| BAHRAIN Kingdom of Bahrain Mamlakat al Bahrayn Joined United Nations: 21 September 1971 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 01/04/11 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Manama
738,004
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa
Prime Minister since 1971
Prime Minister since 1971
The monarchy is hereditary;
Next scheduled election: None
Next scheduled election: None
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
Prime minister and Deputy Prime Ministers appointed by the
monarch
Next scheduled election: None
monarch
Next scheduled election: None
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
| RELIGIONS |
Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Constitutional monarchy with 5 governorates; Legal system is based on Islamic law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative: Bicameral legislature consists of the Consultative Council (40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of
Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014)
Judicial: High Civil Appeals Court
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative: Bicameral legislature consists of the Consultative Council (40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of
Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014)
Judicial: High Civil Appeals Court
| LANGUAGES |
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
| BRIEF HISTORY |
The history of Bahrain goes back more than five thousand years to its role as the center of the ancient civilization of Dilmun, which
dominated the trade routes between Sumer and the Indus Valley. In the first century AD, Bahrain was referred to by the Greeks as
"Tylos", the centre of pearl trading, when Nearchus came to discover it serving under Alexander the Great. The town of Muharraq
was referred to as "Arados" (now there is "Arad" in Muharraq). While Bahrain was never incorporated into the Roman Empire it
did become a centre for Christianity. From the time when Islam emerged in the seventh century until the early sixteenth century, the
name Bahrain referred to the wider historical region of Bahrain stretching from Basrah to the Strait of Hormuz along the Persian Gulf
coast. Bahrainis were amongst the first to embrace Islam. Mohammed ruled Bahrain through one of his representatives, Al-Ala'a Al-
Hadhrami. Bahraini embraced Islam in 629 (the seventh year of hijra). During the time of Umar I the famous companion of the
Prophet Abu Hurayrah was the governor of Bahrain. Bahrain became a principal centre of knowledge for hundreds of years
stretching from the early days of Islam in the sixth century to the eighteenth century. In the end of the third Hijri century, Abu Sa'id
al-Hasan al-Janaby led the Revolution of al-Qaramita, a rebellion by a messianic Ismaili sect originating in Baghdad. Al-Janaby took
over the city of Hajr, Bahrain's capital at that time, in addition to al-Hasa, which he made the capital of his nation and once in
control of the state he sought to create a utopian society. The Qarmatians' goal in Bahrain was to build a society based on reason,
tolerance and equality. From Bahrain, the Qarmatians raided Baghdad and sacked Mecca and Medina in 930. The sacking of
Islam's holiest sites saw the Qarmatians desecrate the Well of Zamzam with corpses of Hajj pilgrims and take the Black Stone from
Mecca to Bahrain. The Qarmatians were eventually defeated in battle in 976 by the Abbasids, which precipitated the waning of
Qarmatian power and eventually the ascendancy to power of various east Arabian tribes. The first of these post-Qarmatian
dynasties were the Uyunids, who put an end to the Qarmatians in 1076. Based on the mainland in al-Ahsa and Qatif, the 'Uyunids
ruled the Awal islands until 1235, when the islands were briefly occupied by the ruler of Fars. In 1253, the bedouin Sunni dynasty
of the Usfurids gained control over eastern Arabia, including the islands of Bahrain. In 1330, the islands became tributary to the
rulers of Hormuz. Until the late Middle Ages, "Bahrain" referred to the larger historical region of Bahrain. Ibn Battuta's 14th century
account contains an early use of the term "Bahrain" to refer solely to the Awal islands. In the mid-15th century, the islands came
under the rule of the Jabrids, another bedouin dynasty that was also based in al-Ahsa and ruled most of eastern Arabia. The Jabrids
followed the Sunni Maliki rite, which they actively promoted within their domain. Portuguese expansion into the Indian Ocean in the
early sixteenth century following Vasco da Gama's voyages of exploration saw them battle the Ottomans up the coast of the Persian
Gulf. Reputedly, the first Portuguese traveller to visit Bahrain was Duarte Barbosa in 1485. In 1521, a Portuguese force led by
commander Antonio Correia invaded Bahrain to take control of the wealth created by its pearl industry. The conquest of Bahrain by
the Portuguese and their vassals, the Kingdom of Hormuz, was part of a long and sustained war against the Ottomans for control of
the spice trade. Under Persian Safavid rule (1602-1717), Bahrain fell under the administrative jurisdiction of the Beglarbegi of
Kuhgilu centered at Behbahan in southern Iran. In fact, the Safavids ruled Bahrain from a distance, seeking to control the islands not
by force, but through ideology and the manipulation of local rivalries. An Afghan invasion of Iran at the beginning of the eighteenth
century resulted in the near collapse of the Safavid state, and the resultant power vacuum saw Oman invade Bahrain in 1717, ending
over a hundred years of Persian hegemony. Bahrain was eventually sold back to the Persians by the Omanis, but the weakness of
the Safavid empire saw Huwala tribes seize control, who Al Bahrani says "ruined" the country. In 1783, the Al Khalifa clan (of the
Bani Utub tribe) invaded and captured Bahrain from their base in Zubara in neighbouring Qatar. The leader of the clan at the time
was Ahmad ibn Mohammed Al Khalifa who is now referred to as Ahmed Al Fateh ("Ahmed the Conqueror"). The Al Khalifa were
supported by several other Bedouin tribes in its invasion of Bahrain, including: the Al fathel, Al Jalahima, Al Bin Ali, Al Bu Romaih,
Al Muhannadi, Al Nuaim, Al Buainain, Al Hajri, and others. In 1799 the Al Khalifa were evicted from Bahrain to be replaced first
by the rule of the Sultanate of Oman. The Al Khalifa regained control of the country in 1811 when they launched another attack
from Zubara. In 1820 the Al Khalifa signed the General Treaty of Peace with the British, agreeing not to engage in piracy unless
they were in a state of war. A binding treaty of protection, known as the Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship, was concluded
in 1861, ushering in the period of colonialism in Bahrain, and was further revised in 1892 and 1951. The discovery of oil in 1932
made Bahrain the first location in the Persian Gulf to have oil wells sunk. Oil production required thousands of workers, attracting
peasants as well as enfranchised slaves who had become free men thanks to the end of slavery and debt bondage. As the first oil
wells were being drilled, the pearl diving industry, hitherto the main source of income for the country, collapsed because of
competition from cultured pearls produced in Japan. During the Second World War, Bahrain fought on the side of the Allies,
declaring war on Germany on September 10, 1939. It was a key base for the allies to safeguard oil supplies in the Persian Gulf and
was the subject of Italian air raids on its oil refineries on October 20, 1940 from bases in East Africa. After World War II, Bahrain
became the centre for British administration of the lower Persian Gulf. In 1968, when the British Government announced its decision
to end the treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, Bahrain joined with Qatar and the seven Trucial States (which now
form the United Arab Emirates) under British protection in an effort to form a union of Arab emirates. By mid-1971, however, the
nine sheikhdoms still had not agreed on the terms of union. Accordingly, Bahrain sought independence as a separate entity and
became fully independent on August 15, 1971, as the State of Bahrain. The tide of political Islam that swept the Middle East in the
1970s culminating in the Iranian Revolution in 1979 was to have profound implications for Bahrain's social and political development.
In 1981, an Iranian front organisation, the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain attempted a coup d'etat with the plan involving
the assassination of Bahrain's leadership and an Islamist uprising. The aim was to install a clerical leadership with Iraqi cleric Hādī al-
Mudarrisī as supreme leader, but the coup was detected after a tip off from a friendly intelligence source. In the aftermath of the
Persian Gulf War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, and encouraged by electoral and parliamentary developments in Kuwait,
Bahraini opponents of the government sensed an opportunity to raise again the issue of elections and their own parliament. In 1999
Shaykh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa became Amir after the death of his father, Shaykh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and carried out
wide ranging social and political reforms, described by Amnesty International as representing an 'historic period for human rights'.
The invitation to Bahrain's former exiles to return home revitalised the Kingdom's politics. Hamad promulgated the 2002
Constitution in which both the elected and the royally-appointed chambers of parliament were given equal legislative powers, going
back on his public promise of 2001. Between 2002 and 2006, the four boycotting societies continued their demand for discussions
on constitutional reforms. By 2006 these four party opposition indicated that it would participate in the parliamentary elections, but
retain their demand for constitutional reform at the top of their agenda.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Bahrain
dominated the trade routes between Sumer and the Indus Valley. In the first century AD, Bahrain was referred to by the Greeks as
"Tylos", the centre of pearl trading, when Nearchus came to discover it serving under Alexander the Great. The town of Muharraq
was referred to as "Arados" (now there is "Arad" in Muharraq). While Bahrain was never incorporated into the Roman Empire it
did become a centre for Christianity. From the time when Islam emerged in the seventh century until the early sixteenth century, the
name Bahrain referred to the wider historical region of Bahrain stretching from Basrah to the Strait of Hormuz along the Persian Gulf
coast. Bahrainis were amongst the first to embrace Islam. Mohammed ruled Bahrain through one of his representatives, Al-Ala'a Al-
Hadhrami. Bahraini embraced Islam in 629 (the seventh year of hijra). During the time of Umar I the famous companion of the
Prophet Abu Hurayrah was the governor of Bahrain. Bahrain became a principal centre of knowledge for hundreds of years
stretching from the early days of Islam in the sixth century to the eighteenth century. In the end of the third Hijri century, Abu Sa'id
al-Hasan al-Janaby led the Revolution of al-Qaramita, a rebellion by a messianic Ismaili sect originating in Baghdad. Al-Janaby took
over the city of Hajr, Bahrain's capital at that time, in addition to al-Hasa, which he made the capital of his nation and once in
control of the state he sought to create a utopian society. The Qarmatians' goal in Bahrain was to build a society based on reason,
tolerance and equality. From Bahrain, the Qarmatians raided Baghdad and sacked Mecca and Medina in 930. The sacking of
Islam's holiest sites saw the Qarmatians desecrate the Well of Zamzam with corpses of Hajj pilgrims and take the Black Stone from
Mecca to Bahrain. The Qarmatians were eventually defeated in battle in 976 by the Abbasids, which precipitated the waning of
Qarmatian power and eventually the ascendancy to power of various east Arabian tribes. The first of these post-Qarmatian
dynasties were the Uyunids, who put an end to the Qarmatians in 1076. Based on the mainland in al-Ahsa and Qatif, the 'Uyunids
ruled the Awal islands until 1235, when the islands were briefly occupied by the ruler of Fars. In 1253, the bedouin Sunni dynasty
of the Usfurids gained control over eastern Arabia, including the islands of Bahrain. In 1330, the islands became tributary to the
rulers of Hormuz. Until the late Middle Ages, "Bahrain" referred to the larger historical region of Bahrain. Ibn Battuta's 14th century
account contains an early use of the term "Bahrain" to refer solely to the Awal islands. In the mid-15th century, the islands came
under the rule of the Jabrids, another bedouin dynasty that was also based in al-Ahsa and ruled most of eastern Arabia. The Jabrids
followed the Sunni Maliki rite, which they actively promoted within their domain. Portuguese expansion into the Indian Ocean in the
early sixteenth century following Vasco da Gama's voyages of exploration saw them battle the Ottomans up the coast of the Persian
Gulf. Reputedly, the first Portuguese traveller to visit Bahrain was Duarte Barbosa in 1485. In 1521, a Portuguese force led by
commander Antonio Correia invaded Bahrain to take control of the wealth created by its pearl industry. The conquest of Bahrain by
the Portuguese and their vassals, the Kingdom of Hormuz, was part of a long and sustained war against the Ottomans for control of
the spice trade. Under Persian Safavid rule (1602-1717), Bahrain fell under the administrative jurisdiction of the Beglarbegi of
Kuhgilu centered at Behbahan in southern Iran. In fact, the Safavids ruled Bahrain from a distance, seeking to control the islands not
by force, but through ideology and the manipulation of local rivalries. An Afghan invasion of Iran at the beginning of the eighteenth
century resulted in the near collapse of the Safavid state, and the resultant power vacuum saw Oman invade Bahrain in 1717, ending
over a hundred years of Persian hegemony. Bahrain was eventually sold back to the Persians by the Omanis, but the weakness of
the Safavid empire saw Huwala tribes seize control, who Al Bahrani says "ruined" the country. In 1783, the Al Khalifa clan (of the
Bani Utub tribe) invaded and captured Bahrain from their base in Zubara in neighbouring Qatar. The leader of the clan at the time
was Ahmad ibn Mohammed Al Khalifa who is now referred to as Ahmed Al Fateh ("Ahmed the Conqueror"). The Al Khalifa were
supported by several other Bedouin tribes in its invasion of Bahrain, including: the Al fathel, Al Jalahima, Al Bin Ali, Al Bu Romaih,
Al Muhannadi, Al Nuaim, Al Buainain, Al Hajri, and others. In 1799 the Al Khalifa were evicted from Bahrain to be replaced first
by the rule of the Sultanate of Oman. The Al Khalifa regained control of the country in 1811 when they launched another attack
from Zubara. In 1820 the Al Khalifa signed the General Treaty of Peace with the British, agreeing not to engage in piracy unless
they were in a state of war. A binding treaty of protection, known as the Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship, was concluded
in 1861, ushering in the period of colonialism in Bahrain, and was further revised in 1892 and 1951. The discovery of oil in 1932
made Bahrain the first location in the Persian Gulf to have oil wells sunk. Oil production required thousands of workers, attracting
peasants as well as enfranchised slaves who had become free men thanks to the end of slavery and debt bondage. As the first oil
wells were being drilled, the pearl diving industry, hitherto the main source of income for the country, collapsed because of
competition from cultured pearls produced in Japan. During the Second World War, Bahrain fought on the side of the Allies,
declaring war on Germany on September 10, 1939. It was a key base for the allies to safeguard oil supplies in the Persian Gulf and
was the subject of Italian air raids on its oil refineries on October 20, 1940 from bases in East Africa. After World War II, Bahrain
became the centre for British administration of the lower Persian Gulf. In 1968, when the British Government announced its decision
to end the treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, Bahrain joined with Qatar and the seven Trucial States (which now
form the United Arab Emirates) under British protection in an effort to form a union of Arab emirates. By mid-1971, however, the
nine sheikhdoms still had not agreed on the terms of union. Accordingly, Bahrain sought independence as a separate entity and
became fully independent on August 15, 1971, as the State of Bahrain. The tide of political Islam that swept the Middle East in the
1970s culminating in the Iranian Revolution in 1979 was to have profound implications for Bahrain's social and political development.
In 1981, an Iranian front organisation, the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain attempted a coup d'etat with the plan involving
the assassination of Bahrain's leadership and an Islamist uprising. The aim was to install a clerical leadership with Iraqi cleric Hādī al-
Mudarrisī as supreme leader, but the coup was detected after a tip off from a friendly intelligence source. In the aftermath of the
Persian Gulf War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, and encouraged by electoral and parliamentary developments in Kuwait,
Bahraini opponents of the government sensed an opportunity to raise again the issue of elections and their own parliament. In 1999
Shaykh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa became Amir after the death of his father, Shaykh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and carried out
wide ranging social and political reforms, described by Amnesty International as representing an 'historic period for human rights'.
The invitation to Bahrain's former exiles to return home revitalised the Kingdom's politics. Hamad promulgated the 2002
Constitution in which both the elected and the royally-appointed chambers of parliament were given equal legislative powers, going
back on his public promise of 2001. Between 2002 and 2006, the four boycotting societies continued their demand for discussions
on constitutional reforms. By 2006 these four party opposition indicated that it would participate in the parliamentary elections, but
retain their demand for constitutional reform at the top of their agenda.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Bahrain
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Persian Gulf. Highly developed communication and transport facilities make
Bahrain home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Bahrain's economy,
however, continues to depend heavily on oil. Petroleum production and refining account for more than 60% of Bahrain's export
receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries). Other major economic activities are
production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil - finance, and construction. Bahrain competes with Malaysia as a
worldwide center for Islamic banking. Future economic growth hinges on Bahrain's ability to acquire new natural gas supplies as
feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment, especially among the young, is a
long-term economic problem Bahrain struggles to address. In 2009, to help reduce unemployment among Bahraini nationals,
Bahrain reduced sponsorship for expatriate workers, increasing the costs of employing foreign labor. The global financial crisis
caused funding for many non-oil projects to dry up and resulted in slower economic growth for Bahrain. Lower oil prices also
caused Bahrain's budget to slip back into deficit for the first time since 2002, prompting Bahrain to issue an emergency budget
supplement and finance its deficits with bonds.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Bahrain)
Bahrain home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Bahrain's economy,
however, continues to depend heavily on oil. Petroleum production and refining account for more than 60% of Bahrain's export
receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries). Other major economic activities are
production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil - finance, and construction. Bahrain competes with Malaysia as a
worldwide center for Islamic banking. Future economic growth hinges on Bahrain's ability to acquire new natural gas supplies as
feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment, especially among the young, is a
long-term economic problem Bahrain struggles to address. In 2009, to help reduce unemployment among Bahraini nationals,
Bahrain reduced sponsorship for expatriate workers, increasing the costs of employing foreign labor. The global financial crisis
caused funding for many non-oil projects to dry up and resulted in slower economic growth for Bahrain. Lower oil prices also
caused Bahrain's budget to slip back into deficit for the first time since 2002, prompting Bahrain to issue an emergency budget
supplement and finance its deficits with bonds.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Bahrain)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
Since he succeeded as head of state in 1999, Sheikh Hamad has initiated wide ranging political reforms scrapping the restrictive
state security laws, giving women the right to vote, freeing all political prisoners and holding parliamentary elections. The first poll
was held in 2002, with MPs serving four year terms; the second parliamentary election took place on 25 November 2006.
Democratisation has greatly enhanced clerical influence, through the ability of religious leaders to deliver the votes of their
congregations to candidates. Sheikh Abdullah Al Ghraifi, the deputy head of the Islamic Scholars Council, gave a clear warning of
the clerics' intent: "We have at our disposition 150,000 votes that we will forward to the MPs, and I hope that they understand this
message clearly." Over the showdown with the government and women's rights activists on the introduction of stronger legal rights
for women, clerics have taken a lead in mobilising the opposition, and threatened to instruct their supporters to vote against MPs
that support women's rights.
Bahraini liberals have responded to the growing power of religious extremist parties by organising themselves to campaign through
civil society in order to defend basic personal freedoms from being legislated away. In November 2005, al Muntada, a grouping of
liberal academics, launched "We Have A Right", a campaign to explain to the public why personal freedoms matter and why they
need to be defended.
Bahrain's five governorates are administered by the Minister of State for Municipalities and the Environment in conjunction with
each Governorate's Governor. A complex system of courts, based on diverse legal sources, including Sunni and Shi'a Sharia
(religious law), tribal law, and other civil codes and regulation, was created with the help of British advisers in the early 20th century.
This judiciary administers the legal code and reviews laws to ensure their constitutionality.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Bahrain
state security laws, giving women the right to vote, freeing all political prisoners and holding parliamentary elections. The first poll
was held in 2002, with MPs serving four year terms; the second parliamentary election took place on 25 November 2006.
Democratisation has greatly enhanced clerical influence, through the ability of religious leaders to deliver the votes of their
congregations to candidates. Sheikh Abdullah Al Ghraifi, the deputy head of the Islamic Scholars Council, gave a clear warning of
the clerics' intent: "We have at our disposition 150,000 votes that we will forward to the MPs, and I hope that they understand this
message clearly." Over the showdown with the government and women's rights activists on the introduction of stronger legal rights
for women, clerics have taken a lead in mobilising the opposition, and threatened to instruct their supporters to vote against MPs
that support women's rights.
Bahraini liberals have responded to the growing power of religious extremist parties by organising themselves to campaign through
civil society in order to defend basic personal freedoms from being legislated away. In November 2005, al Muntada, a grouping of
liberal academics, launched "We Have A Right", a campaign to explain to the public why personal freedoms matter and why they
need to be defended.
Bahrain's five governorates are administered by the Minister of State for Municipalities and the Environment in conjunction with
each Governorate's Governor. A complex system of courts, based on diverse legal sources, including Sunni and Shi'a Sharia
(religious law), tribal law, and other civil codes and regulation, was created with the help of British advisers in the early 20th century.
This judiciary administers the legal code and reviews laws to ensure their constitutionality.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Bahrain
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
None reported.
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) |
None reported.
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
None reported.
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
2009 Human Rights Report: Bahrain
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Bahrain is a monarchy with a population of approximately 1,050,000, including approximately 530,000 who are citizens. King Hamad Bin
Isa Al-Khalifa is the head of state and all branches of government. The king appoints a cabinet of ministers; approximately half are
members of the minority Sunni Al-Khalifa ruling family. The 2002 constitution reinstated a legislative body with one elected chamber, the
Council of Deputies, and one appointed chamber, the Shura Council. All registered political societies participated in the 2006
parliamentary and municipal elections, which were marred by allegations of gerrymandering and vote rigging in some races. Civilian
authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces.
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Bahrain is a monarchy with a population of approximately 1,050,000, including approximately 530,000 who are citizens. King Hamad Bin
Isa Al-Khalifa is the head of state and all branches of government. The king appoints a cabinet of ministers; approximately half are
members of the minority Sunni Al-Khalifa ruling family. The 2002 constitution reinstated a legislative body with one elected chamber, the
Council of Deputies, and one appointed chamber, the Shura Council. All registered political societies participated in the 2006
parliamentary and municipal elections, which were marred by allegations of gerrymandering and vote rigging in some races. Civilian
authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces.
- Citizens did not have the right to change their government.
- The government restricted civil liberties, including freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, and some religious practices.
- Domestic violence against women and children persisted, as did discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, nationality, and
sect, especially against the Shia majority population. - Trafficking in persons and restrictions on the rights of foreign resident workers remained problems.
14 November 2008
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Forty-second session 20 October-7 November 2008
Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Bahrain
Introduction
2. The Committee congratulates the State party for its accession to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women, on June 2002. The Committee welcomes the combined initial and second periodic reports of the State party, which was
well structured and generally complied with the Committee’s guidelines for preparation of initial reports, but noted that it lacked
references to the Committee’s general recommendations. It also notes with appreciation the State party’s submission of additional
information containing new data and statistics, as well as the written replies to the list of issues and questions raised by the pre-session
working group, which together provided further insights into the real situation of women in Bahrain and concrete information on the
implementation of the Convention.
Positive aspects
5. The Committee welcomes the adoption of the National Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women to promote women’s
enjoyment of their rights in all areas, which includes several plans and programmes.
6. The Committee notes with satisfaction the establishment of the Supreme Council for Women in 2001 as the national mechanism for
the advancement of women.
7. The Committee commends the State party’s enactment of Law No. 1 of 2008 on human trafficking, which includes key provisions of
the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the additional protocols thereto.
Principal areas of concern and recommendations
10. The Committee recalls the State party’s obligation to systematically and continuously implement all the provisions of the Convention
and views the concerns and recommendations identified in the present concluding comments as requiring the State party’s priority
attention between now and the submission of the next periodic report. Consequently, the Committee urges the State party to focus on
those areas in its implementation activities and report on action taken and results achieved in its next periodic report. It calls upon the
State party to submit the present concluding comments to all relevant ministries and Parliament so as to ensure their full implementation.
Parliament
11. While reaffirming that the Government has the primary responsibility and is particularly accountable for the full implementation of the
State party’s obligations under the Convention, the Committee stresses that the Convention is binding on all branches of Government,
and it invites the State party to encourage its national Parliament in line with its procedures, where appropriate, to take the necessary
steps with regard to the implementation of these concluding observations and the Government’s next reporting process under the
Convention.
Click here to read more »
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Forty-second session 20 October-7 November 2008
Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Bahrain
Introduction
2. The Committee congratulates the State party for its accession to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women, on June 2002. The Committee welcomes the combined initial and second periodic reports of the State party, which was
well structured and generally complied with the Committee’s guidelines for preparation of initial reports, but noted that it lacked
references to the Committee’s general recommendations. It also notes with appreciation the State party’s submission of additional
information containing new data and statistics, as well as the written replies to the list of issues and questions raised by the pre-session
working group, which together provided further insights into the real situation of women in Bahrain and concrete information on the
implementation of the Convention.
Positive aspects
5. The Committee welcomes the adoption of the National Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women to promote women’s
enjoyment of their rights in all areas, which includes several plans and programmes.
6. The Committee notes with satisfaction the establishment of the Supreme Council for Women in 2001 as the national mechanism for
the advancement of women.
7. The Committee commends the State party’s enactment of Law No. 1 of 2008 on human trafficking, which includes key provisions of
the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the additional protocols thereto.
Principal areas of concern and recommendations
10. The Committee recalls the State party’s obligation to systematically and continuously implement all the provisions of the Convention
and views the concerns and recommendations identified in the present concluding comments as requiring the State party’s priority
attention between now and the submission of the next periodic report. Consequently, the Committee urges the State party to focus on
those areas in its implementation activities and report on action taken and results achieved in its next periodic report. It calls upon the
State party to submit the present concluding comments to all relevant ministries and Parliament so as to ensure their full implementation.
Parliament
11. While reaffirming that the Government has the primary responsibility and is particularly accountable for the full implementation of the
State party’s obligations under the Convention, the Committee stresses that the Convention is binding on all branches of Government,
and it invites the State party to encourage its national Parliament in line with its procedures, where appropriate, to take the necessary
steps with regard to the implementation of these concluding observations and the Government’s next reporting process under the
Convention.
Click here to read more »
Freedom In The World 2010 Report
Political Rights Score: 6
Civil Liberties Score: 5
Status: Not Free
Ratings Change
Bahrain’s political rights rating declined from 5 to 6 and its status from Partly Free to Not Free due to arrests of prominent
members of the Haq political society, an increase in systematic harassment of opposition figures, and worsening sectarian
discrimination.
Overview
Tensions between the country’s Shiite majority and the ruling Sunni minority intensified in 2009. In January, authorities arrested three
leaders of the mostly Shiite opposition political society Haq, sparking a series of violent protests. Also that month, the information
minister ordered internet service providers to block access to websites with political content that was critical of the government. In
June, the government briefly closed the daily newspaper Akhbar al-Khaleej for an article that was critical of Iran’s leadership.
Security forces cracked down on the government’s most outspoken critics in 2007, and the campaign continued through 2008, with
dozens of Shiite activists claiming that they were tortured in custody. Violence escalated following the January 2009 arrest of Hassan
Mushaima, Abduljalil al-Singace, and Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, three leaders of the opposition political association Haq. Authorities
compounded tensions that month when they arrested the popular human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja for a speech that was
critical of the government. Al-Khawaja was charged with “instigating hatred and disrespect” against the government and faced a possible
10-year prison sentence, but subsequently received a royal pardon in April. While the pardon provided al-Khawaja his freedom, royal
pardons are temporary. The charges and the possibility of future imprisonment remain in place. Protests and clashes between mostly
young Shiites and security forces broke out regularly between January and April, with police using live ammunition to disperse
demonstrators.
In a bid to calm the unrest, the government released Mushaima, al-Singace, and al-Muqdad in April, and the king pardoned 22 Shiite
activists who had been imprisoned for 10 months on charges of “promoting regime change through terrorism.” In October, 19 Shiites
were acquitted of murdering a police officer in 2008.
Bahrain is not an electoral democracy. The 2002 constitution gives the king power over the executive, legislative, and judicial authorities.
He appoints cabinet ministers and members of the 40-seat Consultative Council, the upper house of the National Assembly. The lower
house, or Council of Representatives, consists of 40 elected members serving four-year terms. The National Assembly may propose
legislation, but the cabinet must draft the laws.
Formal political parties are illegal, but the government allows political societies or groupings to operate. A 2005 law makes it illegal to
form political associations based on class, profession, or religion, and requires all political associations to register with the Ministry of
Justice.
Click here to read more »
Political Rights Score: 6
Civil Liberties Score: 5
Status: Not Free
Ratings Change
Bahrain’s political rights rating declined from 5 to 6 and its status from Partly Free to Not Free due to arrests of prominent
members of the Haq political society, an increase in systematic harassment of opposition figures, and worsening sectarian
discrimination.
Overview
Tensions between the country’s Shiite majority and the ruling Sunni minority intensified in 2009. In January, authorities arrested three
leaders of the mostly Shiite opposition political society Haq, sparking a series of violent protests. Also that month, the information
minister ordered internet service providers to block access to websites with political content that was critical of the government. In
June, the government briefly closed the daily newspaper Akhbar al-Khaleej for an article that was critical of Iran’s leadership.
Security forces cracked down on the government’s most outspoken critics in 2007, and the campaign continued through 2008, with
dozens of Shiite activists claiming that they were tortured in custody. Violence escalated following the January 2009 arrest of Hassan
Mushaima, Abduljalil al-Singace, and Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, three leaders of the opposition political association Haq. Authorities
compounded tensions that month when they arrested the popular human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja for a speech that was
critical of the government. Al-Khawaja was charged with “instigating hatred and disrespect” against the government and faced a possible
10-year prison sentence, but subsequently received a royal pardon in April. While the pardon provided al-Khawaja his freedom, royal
pardons are temporary. The charges and the possibility of future imprisonment remain in place. Protests and clashes between mostly
young Shiites and security forces broke out regularly between January and April, with police using live ammunition to disperse
demonstrators.
In a bid to calm the unrest, the government released Mushaima, al-Singace, and al-Muqdad in April, and the king pardoned 22 Shiite
activists who had been imprisoned for 10 months on charges of “promoting regime change through terrorism.” In October, 19 Shiites
were acquitted of murdering a police officer in 2008.
Bahrain is not an electoral democracy. The 2002 constitution gives the king power over the executive, legislative, and judicial authorities.
He appoints cabinet ministers and members of the 40-seat Consultative Council, the upper house of the National Assembly. The lower
house, or Council of Representatives, consists of 40 elected members serving four-year terms. The National Assembly may propose
legislation, but the cabinet must draft the laws.
Formal political parties are illegal, but the government allows political societies or groupings to operate. A 2005 law makes it illegal to
form political associations based on class, profession, or religion, and requires all political associations to register with the Ministry of
Justice.
Click here to read more »
Bahrain activists make new torture allegations
16 November 2010
Amnesty International has called on the Bahraini authorities to investigate fresh allegations of torture made by some of the 23 detained
opposition activists accused of terrorism and plotting to overthrow the government.
According to their lawyers the activists said they had been beaten in prison, deprived of sleep and forced to remain standing for long
periods following the first session of their trial on 28 October.
The abuses are said to have been committed to punish the defendants for telling the trial court at its first session that they had been
tortured in pre-trial detention following their arrests in August and September.
"The Bahraini authorities must conduct a prompt and independent investigation into both these allegations of torture," said Malcolm
Smart, director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.
"They must also now take steps to protect the 23 defendants from possible further retaliation, following their new allegations."
All 23 men are charged with "forming an illegal organization" aiming to "overthrow the government and dissolve the constitution",
inciting people to "overthrow and change the political system of the country", fundraising and planning terrorist acts, and other offences
under Bahrain’s 2006 anti-terrorism law. They all deny the charges.
The activists include Dr Abdel-Jalil al-Singace, a leading member of the unauthorized opposition political group al-Haq, and others
associated with al-Haq, including religious clerics and civil servants.
Two other opposition activists - Hassain Meshaima', al-Haq's secretary general, and Sa'eed Al-Shehabi, secretary general of the Bahrain
Freedom Islamic Movement, who live in London - have been jointly charged with the 23 and are being tried in their absence.
The trial began at the High Criminal Court in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, on 28 October. At the first session all of the defendants entered
not guilty pleas, and most told the court that they had been tortured or otherwise ill-treated in pre-trial incommunicado detention.
Some of the accused also said that security officials had threatened them the day before, warning them that they could expose
themselves to further torture or abuses if they complained to the court about their torture and other ill-treatment after arrest.
Click here to read more »
16 November 2010
Amnesty International has called on the Bahraini authorities to investigate fresh allegations of torture made by some of the 23 detained
opposition activists accused of terrorism and plotting to overthrow the government.
According to their lawyers the activists said they had been beaten in prison, deprived of sleep and forced to remain standing for long
periods following the first session of their trial on 28 October.
The abuses are said to have been committed to punish the defendants for telling the trial court at its first session that they had been
tortured in pre-trial detention following their arrests in August and September.
"The Bahraini authorities must conduct a prompt and independent investigation into both these allegations of torture," said Malcolm
Smart, director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.
"They must also now take steps to protect the 23 defendants from possible further retaliation, following their new allegations."
All 23 men are charged with "forming an illegal organization" aiming to "overthrow the government and dissolve the constitution",
inciting people to "overthrow and change the political system of the country", fundraising and planning terrorist acts, and other offences
under Bahrain’s 2006 anti-terrorism law. They all deny the charges.
The activists include Dr Abdel-Jalil al-Singace, a leading member of the unauthorized opposition political group al-Haq, and others
associated with al-Haq, including religious clerics and civil servants.
Two other opposition activists - Hassain Meshaima', al-Haq's secretary general, and Sa'eed Al-Shehabi, secretary general of the Bahrain
Freedom Islamic Movement, who live in London - have been jointly charged with the 23 and are being tried in their absence.
The trial began at the High Criminal Court in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, on 28 October. At the first session all of the defendants entered
not guilty pleas, and most told the court that they had been tortured or otherwise ill-treated in pre-trial incommunicado detention.
Some of the accused also said that security officials had threatened them the day before, warning them that they could expose
themselves to further torture or abuses if they complained to the court about their torture and other ill-treatment after arrest.
Click here to read more »
Bahrain: End Harassment of Prominent Rights Defender
Nabeel Rajab Detained at Airport, Equipment Searched Without Warrant
December 7, 2010
(Washington, DC) - The Bahraini government should order security forces to stop harassing Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain
Center for Human Rights, and return any information illegally copied from his laptop computer and mobile phone, Human Rights Watch
said today.
"Bahrain's leaders repeatedly insist that the government respects human rights, but Nabeel Rajab's treatment tells another story," said Joe
Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "The government should make clear to the security forces that the
harassment of human rights defenders needs to stop immediately."
In addition to presiding over the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Rajab is a member of the Advisory Committee of Human Rights
Watch's Middle East Division.
Rajab told Human Rights Watch that on the morning of December 2, 2010, he was waiting to board a flight at Bahrain International
Airport when a plainclothes security officer approached and asked Rajab to return with the man to the passport control area. When Rajab
asked the man's identity, he gave his name and said he was with the National Security Agency, an internal security bureau that reports
directly to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, but is not part of airport security.
At the passport control area, at the officers' request, Rajab turned on his computer. Rajab told the security officers that he would be
willing to review contents of his computer with the officers, but that he would not willingly allow them to access it out of his presence,
expressing concerns that his computer would be tampered with.
When Rajab asked the officers if they had a judicial warrant or other authorization, they replied that as security they could "do what we
want" and that Rajab should "trust" them. When Rajab phoned his wife to let her know what was happening, the officers forcibly took
his phone and prevented him from continuing the call.
The officers also forcibly took the computer and an iPod belonging to his son and carried them, along with the phone, into a nearby
closed room for approximately a half hour. When the computer was returned, it was on and showing the computer's "systems" screen,
indicating that information may have been downloaded or copied.
The entire incident took approximately one hour, and Rajab was able to board his flight just minutes before takeoff.
In early September 2010, the official Bahrain News Agency and a newspaper close to the government published a crude attack on Rajab,
alleging that he was part of a "terrorist network" and that he had passed "false information" to international organizations for the purpose
of "harming Bahrain's reputation." In late September, Bahraini authorities prevented Rajab from travelling to Saudi Arabia.
Click here to read more »
Nabeel Rajab Detained at Airport, Equipment Searched Without Warrant
December 7, 2010
(Washington, DC) - The Bahraini government should order security forces to stop harassing Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain
Center for Human Rights, and return any information illegally copied from his laptop computer and mobile phone, Human Rights Watch
said today.
"Bahrain's leaders repeatedly insist that the government respects human rights, but Nabeel Rajab's treatment tells another story," said Joe
Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "The government should make clear to the security forces that the
harassment of human rights defenders needs to stop immediately."
In addition to presiding over the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Rajab is a member of the Advisory Committee of Human Rights
Watch's Middle East Division.
Rajab told Human Rights Watch that on the morning of December 2, 2010, he was waiting to board a flight at Bahrain International
Airport when a plainclothes security officer approached and asked Rajab to return with the man to the passport control area. When Rajab
asked the man's identity, he gave his name and said he was with the National Security Agency, an internal security bureau that reports
directly to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, but is not part of airport security.
At the passport control area, at the officers' request, Rajab turned on his computer. Rajab told the security officers that he would be
willing to review contents of his computer with the officers, but that he would not willingly allow them to access it out of his presence,
expressing concerns that his computer would be tampered with.
When Rajab asked the officers if they had a judicial warrant or other authorization, they replied that as security they could "do what we
want" and that Rajab should "trust" them. When Rajab phoned his wife to let her know what was happening, the officers forcibly took
his phone and prevented him from continuing the call.
The officers also forcibly took the computer and an iPod belonging to his son and carried them, along with the phone, into a nearby
closed room for approximately a half hour. When the computer was returned, it was on and showing the computer's "systems" screen,
indicating that information may have been downloaded or copied.
The entire incident took approximately one hour, and Rajab was able to board his flight just minutes before takeoff.
In early September 2010, the official Bahrain News Agency and a newspaper close to the government published a crude attack on Rajab,
alleging that he was part of a "terrorist network" and that he had passed "false information" to international organizations for the purpose
of "harming Bahrain's reputation." In late September, Bahraini authorities prevented Rajab from travelling to Saudi Arabia.
Click here to read more »
BAHRAIN'S Statement to the 65th United Nations General Assembly
New York, 30 September 2010
Mr. President,
I am honored to stand here before you as a representative of a country actively pursuing its international responsibilities. When we refer
to the notion of a “modern state” as being the most important political, social, cultural, and economic product of the modern history of
the Kingdom of Bahrain, it is because whatever achievements have been realized are attributed to good governance that has encouraged
and supported initiatives and visions aimed at building the institutions and capacities capable of enhancing the principles of a modern,
organized society. Such a society is faithful to its values in all domains, based on the predominance of institutions that guarantee to all
citizens the opportunity to create, to innovate and to be an active participant in our contemporary world.
The settlement of conflicts between states, conflicts that we ourselves created, is a daily concern for all of us. Those conflicts are either
of an ideological or ethnic nature, or are caused by the occupation of other peoples’ land and their eviction from their homes and
homelands. They divert our attention away from more important concerns: addressing poverty, ignorance, epidemics and natural
disasters that take a heavy toll and impede human creativity. Narrow national interests of one state or the other that completely overlook
the common good of the world are largely responsible for this state of affairs.
One of the basic tenants of our foreign policy is our determination to see security and stability prevail in our region and to support its
development. In this respect, we look forward with anticipation to a peaceful and prosperous Iraq, capable of discarding any foreign
intervention in its domestic affairs and faithful to its Arab-Islamic identity, inclusive of all ethnic and cultural affiliations.
Terrorism is a multifaceted global phenomenon affecting the entire world through criminal terrorist acts perpetrated against many
countries. It politicizes religious discourse and uses it to divide countries and communities in contradiction with its original mission of
providing spiritual counsel and guidance. It utilizes mass media for the same purpose. The best way to combat terrorism is to trace and
expose its funding sources, . This requires consensus on a limpid international financial system to regulate the transfer of these funds in
all transparency.
For the international community to address these serious challenges and threats, states must be in a position to play their role fully by
enhancing the concepts of political participation, the rule of law, judicial and institutional reform, freedom of opinion and expression,
consolidation of democratic practices and human rights and involvement of the society in sharing responsibilities.
Click here to read more »
New York, 30 September 2010
Mr. President,
I am honored to stand here before you as a representative of a country actively pursuing its international responsibilities. When we refer
to the notion of a “modern state” as being the most important political, social, cultural, and economic product of the modern history of
the Kingdom of Bahrain, it is because whatever achievements have been realized are attributed to good governance that has encouraged
and supported initiatives and visions aimed at building the institutions and capacities capable of enhancing the principles of a modern,
organized society. Such a society is faithful to its values in all domains, based on the predominance of institutions that guarantee to all
citizens the opportunity to create, to innovate and to be an active participant in our contemporary world.
The settlement of conflicts between states, conflicts that we ourselves created, is a daily concern for all of us. Those conflicts are either
of an ideological or ethnic nature, or are caused by the occupation of other peoples’ land and their eviction from their homes and
homelands. They divert our attention away from more important concerns: addressing poverty, ignorance, epidemics and natural
disasters that take a heavy toll and impede human creativity. Narrow national interests of one state or the other that completely overlook
the common good of the world are largely responsible for this state of affairs.
One of the basic tenants of our foreign policy is our determination to see security and stability prevail in our region and to support its
development. In this respect, we look forward with anticipation to a peaceful and prosperous Iraq, capable of discarding any foreign
intervention in its domestic affairs and faithful to its Arab-Islamic identity, inclusive of all ethnic and cultural affiliations.
Terrorism is a multifaceted global phenomenon affecting the entire world through criminal terrorist acts perpetrated against many
countries. It politicizes religious discourse and uses it to divide countries and communities in contradiction with its original mission of
providing spiritual counsel and guidance. It utilizes mass media for the same purpose. The best way to combat terrorism is to trace and
expose its funding sources, . This requires consensus on a limpid international financial system to regulate the transfer of these funds in
all transparency.
For the international community to address these serious challenges and threats, states must be in a position to play their role fully by
enhancing the concepts of political participation, the rule of law, judicial and institutional reform, freedom of opinion and expression,
consolidation of democratic practices and human rights and involvement of the society in sharing responsibilities.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM ARABIC BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
Development and Ministry of «social»
Kassim Hussein - a newspaper writer center
«24 - December -2010»
Qasim Hussain
As expected, received yesterday by the Ministry of Social Development published in the «mean» the day before yesterday, in a manner
no different at all responses for each of the named in the document «Aloueckelix».
Close association of the 15 filed a complaint with the Secretary of last March, which included ten points or problematic, in three pages,
and the reply came in a half-page A4, in three paragraphs, even without Lerwick in the preamble and greeting and introductions! It was
clear that the ministry tried in two denied any link between the Board of Supreme Audit inspection visit, the association between the
complaints or the presence of any transgressions. In the third paragraph, there is indication that the message is just an old, met the
Minister satisfied with associations that emerged from the meeting.
This impression, which wanted the ministry to suggest it is not convincing, the situation is the administrative improper, and complaints
associations and charitable funds are still up the press, particularly the ill-treatment, and complexity of procedures, and failure to respond
to calls, and the determination to cancel the modes of communication of modern fax and e-mails, and the imposition of delivery of
messages and requests by hand, and if we still live in the seventies, did not enter the era of e-government yet. The strangest thing is the
lack of documentation system of correspondence and reviews like the rest of the ministries.
We evaluate the performance of the ministry year, with criticism of how to deal with the superstructure of civil society institutions,
which need to be changed. The emphasis on charitable funds not only on the color of regionally without the other, but the death included
the freezing of accounts of all funds. And lack of confidence in the ministry and to question the intentions of a joint working between
associations.
One of the paradoxes of the stage that you need to manage that, while decreased lawsuits against journalists to a minimum during the last
two years, the judiciary has increased the number of cases against the institutions of civil society, human rights societies and charity
funds and social welfare! The irony is even odder that the leaders are to be submitted to the ministry in charge of «social», and
supervision of these institutions, nurture and facilitate their work, and remove obstacles from their path.
This year we have seen two cases raise have raised a lot of controversy and condemnation in the street, most notably the closure of
«Bahraini Association for Human Rights», which in turn was forced to raise a case against the ministry to cancel the actions that occur
perhaps for the first time in modern history of Bahrain!
Click here to read more »
Development and Ministry of «social»
Kassim Hussein - a newspaper writer center
«24 - December -2010»
Qasim Hussain
As expected, received yesterday by the Ministry of Social Development published in the «mean» the day before yesterday, in a manner
no different at all responses for each of the named in the document «Aloueckelix».
Close association of the 15 filed a complaint with the Secretary of last March, which included ten points or problematic, in three pages,
and the reply came in a half-page A4, in three paragraphs, even without Lerwick in the preamble and greeting and introductions! It was
clear that the ministry tried in two denied any link between the Board of Supreme Audit inspection visit, the association between the
complaints or the presence of any transgressions. In the third paragraph, there is indication that the message is just an old, met the
Minister satisfied with associations that emerged from the meeting.
This impression, which wanted the ministry to suggest it is not convincing, the situation is the administrative improper, and complaints
associations and charitable funds are still up the press, particularly the ill-treatment, and complexity of procedures, and failure to respond
to calls, and the determination to cancel the modes of communication of modern fax and e-mails, and the imposition of delivery of
messages and requests by hand, and if we still live in the seventies, did not enter the era of e-government yet. The strangest thing is the
lack of documentation system of correspondence and reviews like the rest of the ministries.
We evaluate the performance of the ministry year, with criticism of how to deal with the superstructure of civil society institutions,
which need to be changed. The emphasis on charitable funds not only on the color of regionally without the other, but the death included
the freezing of accounts of all funds. And lack of confidence in the ministry and to question the intentions of a joint working between
associations.
One of the paradoxes of the stage that you need to manage that, while decreased lawsuits against journalists to a minimum during the last
two years, the judiciary has increased the number of cases against the institutions of civil society, human rights societies and charity
funds and social welfare! The irony is even odder that the leaders are to be submitted to the ministry in charge of «social», and
supervision of these institutions, nurture and facilitate their work, and remove obstacles from their path.
This year we have seen two cases raise have raised a lot of controversy and condemnation in the street, most notably the closure of
«Bahraini Association for Human Rights», which in turn was forced to raise a case against the ministry to cancel the actions that occur
perhaps for the first time in modern history of Bahrain!
Click here to read more »
Information about the trial of human rights defenders in Bahrain
23th December, 2010
The trial of 23 persons (human rights defenders, political activists, bloggers, and the men of religion) started at 10 am, attended the court
hearing, representatives from the embassies, defense lawyers, representatives of the international organization as well as some local
media and some relatives of the detainees.
Bahraini security forces prevented a group of people from entering the court:
1 – Mr. AbdulHadi khalaf – Prof. in Sweden university and Politician
2 – Mr. Ali Rabiea – Political Activist.
3- Ms.Ghada Jamsheer – a defender of human rights.
In addition to activists and families of some detainees.
Attended by new defense appointed by the Minister of Justice to defend the detainees.
The defense requested from the judge that he asks the defendant to accept them as their legal defense .
But the judge insisted that lawyers be the new representatives of the detainees, with the insistence of defense to their request.
The judge suspended the meeting for half an hour and returned to the courtroom and asked the defendants about their opinion regarding
the new defense.
The defendants refused the representation of the new defense and insisted that the prior defense team be reappointed.
The judge postponed the hearing to January 6th, 2011 so that the new team may submit their pleading .
Note:
the defendants had previously refused to meet with the new defense team in accordance to meetings arranged by the Ministry of Justice
in the last couple of days.
Click here to read more>>
23th December, 2010
The trial of 23 persons (human rights defenders, political activists, bloggers, and the men of religion) started at 10 am, attended the court
hearing, representatives from the embassies, defense lawyers, representatives of the international organization as well as some local
media and some relatives of the detainees.
Bahraini security forces prevented a group of people from entering the court:
1 – Mr. AbdulHadi khalaf – Prof. in Sweden university and Politician
2 – Mr. Ali Rabiea – Political Activist.
3- Ms.Ghada Jamsheer – a defender of human rights.
In addition to activists and families of some detainees.
Attended by new defense appointed by the Minister of Justice to defend the detainees.
The defense requested from the judge that he asks the defendant to accept them as their legal defense .
But the judge insisted that lawyers be the new representatives of the detainees, with the insistence of defense to their request.
The judge suspended the meeting for half an hour and returned to the courtroom and asked the defendants about their opinion regarding
the new defense.
The defendants refused the representation of the new defense and insisted that the prior defense team be reappointed.
The judge postponed the hearing to January 6th, 2011 so that the new team may submit their pleading .
Note:
the defendants had previously refused to meet with the new defense team in accordance to meetings arranged by the Ministry of Justice
in the last couple of days.
Click here to read more>>
| Click map for larger view |
| Click flag for Country Report |
Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa
King since 6 March 1999
King since 6 March 1999
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
Current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and
commercial sexual exploitation; men and women from Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to
work as laborers or domestic servants where some face conditions of involuntary servitude such as unlawful withholding of
passports, restrictions on movements, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse; women from Thailand,
Morocco, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia are trafficked to Bahrain for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation
Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increased efforts to combat
human trafficking, particularly efforts that enforce laws against trafficking in persons, and that prevent the punishment of victims of
trafficking; during 2007, Bahrain passed a comprehensive law prohibiting all forms of trafficking in persons; the government also
established a specialized anti-trafficking unit within the Ministry of Interior to investigate trafficking crimes; however, the government
did not report any prosecutions or convictions for trafficking offenses during 2007, despite reports of a substantial problem of
involuntary servitude and sex trafficking (2008)
commercial sexual exploitation; men and women from Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to
work as laborers or domestic servants where some face conditions of involuntary servitude such as unlawful withholding of
passports, restrictions on movements, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse; women from Thailand,
Morocco, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia are trafficked to Bahrain for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation
Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increased efforts to combat
human trafficking, particularly efforts that enforce laws against trafficking in persons, and that prevent the punishment of victims of
trafficking; during 2007, Bahrain passed a comprehensive law prohibiting all forms of trafficking in persons; the government also
established a specialized anti-trafficking unit within the Ministry of Interior to investigate trafficking crimes; however, the government
did not report any prosecutions or convictions for trafficking offenses during 2007, despite reports of a substantial problem of
involuntary servitude and sex trafficking (2008)
Ali bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, Muhammad bin Mubarak al-Khalifa and
Jawad al-Araidh
Deputy Prime Ministers since 1971
Jawad al-Araidh
Deputy Prime Ministers since 1971
Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad
Heir Apparent since 21 October 1969
Heir Apparent since 21 October 1969
