UN Human Rights Council: Bahrain Persecutes Shia & Targets Clerics

AhlulBayt News Agency - The Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council released the 13th iteration of their joint communications report on Thursday, February 25, 2016, documenting allegations of human rights abuses from around the globe. In the most recent edition of the report, the Special Procedures singled out Bahrain as among the worst offenders of human rights in the world, citing Bahraini violations in six different cases.

In a report, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) has compiled summaries of each of these cases. In Al-Wasat case, the report mentioned that "the Rapporteur on Expression complained that the Bahraini government had suspended the license of al-Wasat, Bahrain's independent newspaper, due to dissemination of information affecting national unity and the Kingdom's relationship with other countries."

The Rapporteur was also concerned that Bahrain had intimidated al-Wasat's staff over a period of several years, and that, though the suspension was lifted, its imposition would have a chilling effect on free speech in Bahrain.

For their part, the Rapporteurs on Expression and Human Rights Defenders were concerned regarding the arbitrary arrest of human rights defender and interfaith leader Shaikh Maytham al-Salman for allegedly "inciting hatred against the regime" and spreading false news. They additionally expressed concern regarding his alleged travel ban.

Also, the Rapporteurs on culture, extreme poverty, and religion wrote of concerns that the "Bahraini government had engaged in systemic discrimination against its Shia citizens through cultural, economic, educational, and social policies."

The report read that "the government allegedly targets Shia clerics for persecution and undermines the role of Shia in its official historical narrative. The government also allegedly discriminates against Shia in its citizenship, housing, and welfare policies, and has destroyed Shia mosques and sites of religious and cultural significance."

Furthermore, the Rapporteurs on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Summary Executions, and Torture wrote of "concern that Bahraini citizens Mohamad Ramadan and Husain Moosa had been sentenced to death on the basis of confessions coerced by means of torture."

On Jaw Prison, the Rapporteurs on Health and Torture wrote "concerning torture, poor conditions, and denial of access to health care in relation to a violent crackdown on a prison protest on 10 March," adding that "the government has not undertaken an investigation against any security personnel involved in the assault."

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Rapporteurs on Expression, Assembly, Religion, and Human Rights Defenders expressed concern as well regarding the arbitrary detention of religious figure and political opposition leader Ali Salman.

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The Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council released the 13th iteration of their joint communications report on Thursday, February 25, 2016, documenting allegations of human rights abuses from around the globe. In the most recent edition of the report, the Special Procedures singled out Bahrain as among the worst offenders of human rights in the world, citing Bahraini violations in six different cases.

In a report, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) has compiled summaries of each of these cases. In Al-Wasat case, the report mentioned that "the Rapporteur on Expression complained that the Bahraini government had suspended the license of al-Wasat, Bahrain's independent newspaper, due to dissemination of information affecting national unity and the Kingdom's relationship with other countries."

The Rapporteur was also concerned that Bahrain had intimidated al-Wasat's staff over a period of several years, and that, though the suspension was lifted, its imposition would have a chilling effect on free speech in Bahrain.

For their part, the Rapporteurs on Expression and Human Rights Defenders were concerned regarding the arbitrary arrest of human rights defender and interfaith leader Shaikh Maytham al-Salman for allegedly "inciting hatred against the regime" and spreading false news. They additionally expressed concern regarding his alleged travel ban.

Also, the Rapporteurs on culture, extreme poverty, and religion wrote of concerns that the "Bahraini government had engaged in systemic discrimination against its Shia citizens through cultural, economic, educational, and social policies."

The report read that "the government allegedly targets Shia clerics for persecution and undermines the role of Shia in its official historical narrative. The government also allegedly discriminates against Shia in its citizenship, housing, and welfare policies, and has destroyed Shia mosques and sites of religious and cultural significance."

Furthermore, the Rapporteurs on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Summary Executions, and Torture wrote of "concern that Bahraini citizens Mohamad Ramadan and Husain Moosa had been sentenced to death on the basis of confessions coerced by means of torture."

On Jaw Prison, the Rapporteurs on Health and Torture wrote "concerning torture, poor conditions, and denial of access to health care in relation to a violent crackdown on a prison protest on 10 March," adding that "the government has not undertaken an investigation against any security personnel involved in the assault."

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Rapporteurs on Expression, Assembly, Religion, and Human Rights Defenders expressed concern as well regarding the arbitrary detention of religious figure and political opposition leader Ali Salman.