pursue  a solution for this crisis,indicating that creating a suitable ambiance for anational and inclusive dialogue is the only solution.The statement was signed by Sheikh Ali Salman,Hassan Mushaima, Sheikh Habib Al-Mokadad,Sheikh Said Al-Nouri and Sheikh Abduljalil.

HR defender Hussein Jawad faces 2 years inprison

A Bahraini court hassentenced Hussein Jawad,the human rights defenderand chairman of European-Bahraini Organization for

Human Rights to two years in prison and a fine of 500BD. The court charged Jawad with “collecting moneyfrom Bahrain and abroad without a permit”. HussainJawad was previously arrested in February 2015,during which time he was prevented from sleepingand using the bathroom, confined to a narrow cell,and was obliged to hear other detainees endureelectric shocks. He also says he suffered physical,sexual, verbal, and psychological abuse while indetention and interrogation.

Bahrain central bank raises interest rates

Bahrain accuses journalist ofsupporting terrorism

BAHRAIN: HUSSAIN JAWADSENTENCED, TORTUREIGNORED

Bahrain Urged to Dismiss CaseAgainst Human Rights DefenderMohammed Al-Maskati

Bahrain’s Culture of Impunity

Bahrain F-16 crashes inSaudi ArabiaPolice firing tear gas onprotestorsProtesters clash withpolice (Reuters)Protest and suppressionfollowing

Bahrain's central bank hasraised the interest rate onits overnight deposit facilityto 0.50 percent from 0.25percent, keeping its repoand lending rates at 2.25percent. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also followedBahrain and raised the interest rates. Saudi Arabiaraised its overnight reverse repo rate by 25 basispoints to 50 leaving its benchmark repo rate at 2.0percent. The Central Bank of Kuwait also decided toraise its benchmark discount rate by 25 basis pointsto 2.25 percent. Bahrain raised its interest rates aftera decision by the US Federal Reserve to hike itsrates. This move came despite the sharp decline in oilprices.

Bahrain approves new prices for diesel andkerosene

Bahrain announced thelifting of state subsidies ondiesel and kerosene, aswell as approving a newpricing system for dieseland kerosene that is tobegin this month. The newpricing system is expected

to gradually increase the cost of both fuels. Theminister of energy said that "The measure is based onthe recommendations of the ministerial committee incharge of financial affairs and rationalized spending”,pointing out that the new prices would contribute toproviding financial savings and rationalizing energyconsumption.

Trial of Majeed Milad adjourned with hiscontinued detention

Useful links:

Al Wefaq National IslamicSociety

Bahrain Centre for HumanRights

Bahrain Mirror

Bahrain Watch

Manama Document

The Bahraini Court ofAppeals postponed the trialof Majeed Milad, the formerpresident of the Capital

Municipal Council until 31st

January 2016 with hiscontinued detention. ABahraini court hassentenced him to two years in prison over the chargeof “publically inciting disobedience of law”. MajeedMilad was arrested on 1st July 2015 after participatingin a political forum. The Public Prosecution has alsocharged him of “inciting non-compliance with legalrestrictions”.

Human rights activist appeal upheld

Mohamed Al-Maskati, the founder and former Directorof the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, hashad his appeal upheld against a 6-month sentence for“rioting and illegal gathering”.

News from Outside Bahrain

Bahrain cuts diplomatic ties with Iran

Bahrain has announced thecutting of diplomatic tieswith Iran, a day after SaudiArabia severed its relationswith the Islamic Republic.

Bahrain gave Iranian envoys 48 hours to leave thekingdom. Saudi Arabia severed its ties with Iran afterIranian protesters attacked the Saudi Embassy inTehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashhad,following the execution of a Shi’ite opposition leaderin Saudi Arabia. As a result, Bahrain decided to cut itsties with Iran over what it called “the ongoing blatantinterference in the Saudi and Bahraini Affairs”.

Bahraini F-16 crashed in Saudi Arabia and 3

soldiers killed in Yemen

A Bahraini F-16 jet takingpart in the Saudi-ledcoalition in Yemen hascrashed in Saudi Arabia.The plane fell in the Jizanregion due to a technical malfunction. Bahrain'smilitary confirmed that the jet crashed "while carryingout its national duty in defending the southernborders" of Saudi Arabia. The pilot was saved. Thecrash came a day after Bahrain said that three of itssoldiers died while serving in the Saudi-led militarycampaign against Yemen.

British court jails Abdulraouf Al-Shayeb for 5years

A British court sentencedthe Bahraini oppositionactivist Abdulraof Al-Shayeb to 5 years in prisonover the charge of"possession of memorycontaining material that can

be used for terrorist purposes”. Al-Shayeb, however,denied the charge. The police raided Al-Shayeb’shome and found a memory card with pictures showinghim in combat fatigues and holding a handgun withwhat appeared to be an automatic weapon at his side.The British authorities claimed that "a computermemory card loaded with military files on ‘bombs,missiles and destruction' were found at his home." Al

Shayeb was arrested on 31st December 2013 onarrival at Gatwick Airport after visiting Iraq.

Observatory for Protection of HR Defenders callsBahraini authorities to lift travel ban imposed onNabeel Rajab

The Observatory for theProtection of Human RightsDefenders, a jointprogramme of theInternational Federation forHuman Rights (FIDH) andthe World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT),denounced the continued travel ban imposed againstNabeel Rajab and considered his targeting as solelyfor his human rights activities. According to theObservatory, Rajab's lawyers raised a matter ofurgency, as the health of Mr. Rajab's wife iscontinuously deteriorating and she needs treatmentoutside of Bahrain, accompanied by him. TheObservatory called on the Bahraini authorities toimmediately lift the travel ban, and drop all chargesagainst Mr. Nabeel Rajab.

Bahrain rights defenders feature in Index onCensorship list of free expression heroes

Index on Censorshiphas announced their 100-person list of free

expression heroes, including Zeinab Alkhawaja andDr. Abduljalil Al-Singace. The list “highlightschampions against censorship and those who fight forfree expression against the odds in the fields of arts,journalism, activism and technology and whose workhad a marked impact in 2015.” The winner of thegroups award for Freedom of Expression Award willbe selected from the list, previous winners includeNabeel Rajab.

Bahrain 19 urges to reveal fate of JournalistMahmoud Al-Jaziri

Bahrain 19, a Bahraini freedom of expression groupcalled on the security authorities to reveal the fate ofAl-Wasat journalist Mahmoud Al-Jaziri after he wasarrested in a house raid carried out by maskedcivilians.

Facebook Twitter Website

About Bahrain Justice and Development Movement:

Bahrain Justice and Development Movement (BJDM) is based in London, UK and promotes

democratic reform in Bahrain. We work with opposition figures both inside and outside Bahrain,

supporting their efforts to raise awareness of the situation in Bahrain, as well as advocating political

reform of a democratic nature.

Contact:

info@bahrainjdm.org www.bahrainjdm.org / http://bahrainjdm.hopto.org

unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Copyright ©  All rights reserved

Copyright © 2016 Bahrain Justice & Development Movement, All rights reserved.