Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letter
1. Summary
The recent seizure of the Salmaniyah Hospital in Manama, Bahrain, and the ongoing incursion of Saud-led GCC forces in the country are of great concern to IHRC. These actions have been in violation of international law, and have coincided with an ever growing number of civilian casualties. This has included an assault on doctors and hospital staff, and the deliberate prevention of the wounded receiving medical treatment.
2. Background
IHRC is calling for an immediate response to actions by Bahraini and Saudi security forces in Bahrain. On Wednesday 16th March, security forces seized the Salmaniyah Hospital in Manama, beating doctors and other members of staff, and preventing the treatment of demonstrators. They have denied relatives of the victims, members of staff, medics and ambulances from entering or leaving the hospital; having encircled the hospital with tanks and troops. This is in clear violation of Protocol II, Articles 9, 10, 11, and 13 of the Geneva Convention. The seizure of the Salmaniyah Hospital thus sets a shocking precedent for the conduct of security forces in Bahrain, and should be stopped immediately.
Elsewhere in the capital, around a thousand foreign troops from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been deployed with orders to suppress peaceful demonstrators against the al-Khalifa monarchy and regime. Eye witness testimonies and video footage have confirmed the shooting of protestors at point-blank range, and the bloody dispersal of protestors housed in the Pearl Roundabout.
This blatant act of military intervention has thus not only violated international law, but basic human-rights. The United States has given its blessing to the Bahraini regime’s actions, and this undoubtedly stems from its historic alliance with the Bahraini regime, whose permanent housing of the 5th US Naval Fleet helps secure its interests in the region. The unwillingness of the British government to rebuke the Bahraini regime and its security forces, or the Saudi-led invasion, must be also brought to public and media attention.
We call upon all those concerned by the brutal siege of the Salmaniyah Hospital in Manama, and the escalation of violence in Bahrain perpetrated by its security forces and the Saudi-led military, to write letters and emails to your political representatives, make phone-calls, and protest at the Bahraini and Saudi embassies expressing your opposition to what is now unfolding in Bahrain. Demand an end to the brutalisation of doctors and hospital workers treating the sick and wounded, and the recent Saudi-led suppression of Bahrain’s movement for justice. Request that your political representatives do not remain silent on the deteriorating conditions that Bahrainis are forced to endure.
3. Action required
Write and make phone-calls to your political representatives and senior politicians condemning these atrocities. Attend protests and demonstrations against the situation in Bahrain, and participate in the organisation of new ones.
4. Sample letter
——————————————————————————————
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.
——————————————————————————————
a) Sample letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron. You may write to Prime Minister Cameron via the following email address at cameron@parliament.uk .Alternatively, please send it with the necessary amendments to the address provided.
[Your name]
[Your address]
Prime Minister David Cameron,
10 Downing Street,
London,
SW1A 2AA,
United Kingdom.
[DATE]
Dear Prime Minister David Cameron,
On Wednesday 16th March, the Salmaniyah Hospital was seized by Bahraini security forces. They were responsible for raiding the complex in search of wounded protesters, beating and threatening doctors and hospital staff, and finally encircling the hospital with tanks and military personnel as to deny access to and exit from the hospital.
I am writing to urge you and the British government to take action against atrocities such as these, perpetrated by the Bahraini regime. The recent military seizure of the Salmaniyah Hospital in Manama is in clear violation of Protocol II, Articles 9, 10, 11, and 13 of the Geneva Convention. The British government should highlight this breach of international law, and be prepared to apply political, diplomatic and legal sanctions against the Bahraini regime if necessary.
The invasion of Bahrain by Saudi-led GCC troops should also be condemned publically by yourself and the British government as unjust and illegal interference in the political affairs of the Bahraini people. The reactions of yourself and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to these issues thus far have been irresponsibly muted. I request that the current ambiguity of the British position towards the demonstrators, the Bahraini regime and foreign interference is immediately addressed.
I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
——————————————————————————————
b) Sample letter to British Foreign-Secretary William Hague. You may write to Foreign-Secretary William Hague via this email address at haguew@parliament.uk. Alternatively, please send it with the necessary amendments to the address provided.
[Your name]
[Your address]
William Hague,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street,
London,
SW1A 2AH,
United Kingdom.
[DATE]
Dear Rt Hon. Foreign-Minister William Hague,
On Wednesday 16th March, the Salmaniyah Hospital was seized by Bahraini security forces. They were responsible for raiding the complex in search of wounded protesters, beating and threatening doctors and hospital staff, and finally encircling the hospital with tanks and military personnel as to deny access to and exit from the hospital.
I am writing to urge you and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to take action against atrocities such as these, perpetrated by the Bahraini regime. The recent military seizure of the Salmaniyah Hospital in Manama is in clear violation of Protocol II, Articles 9, 10, 11, and 13 of the Geneva Convention. The British government should highlight this breach of international law, and be prepared to apply political, diplomatic and legal sanctions against the Bahraini regime if necessary.
The invasion of Bahrain by Saudi-led GCC troops should also be condemned publically by yourself and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office as unjust and illegal interference in the political affairs of the Bahraini people. The reactions of yourself and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to these issues thus far have been irresponsibly muted. I request that the current ambiguity of the British position towards the demonstrators, the Bahraini regime and foreign interference is immediately addressed.
I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
——————————————————————————————
c) Sample letter to the General-Secretary of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. Please send it with the necessary amendments to the address provided.
[Your name]
[Your address]
Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu,
PO Box 178,
Jeddah,
21411,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
[DATE]
Dear Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu,
On Wednesday 16th March, the Salmaniyah Hospital was seized by Bahraini security forces. They were responsible for raiding the complex in search of wounded protesters, beating and threatening doctors and hospital staff, and finally encircling the hospital with tanks and military personnel as to deny access to and exit from the hospital.
I am writing to urge you and to take action against atrocities such as these, perpetrated by the Bahraini regime. The recent military seizure of the Salmaniyah Hospital in Manama is in clear violation of Protocol II, Articles 9, 10, 11, and 13 of the Geneva Convention. The OIC should highlight this breach of international law as being un-Islamic, and be prepared to apply political, diplomatic and legal sanctions against the Bahraini regime if necessary.
The invasion of Bahrain by Saudi-led GCC troops should also be condemned publically by yourself as unjust and illegal interference in the political affairs of a Muslim people. The reactions of yourself and the OIC to these issues thus far have been muted. I request that the current ambiguity of the Secretary-General’s position towards the demonstrators, the Bahraini regime and foreign interference is immediately addressed. It is your duty as a Muslim, and as a representative for Muslim peoples, to stand up for the oppressed and against the actions of repressive regimes such as these
I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
——————————————————————————————
d) Sample letter to the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the UK, His Eminence Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. You may write to H.E. Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdulaziz al-Saud via the following email address at ukemb@mofa.gov.sa. Alternatively, please send it with the necessary amendments to the address provided.
[Your name]
[Your address]
H.E. Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdulaziz al-Saud,
30 Charles Street,
London,
W1J 5DZ,
United Kingdom.
[DATE]
Dear Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdulaziz al-Saud,
On Wednesday 16th March, the Salmaniyah Hospital was seized by Bahraini security forces. They were responsible for raiding the complex in search of wounded protesters, beating and threatening doctors and hospital staff, and finally encircling the hospital with tanks and military personnel as to deny access to and exit from the hospital. The Saudi-led forces have been complicit in this siege.
I am writing to urge you and the Saudi government to take action against atrocities such as these, perpetrated by the Bahraini regime. The recent military seizure of the Salmaniyah Hospital in Manama is in clear violation of Protocol II, Articles 9, 10, 11, and 13 of the Geneva Convention. The Saudi government should highlight this breach of international law, and be prepared to apply political, diplomatic and legal sanctions against the Bahraini regime if necessary.
The invasion of Bahrain by Saudi-led GCC troops is also of particular concern to me as unjust and illegal interference in the political affairs of the Bahraini people. The presence of your forces in the country is illegal, and is in violation of basic Islamic and humanitarian principles. I thus request that the Saudi government withdraw its troops immediately, and cease its assistance to the Bahraini regime in its suppression of its people.
I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
——————————————————————————————
e) Sample letter to the Bahraini Ambassador to the UK, His Eminence Sheikh Khalifa Bin Ali al-Khalifa. You may write to H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Ali al-Khalifa via the following email address at ukemb@mofa.gov.sa. Alternatively, please send it with the necessary amendments to the address provided.
[Your name]
[Your address]
H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Ali al-Khalifa,
30 Belgrave Square,
London,
SW1X 8QB,
United Kingdom.
[DATE]
Dear Sheikh Khalifa Bin Ali al-Khalifa,
On Wednesday 16th March, the Salmaniyah Hospital was seized by Bahraini security forces. They were responsible for raiding the complex in search of wounded protesters, beating and threatening doctors and hospital staff, and finally encircling the hospital with tanks and military personnel as to deny access to and exit from the hospital.
I am writing to urge yourself and the Bahraini government to stop these atrocities The recent military seizure of the Salmaniyah Hospital in Manama is in clear violation of Protocol II, Articles 9, 10, 11, and 13 of the Geneva Convention. I urge you to take responsibility for your government’s breach of international law, and its disrespect for human rights.
The invasion of Bahrain by Saudi-led GCC troops is also of particular concern to me as unjust and illegal interference in the political affairs of the Bahraini people. I request that the Bahraini government allow for peaceful protests, and reverse its decision to allow for outside forces to interfere in the country. The Bahraini security forces are in place to safeguard the rights of Bahrainis from outside forces, not to side with them against the people. By its current actions, the Bahraini military and security forces are thus complicit with outside aggression against the Bahraini people, and are traitors to the nation. Unless these violations stop, I will hold you accountable for this transgression of basic Islamic and humanitarian values
I look forward to you responding to the charge that you are a traitor to the Bahraini people?
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
——————————————————————————————
IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Please help IHRC by visiting https://www.ihrc.org.uk/catalog and making a donation or buying an item from our on-line store.
If you want to subscribe to the IHRC list please send an email to subscribe@ihrc.org
If you want to unsubscribe from the IHRC list please send an email from your subscribed email address to unsubscribe@ihrc.org
If you are reusing this alert, please cite the source.
For more information, please contact the office on the numbers or email below.
“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
Join the Struggle for Justice. Join IHRC.
Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom
Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org
