Bahraini society accuses government of continuing human rights violations
Bahrain, Politics, 12/10/2004

Bahrain's human rights society ( independent) expressed regret over the "continued violations of human rights in the Kingdom." This was expressed in a statement issued on the 56 anniversary of the world declaration for human rights which falls today Friday.

The society said " it still feels much frustration over not achieving any progress in adapting between current laws and legislations with the Kingdom's obligations resulting from signing international treaties and agreements for human rights." The society stressed "several workers in the field of the press were taken to courts and the freedom of activists and civil society establishments including administrative closure of al-Ouroba ( Arabism) club and desolving Bahrain's human rights center. The society added that some demonstrations and marches were exposed to security and judicial measures which do not only contradict with international treaties and agreements but even with certain items of the constitution of the " Kingdom of Bahrain and the spirit of the national work charter."

It continued that "on the other hand, the civil society was shocked by the negative trends aiming at restricting the freedom of political and social activity, reflected in the attempt of imposing laws contradictory with the optimum role of civil societies and political organizations and restrict the freedom of gathering in the attempt to issue the law of political societies and the civil societies law and the mass gathering law." The society expressed regret over what it described as "the notable slowness by the executive committee in ratifying the international treaty on civilian and political rights " despite promises issued to that effect "and abstaining the ratification of the constituent of the International Criminal Court," according to the statement.

The society's statement criticized "the limitedness of the freedom of the press" and the harassments journalists exposed to according to laws which do not comply with the requirements of the current phase." The society called on the civil society establishments and official sides to "give more interest to violence issues, woman, the child and home- labor exposed to" and to issue just laws ensuring women their rights in line with Bahrain's commitment to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women ( CEDAW).

Bahrain's human rights society was formed by the beginning of 2001 with the beginning of reforms led by King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa as the first independent human rights society in the Kingdom.

Previous Stories:
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  Mubarak phones Bahraini king on Mideast situation   (12/7/2004)
  Khawaja released from prison   (11/22/2004)

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