Content
- Summary
- Background
- Action Required
- Sample Letter
- Summary
Human rights defender, Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah,continues to be detained following his arrest on 17 December 2012 on the charge of “disseminating false news over twitter”. IHRC urges its supporters to write to their foreign minister and the UN demanding that they take the necessary measures to ensure his immediate release so that he may continue his peaceful work in defense of human rights.
2. Background
Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah, Human rights defender and the Acting Vice President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), was arrested while monitoring a protest in Manama on 17 Dec 2012 and later chargedfor allegedly “disseminating false news over twitter”.
Initially, hereceived a 7-day detention order pending investigation. This was later extended for another 14 days. On 9 January 2013, his court trial was adjourned until 17 January 2013; Said Yousif Al-Mudafdhah remains imprisoned.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) believes that Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah has been targeted due to his human rights activities involving the reporting and documenting of human rights violations in Bahrain.
3. Action Required
IHRC requests campaigners and supporters to write letters and emails to their country’s foreign minister and the UN demanding that they do all they can to guarantee the immediate release of Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah and all other prisoners of conscience in Bahrain who are being denied their right to freedom of expression as they demand justice and equality.
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) Minister of foreign affairs in your country. (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]
Rt Hon. William Hague MP,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street,
London,
SW1A 2AH,
United Kingdom.
[Date]
Dear Mr. Hague,
Re: Continued imprisonment of Bahraini Human Rights defender Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah
I would like to bring to your attention the continued arrest and allegations made against Human rights defender and the Acting Vice President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhahby the Bahraini prison authorities.
Mr. Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah,was arrested while monitoring a protest in Manama on 17 Dec 2012 and later chargedfor allegedly “disseminating false news over twitter”. Initially, he received a 7-day detention order pending investigation. This was later extended for another 14 days. On 9 January 2013, his court trial was adjourned until 17 January 2013; Said Yousif Al-Mudafdhah remains imprisoned.
Numerous Bahraini and International Human Rights groups strongly believe that Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah has been targeted due to his human rights activities involving the reporting and documenting of human rights violations in Bahrain.
As the foreign minister, I demand that you do all that is in your power to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah from arbitrary detention. His arrest is indeed a violation of his civil liberties and must therefore not be tolerated by the British government who claims to stand for justice.
Please respond with details of the measures you will be taking to address this matter to your Bahraini counterparts.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
b) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay
[Your name]
[Your address]
Navanethem Pillay
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),
Palais des Nations,
CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland
[Date]
Dear Ms. Navanethem Pillay,
Re: Continued imprisonment of Bahraini Human Rights defender Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah
I would like to bring to your attention the continued arrest and allegations made against Human rights defender and the Acting Vice President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhahby the Bahraini prison authorities.
Mr. Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah,was arrested while monitoring a protest in Manama on 17 Dec 2012 and later chargedfor allegedly “disseminating false news over twitter”. Initially, he received a 7-day detention order pending investigation. This was later extended for another 14 days. On 9 January 2013, his court trial was adjourned until 17 January 2013; Said Yousif Al-Mudafdhah remains imprisoned.
Numerous Bahraini and International Human Rights groups strongly believe that Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah has been targeted due to his human rights activities involving the reporting and documenting of human rights violations in Bahrain.
As the foreign minister, I demand that you do all that is in your power to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Said Yousif Al-Muhafdhah from arbitrary detention. His arrest is indeed a violation of his civil liberties and must therefore not be tolerated by the British government who claims to stand for justice.
Please respond with details of the measures you will be taking to address this matter to your Bahraini counterparts.
I await eagerly for your response.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
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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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