Bahrain: a human rights society is desolved
Bahrain, Politics, 9/30/2004

Bahrain has yesterday desolved the "Bahrain center for human rights" just days after detaining the deputy chairman of the center Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja over his criticism of the prime minister in a development which was deplored by Arab human rights organizations and considered by Washington as a regrettable and disappointed step.

The minister of labor and social affairs in Bahrain Majuid al-Alawi issued on Tuesday a decision, that became effective on Wednesday, noted that the decision taken to solve the center was issued after it "committed acts in contradiction with the societies law for 1989 and the society's constituent law on the ground of which it was licensed." The statement added that the ministry had warned the board of the al-Bahrain center for human rights several times on the need to abide by the law of the society and its constituent." However, the " board ignored the warnings of the ministry and continued its legal violations." This decision came few days after suspending al-Khawaja, which the attorney decided on Monday to jail him for 45 days under the charge of " provoking the hate of the regime and disseminating provoking roomers that violate the general order and damage the public interest." The first penalty is a three year imprisonment as a maximum while the second penalty reaches two years as maximum.

Al-Khawaja was detained on Saturday after delivering a lecture about poverty in Bahrain in which he held the prime minister Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Salman al-Khaleifa the responsibility of economic problems in the country.

Some 38 human rights organizations from 14 Arab states deplored the detention of al-Khawaja and called for his immediate unconditional releas, and to stop threatening Bahrain center for human rights and to give up targeting human rights and democracy defenders in Bahrain.

Hundreds took place in a massive meeting in Manama on Tuesday in protest for his arrest and called on the prime minister to resign. But King Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa warned said he will not ignore any criticism addressed to senior governmental officials, considering that some incline to misuse the doors of openness and freedom in the country in an attempt to make a split in society.

In Washington, the spokeswoman for the US Department Of State for the near east Rahounda Shore said "we are worried" about the detention of Khawaja. She added " Due to the recent positive measures towards reforms in Bahrain, we consider this detention as a step backward and disappointing." Bahrain is the headquarters for the American fifth naval fleet.

Previous Stories:
  Bahrain expresses 'astonishment' at South Africa's decision to establish relations   (9/18/2004)
  One Bahraini accused of terrorism fled from court hall   (9/14/2004)
  Bahrain attorney extends imprisonment of four Islamists   (9/13/2004)
  Workshop for drawing a plan for human rights in Bahrain   (4/14/2004)
  Bahrain: clashes between the police and demonstrators on Martyr day   (12/18/2003)
  Bahrain opposition calls for restoring back the constitution of 1973   (12/17/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search