March and April 2015: Nabil Rajab and the “Al-Wihdawi” secretary party imprisoned for criticising the war in Yemen … “Jaw” prison events cuts off the news on “Hubail” & “Musawi” Photographers
London – Bahrain Press Association: Events that took place during April and May 2015 show that the Bahraini authorities continued their attacks on journalists and photographers as well as citizens who voiced their views via various means of expression, particularly the social networks.
The Bahraini Press Association reported the arrest and trial of twitter activists including photographers and human rights activists and leaders of political associations after they expressed their critical view on the war in Yemen. Authorities arrested the Secretary General of Association of “Al-Wihdawi” Fadel Abbas and president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights Nabeel Rajab after their comments on “Twitter” where they criticised the war in Yemen, while a photographer was arrested and faced investigation due to his personal view and opinions.
In addition, at least four prison sentences were handed to nine detainees who were arrested on charges of “abusing the use of social communication” to mock the Saudi King. In the meantime, the events of “Jaw” Central Prison came in mid-March / April to reveal the large extent of abuses against prisoners of opinions. There was also a loss of contact with the detained photographer Ahmed Humaidan for nearly a month, during which he was subjected to physical and psychological torture. Another detained photographer, Ahmed al-Musawi, also complained of his imprisonment in solitary confinement and exposure to physical beatings, in addition to preventing him from drinking water or using the toilet for 3 days.
The Bahraini Press Association believes that this significant and frequent violations against media professionals and bloggers comes as a form of vengeful reprisals part of a systematic plan to silence and prevent them from carrying out their work in bringing the truth to a wider audience.
Poet Abdullah Al-Qurmozy is investigated
Abdullah Al-Qurmozy, the poet, was called by the security authorities for questioning on the 2nd of March 2015 due to a poem he recited in an event to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the killing of Buhmaid; a victims of the protests in Bahrain. The Authority interrogated Abdullah Al-Qurmozy in the city’s police station on the southern Hamad regarding the poem that he recited on the 19th February. He was released the same day after signing a pledge to return back to the police station if requested to do so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI34LtKNmak
Photographer Humaidan’s family complaining about contact loss
Photographer Ahmed Humaidan’s family stated that they lost contact with him since the first day of the revolt at “Jaw” Central Prison on the 16th March 2015. “I don’t know, where my husband is, I don’t know his fate!” said his wife Janan Humaidan.
Humaidan, a renowned photographer and winner of dozens international awards was sentenced in March 2014 to ten years in prison for allegedly attacking a police station, following his arrest at the end of 2012.
He was among the prisoners at “Jaw” Central Prison, south of Bahrain, where riots and clashes broke out. The Ministry of Interior announced in a brief statement that the “riots that occurred were controlled promptly and that the culprits behind the riots were convicts and their families at the prison visiting building.”
Prison Authority informed the convict’s parents that they are not allowed to see him as they went to visit because he was prohibited from receiving visitors. Humaidan was not allowed to contact his family for a whole month, but finally was allowed to do so on the 10th of April.
Hossam Sorour, the photographer sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
On the 23rd of March 2015 the Bahraini court sentenced photographer Hussam Mahdi Sorour to 10 years imprisonment on charges of “assault on a public official and participation in demonstrations and the possession of flammable materials.”
He was arrested on the 4th of September 2014. His family stated that “the security forces stopped a car that that Hossam and his colleagues was driving together near the Diraz area and taken to an unofficial torture centre known locally as« Equestrian Unit »where they were there beaten by security officers.”
Hossam Sorour is one of many a photography enthusiast who documents and publishes the daily protests and human rights violations. Hossam was arrested in 2012 and subjected torture before being released without charges.
Fadel Abbas arrested following a statement against the war
On the 26th March 2015, the security authorities arrested both the secretary general of the National Democratic Rally Society “Al-Wihdawi” Fadhil Abbas, and assistant secretary-general lawyer Mohammed Al Mutawa, on reasons of issuing a statement condemning the Saudi Arabia led alliance was in Yemen.
The Public Prosecutor stated on the 29th of March that “an investigation was conducted and completed upon the request submitted by the General Directorate of Investigation and Criminal Evidence, which stated that one of the political societies Secretary General publication overtly states its opposition to military actions currently being taken by Bahrain with a number of allied countries in order to restore legitimacy and stability in Yemen. This led to his remand in custody for pending further investigation. The public prosecutor decided to refer Abbas to the fourth Criminal High Court, and the release of lawyer Mohammed Al Mutawa, Assistant Secretary-General of the Assembly.
The first trial was held for Secretary General of the “Al-Wihdawi” assembly Association Fadel Abbas sessions before the Fourth Criminal Court on the 21st April 2015. Lawyer Abdullah Shamlawi said that the court decided to postpone the hearing until the 21st May 2015.
The prosecution presented Abbas with the charge of “publishing a statement of the association in the media, that contains criticism of the military actions currently being taken by Bahrain with a number of allied countries in order to restore legitimacy and stability of the situation in Yemen, the publication casts doubt on the legality and morality of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s position in both political and military matters.” He was also charged with “felony in deliberately broadcasting false and malicious news with the intention of spreading rumours at time of war, that stirs propaganda and could potentially harm the military operations of the armed forces. This is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years, as well as charges of insulting allied states publicly.”
Hubail’s family complaining about the denial of treatment
There were reports on the 27th of March 2015 that claims that the detained photographer Hussein Hubail was found unconscious after he passed out due to high blood pressure brought on by not giving him the required medication.
Reports pointed “he has been left in tents inside the prison area following the rebellion events that took place on the 16th of March and prevented from using the toilet and other degrading treatment that does not fit his health situation.” The Hubail’s family issued repeated calls in relation to the prison authorities’ refusal to take him to the hospital clinic, despite the fact that there were previous appointments for him.
“He was subjected to spasm of fatigue and illness and the “Jaw” prison administration refused to send him to the hospital for treatment, which led to the loss of medical follow-up appointments” Hubail’s family said.
The family also added that “the blood pressure medication has actually run out and needs renewal.” Repeating their call on the 29th of February for him to be “ examined and see a doctor as he is in dire need for it” but the authorities remained firm in their refusal.
The trial postponement of 15 photographers and bloggers
On the 15th of March the court postponed the trial of photographers and bloggers, who are facing charges related to the right in expressing their opinion and their coverage of political protests.
The Court of Appeal postponed the court session for the tenth time of activist Ali Al Maraj due to the absence of the witness, which was held on the 12th of March. Another court session that also got postponed on the 2nd of March is of activist Ghada Jamsheer also.
On the 16th of March, the hearing of 9 social activists accused by the authorities of “misuse of communication tools” was also postponed. In addition, the appeal session of photographers Hossam Ahmed Sorour and Zainnedeene Mustafa Rabiey was adjourned on the 24th of March. On the 29th of the same month trial of photographer Ahmed al-Moussawi was postponed to listen to the witnesses.
Detaining of Nabeel Rajab after Tweets for Yemen
The president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, arrested by security authorities on the 2nd of April 2015, and the public prosecutor gave orders for him to stay in custody pending investigation in relation to “publishing false news about the ongoing military operations in Yemen.”
According to the public prosecutor, Nabeel Rajab described the military operations against the Houthis in Yemen, in which Bahrain participate, as “aggression” and “illegal and a breach of international law”, he also stated, according to the public prosecution “insulting the coalition forces participating in operations” in addition to “insulting the statutory body which is the Ministry of Interior”.
Prosecutors also accused Rajab of “spreading fabricated images of children killed in Syria in regarding of the operation in Yemen, as Yemeni children who were killed during the operations” in Yemen.
Investigation with a photographer about his opinion on the war in Yemen
A security force arrested the photographer “A.G.” on the 14th of April 2015 while he was in a barber shop in “Sanad” area. They led him to the Criminal Investigation building in Adliya in Manama where he was handcuffed and his eyes were blindfolded for 3 days.
He stated that the authorities interrogated him about his position on the war in Yemen and accused him of “the assemblage.” He was released on the 23rd of April, bailed by his wife.
3 months in prison for 4 accused of insulting the Saudi king
On the 18th of April 2015, the Bahraini court passed a sentence of three months accused of “abusing the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz on social networks.” The trial of eight others accused of the same charge was postponed.
On the 24th of same month the court ordered the release of three of the defendants and continued attaining five of them on trial. On the 28th of April, the court sentenced three of them for a period of 3 months and the postponement of the two remaining defendants’ cases until the 12th of May as they await the investigator to attend.
The General Department for Combating Corruption of Economic and E-Fraud Ministry of the Interior and Security announced on the 27th of January 2015 the arrest of nine Shia citizens on charges of “abuse of social media.”
Custody renewed of online activist
On the 21st of April 2015, the Bahraini court renewed the imprisonment of activist Ali Hassan Almqaba.
Almkaba was arrested on the 26th of January 2015 where the public prosecutor ordered his detention for 10 days. Also, he was re-imprisoned after the end of the renewal period of the first arrest.
Torture of photographer Ahmed al-Musawi in “solitary prison”
The family of the photographer Ahmed al-Moussawi, received a call from him on the 27th of April 2015, telling them he was punished with solitary confinement. During a visit from his family on the 30th of April, he informed then that he was subjected to beatings during his solitary confinement and prevented from drinking water or the use of toilet for 3 days.
According to the family they saw evidence of bruises on Ahmed’s head and back of a clear sign of the severity of the beating he had received. Moussawi appeared before court for his trial on the 23rd and 29th of the same month, when the session was postponed to listen to the witnesses. He was re-submitted to the Court on 30th of April to hear the defense witnesses which was postponed until the 23rd of May 2015.
The Bahraini Press Association demanded that the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Nations and all international organisations and bodies involved in the defense of freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of the press and media to immediately intervene and exert pressure on the government of Bahrain for:
- Immediate and unconditional release of all photographers and journalists detained because of their work in covering the protests or in exercising their right to freedom of expression.
- Stop judicial trials on charges of “insulting the King” to Internet activists, journalists and the charge of “assembly” for photographers.
- Liberate the media and press freedoms and end the censorship of the Internet Office at the Ministry of Communications.
- End the monopoly of power of the media and allow the establishment of TV and other media that represent an opposition opinion.
- Invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression to schedule an urgent visit to Bahrain.