(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In a press conference of opposition parties at Al-Wefaq headquarters, Abduljalil Khall, former MP and head of Al Wefaq’s parliamentary bloc, said that the position of the international community regarding human rights violations indicates that there is a growing consensus on their magnitude.
"This means that all participating countries agree that the authority is practicing violence against peaceful protesters, and even Saudi Arabia recommended the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) recommendations must be implemented and the security forces be trained", he said.
Khalil pointed out the most common issues highlighted and recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review for Bahrain in the United Nations' Human Rights Council, as follows;
· Implement the BICI recommendations before September, 2012
· Immediately release of all prisoners of conscience
· Hold accountable those involved in torture and violations
· Send the Special Rapporteur on torture to Bahrain
· Rebuild the mosques demolished by authorities
· Allow freedom of expression and allow opposition media
The majority of delegates to the UPR demanded that the BICI be recommendations be implemented in full, contradicting the claims of the governments implementation commission that said all recommendations had been implemented. In addition the United States pointed out that the most important recommendation, of holding to account civil and military officials, had yet to be achieved.
Delegates demanded a serious and fruitful dialogue between the authorities and the opposition, understanding the lack of seriousness attributed to the National Dialogue, held one year ago.
Khalil said that the head of the Bahrain Government delegation, Salah Ali, failed to convince the council that there are no political prisoners in Bahrain, despite his claims. Ali also mentioned in his response to questioning that thirty-two mosques had been demolished, but have not yet been rebuilt.
With regards to dialogue, Khalil reminded that the opposition demanded a serious dialogue in its last press conference, in order to take the country out of the current crisis. He also referred to the demands of the opposition as rightful political demands that concern all citizens.
Khalil said that the opposition is met with violence despite its continuous calls for a peaceful movement. "Sixty-six delegates talked about the authorities' violence but none talked about violence practiced by protesters, except the United States which mentioned the use of Molotov cocktails by some protesters, however, it did not deny the peaceful movement and demanded the authority to allow the right to peaceful protest", he said, " the U.S also condemned the use of birdshot (shotgun) and the excessive use of force against protesters."
Wide spread international condemnation
He also mentioned the demands made by the delegation of Slovenia that stressed the need to hold to account those responsible for violations. Spain called for full implementation and also mentioned holding to account of officials. “It is obvious that this recommendation has not been implemented yet,” he added. He mentioned the British recommendation that demands the release of the prisoners of conscience, stop all forms of violations and engage the opposition with a real dialogue.
In mentioning the American statement, he said the delegation insisted stronger than anyone else about the important recommendations of the BICI that have not been implemented. The American Delegate talked about the impunity provided to those who are responsible for torturing and mistreating those whose rights have been violated. The American Delegate demanded:
· The release of hundreds of prisoners.
· Stop the trials of the twenty medics.
· The release of AbdulHadi Al-Khawaja.
· Allowing all citizens to work in the security forces.
In regards to the position of the Swiss he said that Switzerland stressed on releasing all the prisoners and allowing freedom of speech, a point agreed upon by Austria who also stressed on torture as well as the rebuilding of mosques and ending the death penalty. The Belgian delegate expressed his deep concern about the violations and demanded the removal of the restrictions that inhibit freedom of speech and stop journalists from entering Bahrain.
He added that Denmark mentioned that the government has only implemented a small part of the BICI recommendations and called for implementation of the recommendation that deals with cases of torture. He also mentioned that there are still tortured prisoners and Abudlhadi Al-Khawaja who holds a Danish nationality was supposed to be transferred to Denmark by the mid of March 2012 according to a treaty signed with the government of Bahrain, but Bahrain did not commit itself to the signed treaty.
He continued that Finland stressed on sending an independent committee to investigate those cases of torture that resulted in death of some prisoners, which were also documented in the BICI.
France demanded the full implementation of BICI recommendations, specifically regarding the release of all prisoners including Nabeel Rajab and AbdulHadi AlKhwaja. It also called for the allowing of the special rapporteur on torture and freedom of speech and peaceful gathering to investigate. Germany demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners and to allow the opposition to have its own media.
Hungary demanded security forces not to intervene in peaceful gatherings as the Minister of Interior promised before. Italy recommended that all demolished mosques be rebuilt, and mentioned that reports say that torture is still going on after Bassiouni's report.
Mexico demanded a real dialogue between the government and the opposition to start immediately. Japan demanded the release of all political prisoners and to allow freedom of speech. Kuwait demanded the implementation of Bassiouni's report.
“Recommendations and critiques made by many countries in Geneva emphasize the credibility of opposition’s views and reports announced describing human rights violations. These countries are stimulated to adopt such critiques because of the large number of outrageous violations in Bahrain”, Mohamed Mutawa, a lawyer from National Democratic Assemblage (Unitary).
“Facts are being fabricated intentionally by the authorities. This has been proven after such fabrications got slammed in Geneva. International community will not accept further falsities from Bahrain authorities. The world asked to schedule the implementation of recommendations and adhere to them. The authorities now are not as before”, Motawa added in the press conference.
“Recommendations and demands raised during the UPR have indicated the unquestionable peaceful movement of the people of Bahrain and their eligible demands”, he underlined. “The defined three-month duration to implement the recommendation is pressurizing and putting the authorities in a tough position”.
Mutawa said, “One of these indications is that the so-called national dialogue is nothing but merely fake show which is internationally unrecognized”.
“We thank such honest international stand; however people of Bahrain are waiting for deeds not words, follow-ups not just forgettable recommendations”.
“We ask the US to stand with the people of Bahrain by not rejecting any possible resolutions that might be made in UNSC as the government is not capable to implement the recommendations”.
“What kind of violence the minister of justice is talking about? The violence performed by the Bahraini authorities is incomparable. They are brutally repressing peaceful pro-democracy protesters. Molotov cocktails; if used, mustn’t justify the collective brutal punishment against villages", he added.
Jaffar Kadhem from Al Taqadomi talked about human rights violations against the people of Bahrain since February 14th when the uprising was sparked. He asked all to refer to Bassiouni's report to find some descriptions of these violations. He said Bahrain had not stood up to its promises and obligations after the 2008 Universal Periodic Report in the Human Rights Council. He added that Bahrain didn't benefit from the 2008 recommendations.
Kadhem: organizations and countries condemned the authority
Kadhem: even the representative of Bahrain in Geneva ignored what has been mentioned in the BICI report, when he refused there are detainees of conscience. There are continuous violations against children that are contrary to the Convention on the rights of the child. Also there are irregularities in the issue of labors ' rights, unfair dismissal that happened, as well as irregularities with regards to education. All reports of international organizations had a big role in exposing these violations, HRW, Amnesty and other credible human rights organizations claims are clear on this subject.
He mentioned the workers whose rights have been violated as well as employees and who have been subjected to discrimination, stressing that the opposition parties demand the immediate release of all detainees. It's necessary for an independent investigation into all cases of torture and excessive use of force, the abolition of restrictions on freedom of expression, return of all suspended employees and respect the rights of returned workers to their jobs.
Kadhem said we are waiting for the report of the Human Rights Council to justify Bahraini people and the accusation by the authorities that the people are violent is unfair. The violence is directed against whoever is demanding freedom; the Bahraini people have the right to demand as the States of the Arab spring.
"This means that all participating countries agree that the authority is practicing violence against peaceful protesters, and even Saudi Arabia recommended the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) recommendations must be implemented and the security forces be trained", he said.
Khalil pointed out the most common issues highlighted and recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review for Bahrain in the United Nations' Human Rights Council, as follows;
· Implement the BICI recommendations before September, 2012
· Immediately release of all prisoners of conscience
· Hold accountable those involved in torture and violations
· Send the Special Rapporteur on torture to Bahrain
· Rebuild the mosques demolished by authorities
· Allow freedom of expression and allow opposition media
The majority of delegates to the UPR demanded that the BICI be recommendations be implemented in full, contradicting the claims of the governments implementation commission that said all recommendations had been implemented. In addition the United States pointed out that the most important recommendation, of holding to account civil and military officials, had yet to be achieved.
Delegates demanded a serious and fruitful dialogue between the authorities and the opposition, understanding the lack of seriousness attributed to the National Dialogue, held one year ago.
Khalil said that the head of the Bahrain Government delegation, Salah Ali, failed to convince the council that there are no political prisoners in Bahrain, despite his claims. Ali also mentioned in his response to questioning that thirty-two mosques had been demolished, but have not yet been rebuilt.
With regards to dialogue, Khalil reminded that the opposition demanded a serious dialogue in its last press conference, in order to take the country out of the current crisis. He also referred to the demands of the opposition as rightful political demands that concern all citizens.
Khalil said that the opposition is met with violence despite its continuous calls for a peaceful movement. "Sixty-six delegates talked about the authorities' violence but none talked about violence practiced by protesters, except the United States which mentioned the use of Molotov cocktails by some protesters, however, it did not deny the peaceful movement and demanded the authority to allow the right to peaceful protest", he said, " the U.S also condemned the use of birdshot (shotgun) and the excessive use of force against protesters."
Wide spread international condemnation
He also mentioned the demands made by the delegation of Slovenia that stressed the need to hold to account those responsible for violations. Spain called for full implementation and also mentioned holding to account of officials. “It is obvious that this recommendation has not been implemented yet,” he added. He mentioned the British recommendation that demands the release of the prisoners of conscience, stop all forms of violations and engage the opposition with a real dialogue.
In mentioning the American statement, he said the delegation insisted stronger than anyone else about the important recommendations of the BICI that have not been implemented. The American Delegate talked about the impunity provided to those who are responsible for torturing and mistreating those whose rights have been violated. The American Delegate demanded:
· The release of hundreds of prisoners.
· Stop the trials of the twenty medics.
· The release of AbdulHadi Al-Khawaja.
· Allowing all citizens to work in the security forces.
In regards to the position of the Swiss he said that Switzerland stressed on releasing all the prisoners and allowing freedom of speech, a point agreed upon by Austria who also stressed on torture as well as the rebuilding of mosques and ending the death penalty. The Belgian delegate expressed his deep concern about the violations and demanded the removal of the restrictions that inhibit freedom of speech and stop journalists from entering Bahrain.
He added that Denmark mentioned that the government has only implemented a small part of the BICI recommendations and called for implementation of the recommendation that deals with cases of torture. He also mentioned that there are still tortured prisoners and Abudlhadi Al-Khawaja who holds a Danish nationality was supposed to be transferred to Denmark by the mid of March 2012 according to a treaty signed with the government of Bahrain, but Bahrain did not commit itself to the signed treaty.
He continued that Finland stressed on sending an independent committee to investigate those cases of torture that resulted in death of some prisoners, which were also documented in the BICI.
France demanded the full implementation of BICI recommendations, specifically regarding the release of all prisoners including Nabeel Rajab and AbdulHadi AlKhwaja. It also called for the allowing of the special rapporteur on torture and freedom of speech and peaceful gathering to investigate. Germany demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners and to allow the opposition to have its own media.
Hungary demanded security forces not to intervene in peaceful gatherings as the Minister of Interior promised before. Italy recommended that all demolished mosques be rebuilt, and mentioned that reports say that torture is still going on after Bassiouni's report.
Mexico demanded a real dialogue between the government and the opposition to start immediately. Japan demanded the release of all political prisoners and to allow freedom of speech. Kuwait demanded the implementation of Bassiouni's report.
“Recommendations and critiques made by many countries in Geneva emphasize the credibility of opposition’s views and reports announced describing human rights violations. These countries are stimulated to adopt such critiques because of the large number of outrageous violations in Bahrain”, Mohamed Mutawa, a lawyer from National Democratic Assemblage (Unitary).
“Facts are being fabricated intentionally by the authorities. This has been proven after such fabrications got slammed in Geneva. International community will not accept further falsities from Bahrain authorities. The world asked to schedule the implementation of recommendations and adhere to them. The authorities now are not as before”, Motawa added in the press conference.
“Recommendations and demands raised during the UPR have indicated the unquestionable peaceful movement of the people of Bahrain and their eligible demands”, he underlined. “The defined three-month duration to implement the recommendation is pressurizing and putting the authorities in a tough position”.
Mutawa said, “One of these indications is that the so-called national dialogue is nothing but merely fake show which is internationally unrecognized”.
“We thank such honest international stand; however people of Bahrain are waiting for deeds not words, follow-ups not just forgettable recommendations”.
“We ask the US to stand with the people of Bahrain by not rejecting any possible resolutions that might be made in UNSC as the government is not capable to implement the recommendations”.
“What kind of violence the minister of justice is talking about? The violence performed by the Bahraini authorities is incomparable. They are brutally repressing peaceful pro-democracy protesters. Molotov cocktails; if used, mustn’t justify the collective brutal punishment against villages", he added.
Jaffar Kadhem from Al Taqadomi talked about human rights violations against the people of Bahrain since February 14th when the uprising was sparked. He asked all to refer to Bassiouni's report to find some descriptions of these violations. He said Bahrain had not stood up to its promises and obligations after the 2008 Universal Periodic Report in the Human Rights Council. He added that Bahrain didn't benefit from the 2008 recommendations.
Kadhem: organizations and countries condemned the authority
Kadhem: even the representative of Bahrain in Geneva ignored what has been mentioned in the BICI report, when he refused there are detainees of conscience. There are continuous violations against children that are contrary to the Convention on the rights of the child. Also there are irregularities in the issue of labors ' rights, unfair dismissal that happened, as well as irregularities with regards to education. All reports of international organizations had a big role in exposing these violations, HRW, Amnesty and other credible human rights organizations claims are clear on this subject.
He mentioned the workers whose rights have been violated as well as employees and who have been subjected to discrimination, stressing that the opposition parties demand the immediate release of all detainees. It's necessary for an independent investigation into all cases of torture and excessive use of force, the abolition of restrictions on freedom of expression, return of all suspended employees and respect the rights of returned workers to their jobs.
Kadhem said we are waiting for the report of the Human Rights Council to justify Bahraini people and the accusation by the authorities that the people are violent is unfair. The violence is directed against whoever is demanding freedom; the Bahraini people have the right to demand as the States of the Arab spring.