The Upcoming Elections and
Human Rights Future

Bahrain is preparing itself for the new parliamentary elections during which it is expected that political and civil societies, as well as defenders of women’s rights, will engage and fiercely compete more than the previous experience of 2006. It is hard to anticipate the turnout of this election considering the pessimistic stance of some Bahrainis about the extent of the public participation. Contrary to this, BHRM believes that this is not going to be the case as there are many new players looking for political positions in Parliament.

It is essential that the political process and election continue in order to help the democratic experience mature and maintain a reasonable amount of respect for human rights. more

Bahrain in the AOHR’s report

In July 2010, the Cairo-based Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) released its annual report. The following are the main highlights

of this report regarding assessment of human rights in Bahrain:

Initially, the report discussed the constitutional and legal developments in the country pointing to the Royal Decree of November 2009 with regard to the establishment of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR). It also presented some of its aims and objectives. The report also mentioned the second Royal Decree issued in April 2010 regarding the appointment of the NIHR members. The report highlighted the names of a number of human rights activists who were given the responsibility of managing the NIHR.

The report of the AOHR reflected the opinion of the Bahraini civil society regarding the NIHR stating that ‘as usual a number of civil society organizations issued many statements doubting the independence of the NIHR’. However, the AOHR believes that ‘judging any national institution  more

Similarities and Differences
between National Institutions
and Human Rights NGOs

The establishment of a national institution for human rights in Bahrain in November 2009 constitutes a huge leap in the path of human rights. For ordinary people in Bahrain, the establishment of a national institution has raised a number of questions particularly with regard to differences and similarities between local organizations already operating in the Bahrain arena for several years, and between the newly established national institution for human rights. This development has created confusion on the one hand and raised expectations of some people unrealistically on the other hand. This article contributes to understanding the distinction between governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly the difference between the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) and other human rights organizations (societies) in Bahrain. organizations (NGOs). more

Debate over Judicial Decision
on the Ma’ameer Case

Hasan Moosa Shafaei

Hasan Moosa Shafaei

More than a year has passed since the death of Sheikh Mohammed Riyad, an Asian worker who was attacked with Molotov cocktail by a group of youths during riots in the village of Al Ma’meer on 7 March 2009. The assault resulted in him sustaining severe burns, which ultimately caused his death.

On 5 July 2010, the High Criminal Court found seven of the ten persons accused in this case guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The lawyers of those convicted appealed against the decision and the Supreme Court of Appeal will consider the appeal on 26 September 2010.

The Court based its verdict on the confessions of the accused and the testimonies of two officers. Crime scene and post-mortem reports were also used to prove that the victim’s death was due to the burns caused by the fire. In addition to this, the verdict was delivered under the Penal Code and Combating Terrorism Act of 2006. more

Programme officer at the APT:

States are obliged to ban torture
and to adopt procedures to
prevent its occurrence

Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) is an independent NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. APT was founded in 1977 and aims to prevent torture and all forms of ill-treatment throughout the world. BHRM interviewed Esther Schaufelberger, Programme Officer for the Middle East and North Africa at the APT and she highlighted several important points about the objectives of APT, how to prevent torture and the role of civil society in that. more

■ Al Byaan Praises the Ministry of Social Development

■ Dialogue to Solve Foreign Workers’ Problems

■ Youth Meeting

■ Anti- Slavery visits Bahrain

■ Call to grant Nationality to Children of Bahraini women

■ Protection of Workers during Summer

■ Monitoring and Funding Elections

Nazaha Society Sues Ministry of Social Development

The members of the Preparatory Committee of the Bahraini Nazaha Society (which literally means Integrity) have filed a law suit against the Ministry of Social Development. Nazaha claims that the Ministry is delaying the response to their registration request since receiving their application in November 2009. The Ministry responded to the law suit with an official letter in which it rejected registering Nazaha as a civil society. The rejection was justified on the basis that it falls outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry. The letter also stated that the Statue of the Society lacks social objectives- according to the definition of the Ministry of Social Development. Thus, it suggested that Nazaha should request the license from the Ministry of Information instead. more

Political Societies and the Question of Electing a Woman!

The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Women, Dr Lulu Al Awadi, believes that the announcement of female candidates for the 2010 parliamentary elections came late. She hopes that women will win and stated that the candidates do not rely on their competence but the support of the political societies. She also pointed out that the position of independent candidates is not better than the female candidates who lack the support of political societies. She also added that the political societies’ support for women remains theoretical but in practice women are not part of their priorities. She also stated that political societies do not want to risk a guaranteed seat for women’s sake, stressing the importance of women having political presence in Parliament.

Financial Disclosure Law

After a long struggle and continued demands by civil society organizations, the Financial Disclosure Law No. 32 for 2010 was finally announced after being signed by the King. The Law applies to the following: ministers, deputies of the prime ministers, under secretaries and their deputies, directors, governors, chairmen and members of the Shura Council and MPs, members of local councils and municipalities, Judges, Prosecutors, representatives of Government in public institutions and companies, heads and senior officials and directors, Government employees etc.

The issuing of this law illustrates that Bahrain is heading towards greater transparency, the promotion of accountability, integrity and financial and administrative control. It is also making steps to combat financial and administrative corruption in various State apparatus. The Chairman of the Shura Council, Ali Salih Al Salih, highlighted the cooperation of both the Legislative and Executive authorities in the passing of this new law and noted the ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption on 4 February 2010.