Confronting Violence and Respecting Human Rights

Issue 20 • September 2010 Confronting Violence and Respecting Human Rights Sooner or later, violence and riots will result in confrontation between the Government and those behind it. In the beginning, the Government did not wish to use its legal rights against instigators of violence because it was focusing on the newly established democracy and political process. However, because the violence has stretched beyond the limit and has been continuing for years, the Government has reached the confrontation point and has decided it is time to enforce the law. The recent arrests were expected and can be justified legally. The Government has the right to enforce law and order within its jurisdiction in order to protect its citizens’ In this issue interests and the stability of the country. On the other hand, the security forces’ failure to comply with the law and provide the detainees with their right of a fair trial is unjustifiable and Bahrain: Confronting 4 unacceptable. It is clear that there were some violations during detentions such as preventing detainees from meeting their lawyers and delaying the 6 Violence is Inevitable announcement of their place of detention. Confronting violence and riots has gained consensus in the country. This 6 Parliamentary Elections is clear from the statements of various political parties and civil society organizations, which condemn the escalation of violence and endangering 8 Promote Human Rights the public interests. But violating the law in order to confront advocates of violence is a 8 Haggag: Great Achievements different matter. For it is against Bahraini law and the Constitution and most importantly does not help in putting an end to the street violence. Also, violation of the law by some members of the security forces during for Arab Activists 10 riots pushes the public to provide support and sympathy to the rioters, and violation of the law also undermines the Government’s justification to 10 Are Human Rights impose law and order. 10 The law can be imposed without the need for any violations as enforcing Deteriorating in Bahrain? the law never contradicts human rights principles. In fact, the law intrinsically protects these principles. It is important to distinguish between firmly 10 enforcing the law and between breaching it, which could lead to even more violations. 12 We know that Bahrain has suffered from unjustifiable violence for years and that the margin of freedom was exploited in an attempt to ruin the political process. We also know that the Government is looking for solutions for such exceptional situations. But when the Government decides to resort to severe measures, it is important to remember that Bahrain’s strength lies in respecting the law and that the strength of its security will be tested when it confronts violence through the law. In summary, there is consensus to condemn the continuing violence as well as respecting human rights. However, confronting violence should be only through the Bahraini law and in accordance with human rights principles. http://www.bahrainmonitor.org/ Contact Us: [email protected] Bahrain Human Rights Monitor, Telephone: +44 77 7566 8596 London WC1N 3XX, UK News Human Rights Society, ended with Strikes, Clashes and 150 inmates being punished by preventing them from receiving visits Investigations inside twice consecutively. Jaw Prison The National Institution for Human Rights presented an urgent request On 25 July 2010, 300 prisoners to the Ministry of Interior to visit the organized a general strike inside Jaw Central Prison demanding prison. The Bahrain Human Rights that the Government improve Society also presented a similar the circumstances of the strike, their conditions. According to request and said that it received the clashes that took place and the prisoners, food is prevented tens of complaints from prisoners the measures that were taken. The from getting in from outside and and their families regarding their delegation expressed its satisfaction sports have been prohibited. conditions. On 5 August 2010, the with the level of services and They demanded that an impartial Secretary General of the Bahrain transparency among prison officials. committee be established in order human Rights Society (BHRS), According to Al Wasat newspaper in to investigate these allegations. On Abdualla Drazi, and some of the an interview with Kamal Aldeen on the other hand, the authorities say families of the inmates met the 12 August 2010, the NIHR will issue that a group of prisoners refused Inspector General of the Ministry its own report regarding the outcome to eat, and obey orders. They also of Interior Brigadier, Ibrahim of the visit and its recommendations. stated that some demanded that Habib Ghaith, to discuss the latest the doors of the cells be kept open, developments in the prison. Escalation of Violence the time allocated for exercises On 10 August 2010, a delegation against Women be extended to midnight and to from the National Institution of be allowed to possess dangerous Human Rights (NIHR) including its The latest statistics compiled tools such as razors. The strike President, Salman Kamal Aldeen, by female societies, which shelter led to clashes and resulted in one visited Joe Prison and met several female victims of violence, indicated injury and, according to the Bahrain inmates. The delegation discussed that all forms of violence against The King: On 17 August 2010, the King called for correcting the legal Implementing the Law to Protect Civil Peace status of institutions that work illegally. It seems that the King On 12 August 2001, H.M . the King stressed the importance was referring to Haq Movement, Al King Hamad bin Esa Al Khalifa, of ‘implementing laws without any Wafa Al Islami and the dissolved announced at the beginning of the hesitation against any act that Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. holy month of Ramadan that ‘there are aims to hinder our development, He added that ‘the legal statuses some citizens especially as they can express their of these institutions need to be who insist on opinions within the legal means that corrected. They should also work living abroad are available to all’. He also added within the law which organises their and insulting that ‘all forms of incitement should activities in the Kingdom within a their country be stopped and instigators bear clear legal framework, which is the without any the full responsibility for this and case in developed countries’. The reason’. should stop all shameful practices. King also stressed that the recent He added The Ministry of Interior as well as security measures will be within the that these other Ministries need to take the framework of the law and stated that individuals ‘can return to Bahrain necessary measures to stop them ‘as we live in a country of institutions and express their opinions freely as in order to protect our families the door is open for all those who and children from danger and our and law, all security measures wish to join their families during this beloved country and its respected taken recently will be referred to the holy month’. On 13 August 2010, citizens.’ judiciary’. 2 women have increased recently. the detainees have the right to be push the country to more political During the first half of this year, released immediately or have a fair and security tension and threaten the number of domestic violence and un-politicised trial according to the civil peace and the security incidents has reached 928 cases. Article 20 (C) of the Constitution, of the society. The societies also According to the statistics, May which reads: ‘the accused is innocent stressed in the statement their 2010 witnessed the most cases of until proven guilty in a legal trial at belief in civilised political dialogue domestic violence with a number which he has had all the guarantees between all political and social of 153 cases. On the other hand, necessary for the exercise of the parties including official bodies. This according to new statistics, 10% right to defence in all phases of the is because dialogue is a meeting of domestic violence cases affect investigation and trial in accordance point and that understanding the men who are abused by their wives with the law’. The societies also requirements of the various parties physically and verbally. Statistics rejected all acts of violence, arson can help diffuse any political or also show that women are primarily and vandalism of public and private security tension. subjected to physical abuse more properties. However, at the same The National Islamic Forum than any other form and that wives time; they rejected the excessive stressed the necessity of are the main victims and then use of force by the security forces. implementing the law without any children. These political societies include: hesitation. It also pointed to the the National Democratic Action fact that Bahrain enjoys a wide and Political Societies: Society, Waad, the Islamic Action, unprecedented margin of freedom Consensus to Amal, the National Brotherhood and is ahead of many counties in the Society, Al-Wefaq and the National region. Each citizen is able to express Condemn Violence Democratic Assembly. his opinion openly through the press On 16 August 2010, six Al-Wefaq and the National or through their MPs in the House of political societies expressed their Democratic Assembly also rejected Representatives. Therefore, there is concern over the recent security the sectarianisation of political and no justification for breaching the law developments. They affirmed that human rights issues as this can and using violence. Ministry of Interior: dealt with similar situations with pardon and clemency till the number We will Use the Full Force of the Law of individuals who were pardoned by the King reached 2387’. In On 19 August 2010, the Minister confrontations and the increase in addition to this, he stated that ‘the of Interior, Sheikh Rashid bin Abdula the accusations against the State for Government’s hard work to provide Al Khalifa, commented on the recent not taking swift measures.

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