Re: Unlawful arrest of Mohammed al-Tajer violates international human rights principles
To: King Cheikh Hamad bin Issa AL KHALIFA et al.
From: LRWC
Date: 2011-04-20
LWRC is aggrieved by the unlawful arrest of a prominent social activist and lawyer, Mohammed al-Tajer, in his home on April 15, 2011. Over 20 masked security officers entered his home in the middle of the night and confiscated his family’s personal property. Mr. al-Tajer was taken into custody without any explanation and was never shown an arrest warrant. He has had little contact with his family since his arrest and was never informed of the charges against him. LWRC is further troubled by arrests of 499 opposition activists following protests in Bahrain in February and March of this year.
LWRC calls on Bahrain authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Mohammed al-Tajer and other detainees and to allow them contact with their families as well as access to legal representation.
LWRC urges Bahrain to observe human rights standards established under international law and codified in United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Accordingly, Mr. al-Tajer is entitled to the following rights:
UNDHR
Article 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers
ICCPR
Article 7. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment…
Article 9.
1. Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.
2. Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him.
Article 19
1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
The above mentioned principles of international law were not abided by Bahrain police in this case. LWRC urges Bahrain authorities take prompt action to remedy the occurrence of such gross violation of human rights and order Mr. al-Tejar’s immediate and unconditional release from custody. All necessary measures must also be taken to protect him from any further torture or mistreatment arising out of his duties as a lawyer and social activist.
