Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letter
1. Summary
The Islamic Human Rights Commission is outraged over the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters by the Bahraini police who have cracked down on the Bahraini protest camp in Manama, Capital of Bahrain.
IHRC urges all campaigners to write letters to the foreign secretaries in their home countries urging them to pressure the Bahraini government to end the use of violence, stop the killing of peaceful protesters, to respect the human rights of the protestors and to allow them to demand their civil liberties without violating their rights to demonstrate.
It was reported that people have seen the police throwing tear gas at the protesters and collecting their bodies in morgues.
2. Background
The number of Bahraini citizens killed continues to grow as hundreds of heavily armed riot police continues to use tear gas, shotguns, rubber bullets and buck shots at the protesters in Pearl Square, where the protestors have setup a pro-democracy camp. The protests started with peaceful marches on 14 February 2011, which they called “The Day of Rage”. They were calling on the King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa to enact democracy; however they were met with excessive use of violence. There have been at least five deaths and over 200 injured . Curfew has been imposed widely while the army patrols the streets of Manama.
The monarchy in Bahrain has the support of the US government, as the US Fifth Fleet is hosted in Bahrain. Reuters reported that a spokesman for the Pentagon said the American military was “closely watching developments” and urged “all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from violence.”
The allies of the Kingdom of Bahrain must impose pressure on the government to end the use of violence against the peaceful protesters who are calling for their rights.
Bahrain is a state party to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and must respect and maintain the human rights of its citizens. It must cease from violating its own laws and its international obligations. Bahrain is also a state party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Convention against Torture).
IHRC urges the Bahraini government to respect the right to demonstrate, to investigate the wide use of violence, allegations of torture and to prosecute those who violate the rights of demonstrators. It must also release all the peaceful activists detained during the demonstrations.
3. Action required
Write to the following authorities requesting them to urge the Bahraini government to end the use of violence against peaceful protesters, investigate allegations of torture and prosecute the offenders and to immediately release all peaceful activists detained during the demonstrations.
a) Minister of foreign affairs in your country. UK campaigners will find the appropriate address, fax and email on the sample letter below.
b) UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Email: urgent-action@ohchr.org
4. Sample letter
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A sample letter is given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. It is preferable that letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or email.
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A) (UK campaigners can write using the address supplied below, fax: +44 (0)20 7839 2417 or email: private.office@fco.gov.uk)
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
Rt. Hon. William Hague MP
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London, SW1A 2AH, UK
Dear Mr Hague,
Re: Bahrain- Police must immediately cease the use of excessive and lethal force against peaceful protesters
I am deeply concerned over the recent killings, violence and torture by hundreds of riot police against the peaceful protesters in Bahrain.
As you are likely aware, on 14 February 2011, the Day of Rage, the Bahraini activists took to the streets of Manama and called on King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa to enact reforms.
They camped in Pearl Square, Manama, calling for their political reform. On Thursday morning hundreds of riot police raided the square using excessive and lethal force against the protesters including the use of tear gas, live bullets, rubber bullets and buck shots. Hundreds of civilians were injured and five were killed.
The UK government has close relations with the Bahraini government and must not remain silent while these violations are happening. It must take action to stop the Bahraini government from killing and torturing its people as the UK has always advocated human rights. The UK must call for all peaceful activists to be released immediately and their right to peacefully demonstrate be respected.
I look forward to hearing back from you regarding these urgent matters.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
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A) UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Email: urgent-action@ohchr.org
Dear Mr Juan E Méndez,
Re: Bahrain- Police must immediately cease the use of excessive and lethal force against peaceful protesters
I am deeply concerned over the recent killings, violence and torture by hundreds of riot police against the peaceful protesters in Bahrain.
As you are likely aware, on 14 February 2011, the Day of Rage, the Bahraini activists took to the streets of Manama and called on King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa to enact reforms.
They camped in Pearl Square, Manama, calling for their political reform. On Thursday morning hundreds of riot police raided the square using excessive and lethal force against the protesters including the use of tear gas, live bullets, rubber bullets and buck shots. Hundreds of civilians were injured and five were killed.
Bahrain is a state party to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and must respect and maintain the human rights of its citizens. It must cease violating its own laws and its international obligation. Bahrain is also a state party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Convention against Torture).
The International community and the UN must not remain silent while these violations are happening. It must take action to stop the Bahraini government from killing and torturing its people. All peaceful activists must be released immediately and their right to peacefully demonstrate must be respected.
I look forward to hearing back from you regarding these urgent matters.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
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For more information, please contact the office on the numbers or email below
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“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75
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