Attack against Mr. Nabeel Rajab’s house - BHR 006 / 0511 / OBS 080

23/05/2011
Urgent Appeal
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The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources that the house of Mr. Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and Secretary General of FIDH, was attacked by tear gas on May 21, 2011.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.


Description of the situation:

According to the information received, in the early morning of May 21, 2011, while the whole Rajab family was still asleep, tear-gas bombs were shot into the house, breaking the window where Mr. Nabeel Rajab’s brother, Nader Rajab, lives with his family. Nobody could see the attackers. The family had to rescue Mr. Nader Rajab, his wife and daughter who were suffocating in the room.

The Observatory fears that this attack against Mr. Nabeel Rajab’s house was launched in order to pressure him to stop his human rights activities. Mr. Rajab did not file a complaint for fear of reprisals.

The Observatory recalls that in March 2011 Mr. Nabeel Rajab had been abducted and abused by the police forces. After more than one hour of physical and psychological abuse, the police drove him back home.

Actions requested:

The Observatory urges the authorities of Bahrain to:

i. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Nabeel Rajab and his family as well as all human rights defenders in Bahrain;

ii. Order a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the above-mentioned events in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;

iii. Put an end to any acts of harassment, including at the judicial and administrative level, against Mr. Nabeel Rajab as well as against all human rights defenders in Bahrain;

iv. Conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly, in particular :

 its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels” ;

 and its Article 12.2 which states that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;

v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Bahrain.

Addresses:

· Cheikh Hamad bin Issa AL KHALIFA , King of Bahrain, Fax: +973 176 64 587

· Cheikh Khaled Bin Ahmad AL KHALIFA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tel: +973 172 27 555; Fax : +973 172 12 6032

· Cheikh Khalid bin Ali AL KHALIFA, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Tel: +973 175 31 333; Fax: +973 175 31 284

· Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the United Nations in Geneva, 1 chemin Jacques-Attenville, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, CP 39, 1292 Chambésy, Switzerland. Fax: + 41 22 758 96 50. Email: info@bahrain-mission.ch

Please also write to diplomatic representations of Bahrain in your respective countries.

***
Paris-Geneva, May 23, 2011

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

* E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
* Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80
* Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29

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