Human rights in Bahrain

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Bahrain

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Bahrain

Constitution King: Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah Prime minister Khalifah ibn Sulman al-Khalifah National Assembly Consultative Council Council of Representatives Political parties Elections: 2006 parliamentary Governorates Human rights Women's political rights Foreign relations

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Contents 1 History and background 2 Racism and sectarian discrimination 3 Freedom of speech 3.1 Media and publication 3.2 Public gatherings 4 Civil and political rights 5 Economic and social rights 6 Women's rights and gender 7 Labour 7.1 Migrant workers 8 Torture 9 Human Rights Groups 10 Additional information 11 References 12 See also 13 External links

[edit] History and background

[edit] Racism and sectarian discrimination

See also: Bandargate scandal

[edit] Freedom of speech

The Penal Code of 1976, still active today, has been widely criticized by local and international human rights bodies for granting the regime widespread powers to suppress dissent. Human Rights Watch noted that the Penal Code gives the government "wide latitude to suppress public criticism"^[1] and that it "has provisions that contradict international human rights standards"^[2]. Amnesty International in 2004 stated the Code can be used "as a justification to restrict freedom of expression. The organization reiterates its call for the Code to be reviewed as soon a possible to ensure compliance with international human rights standards."^[3]

[edit] Media and publication

Bahrain has eight daily newspapers representing a broad section of opinion. In 2002, Al Wasat was set up by Mansoor Al-Jamri, the son of Bahrain's spiritual Shi'a leader, Sheikh Abdul-Amir Al-Jamri and the spokesman of the Bahrain Freedom Movement. The paper is as broadly sympathetic to the Shia Islamist opposition, particularly Ali Salman. Akhbar Al Khaleej has traditionally been close to Bahrain's Left and Arab nationalist strands, featuring controversial columnists such as Sameera Rajab. Al-Ayam is seen as solidly pro-government, with its proprietor an advisor to the King.

The Press Law 47 of 2002 has been strongly criticised as restrictive as it specifies criminal charges against those who criticise the head of state or Islam, or "threaten national security". However, discussion in the newspapers is often robust with journalists frequently criticising government ministers: for instance one newspaper recently criticised the Minister of Housing, Fahmi Al Jowder, for lavishing "ludicrous praise" on the King^[4].

In October 2006, the Criminal Court issued a ban on the publication of any news, information or commentary on the Bandargate scandal, which has continued to date.^[5]. In the following weeks, the Ministry of Information ordered Bahraini ISPs to block several websites that violated the ban, include the websites of National Democratic Action (liberal opposition political society), the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and the Arab Network for Human Rights Information^[6]. The block order was accompanied by press statements from the Ministry threatening the website owners with legal action^[7].

Many political websites and blogs are blocked by the government^{[8] [9]}, and as of November 2005 the government requires all Bahraini websites are required to register with the Ministry of Information^[10]. In August 2006, Bahraini government authorities blocked internet access to Google Earth and Google Video.^{[11] [12]}

Liberal intellectuals in the press have faced concerted campaigns against them by Islamists. In 2005, hundreds of Shia Islamists protested outside the Al Ayam's offices after it published a cartoon on Iran's Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's election victory; while a Sunni Islamist campaign against the paper's editor, Isa Al Shaygi, was condemned at a conference of the International Federation of Journalists: “The vicious and unprovoked attack on a respected and distinguished colleague is an example of the intolerant and undemocratic character of extremist politics that is increasingly being used against the free press."^[13]

All broadcast media is owned and managed by the government. In 2005, three website administrators were arrested by security forces.^[14]

[edit] Public gatherings

Government security forces frequently attack peaceful demonstrations using batons and rubber bullets. In July 2005, Human Rights Watch said:

“

Bahrain has been a poster child for political reform in the Middle East, but police attacks like this one are a worrisome trend. [...] Bahrain is growing more repressive in response to peaceful political activism.[15]

”

In a report issued in 2006, the "Arab Network for Human Rights Information" (a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange) documented two cases of human rights activists being harassed by government authorities, through physical and sexual assaults, and fabricated cases.^[16]

[edit] Civil and political rights

Parliamentary and municipal elections take place every four years, since the restoration of elections in 2002, when women were also given the vote for the first time as part of reforms by King Hamad. Bahrain has a bicameral legislature with the lower chamber of parliament, the (Council of Representatives of Bahrain), elected by universal suffrage, and the upper chamber, the (Shura Council), appointed directly by the King. Those represented in the Shura Council include members of Bahrain's Christian and Jewish communities.

The Prime Minister and government ministers are not elected. They are appointed directly by the King, but ministers can be removed by parliamentary no-confidence votes. The current Prime Minister, Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifah, is the King's paternal uncle and has been in office since 1970. Twelve of the twenty-three cabinet ministers appointed in November 2006 are members of the Al Khalifa royal family.

[edit] Economic and social rights

[edit] Women's rights and gender

See also: Gay rights in Bahrain and Women's political rights in Bahrain

Women's rights has proven one of the most contentious issues in Bahrain, with calls for reform opposed by conservatives and the royal family. In 2002 the decision by King Hamad to grant women the right to vote and equal political rights with men was opposed by a majority of Bahraini women, with 60% of women surveyed saying they disagreed with the move. Salafists have publicly restated their opposition to women's participation in parliament, and none of the Islamist parties that dominate parliament has ever fielded a female candidate. One woman won a seat in parliament in 2006, although her victory in the sparsely populated constituency in the south of the country was seen by some as engineered by the government which wanted to see a woman represented in Council of Deputies.

A bill prompted by women's rights activists in 2005 to introduce a unified personal status law to protect women's rights in marriage, divorce and other family matters was opposed in a series of large-scale demonstrations organised by an alliance of salafists and Shia Islamists including Al Wefaq and Asalah. The demonstrations (and the implicit threat of escalation by those who organised them) forced the government to withdraw the law and was seen as a major defeat for women's rights activists.

In response to sweeping poll victories by Islamists in 2006's election, Amnesty International Bahrain's head of campaigns, Fawzia Rabea, described the threat to women's rights as 'very serious' and called on women to do everything in their power to fight laws proposed by the new parliament that could limit their freedom. After newly elected Al Wefaq MP, Sayed Abdulla Al A'ali, called for legislation to restrict women's employment rights by banning women from "male-orientated jobs", Ms Rabea said, "With this type of thinking I am sure we are facing a very big challenge with parliament. I am worried about this, it is very serious." Bahrain Women's Union president, Mariam Al Ruwaie, expressed surprised at the MP's suggestions, "This does not agree with His Majesty the King's reforms, which give women and men the same rights for education and work. In Bahrain's society women make up 26 per cent of the labour force, there are more girls in schools and universities than men and their results are better...I am worried because the parliament has not started and he [Mr Al A'ali] has said something like this. It is a bad start."^[17]

Ghada Jamsheer, the most prominent women's rights activist in Bahrain^[18][19] has called the government's reforms "artificial and marginal". In a statement in December 2006 she said:

“

The government is using the family law issue as a bargaining tool with opposition Islamic groups. This is evident through the fact that the authorities raise this issue when ever they want to distract attention from other controversial political issues. While no serious steps are taken to help approve this law, although the government and its puppet National Assembly had no trouble in the last four years when it came to approving restrictive laws related to basic freedoms. All of this is why no one in Bahrain believes in Government clichés and government institution like the High Council for Women. The government used women’s rights as a decorative tool on the international level. While the High Council for Women was used to hinder non-governmental women societies and to block the registration of the Women Union for many years. Even when the union was recently registered, it was restricted by the law on societies.[20]

”

[edit] Labour

According to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions annual report of 2006 unions are allowed to play an "effective role" with workers having the right to unionise. According to the ICTFU's annual report:

“

The Workers' Trade Union Law of September 2002 introduced the right to belong to trade unions in Bahrain. It established the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) but not full freedom of association, as all trade unions have to belong to the GFBTU. Workers in the private and public sector may join trade unions, including non-citizens, who make up the majority of Bahrain's workforce. Only one trade union may be formed at each establishment, but no prior authorisation is required to form a union. The only requirement is that the union's constitution must be communicated to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, together with the names of the founding members. An amended trade union law that would allow government employees to form trade unions but would remove some workers rights' protection was submitted to Parliament in October 2004. However it had still not been approved by the end of 2005. Trade unions are not subject to administrative dissolution. They may not engage in political activities. [21]

”

The ICFTU's main concern in its 2006 report was that a new labour law would be far more restrictive of worker's rights.^[22] The ICFTU commented:

“

A new law, soon to be passed, looks set to restrict unions' freedom to carry out a legal strike. There was much concern about the lack of proper protection foreseen for foreign workers who make up 60 per cent of the workforce. The head of Gulf Air's union was sacked shortly after his election.[23]

”

A visiting delegate from the International Labour Organization at a seminar in Bahrain on trade unionism, held under the patronage of the Labour Ministry, described some of Bahrain's labour laws as out of line with with international standards. According to the ILO international labour standards department deputy director, Karen Curtis, the current rules governing where strikes can be held in Bahrain were too restrictive^[24].

[edit] Migrant workers

Unlike other countries in the region migrant workers are entitled to join trade unions, however the ICFTU Annual Report 2006 found that "Foreign workers harshly treated":

“

There are a large number of foreign workers and, while in theory they are allowed to join unions and run for union office, they mainly prefer to stay out of union activities as they have no protection against dismissal. According to the proposed legislation, if expatriate workers overstay their work permits, they suffer heavy fines, are imprisoned for unspecified lengths of time and then deported. The government admitted that the new law would not give domestic servants any employment rights, but contained measures that would protect them against abuse from employers.[25]

”

[edit] Torture

Main article: Torture in Bahrain

[edit] Human Rights Groups

[edit] Additional information

Bahrain is a monarchy which has been ruled by the Al-Khalifa family since the late 18th century. In 2002, the government passed a constitution that called for a legislative body with one elected chamber, the Council of Representatives (COR), and one appointed chamber, the Shura Council. This allowed for the 2002 election of representatives to the COR by citizens in free and fair multiparty elections. The constitution also states that the king is head of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government. In April 2005, the first woman government minister was appointed. While these are steps in the right direction, the government still has many human rights issues. Civil liberties such as freedom of speech, assembly, religion, association, movement, and press are constantly being restricted by the government. Privacy rights are compromised in cases of opposition to the government. There have been numerous complaints of discrimination based on ethnicity and gender. There is much corruption in the judiciary, As well, lengthy pretrial detention affects even those accused of minor crimes. Human trafficking is also a growing problem in the region.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Bahrain Center for Human Rights
• Bahrain Human Rights Society
• List of Bahrain-related topics#Human rights in Bahrain

[edit] External links

• Human Rights Watch: Bahrain
• Amnesty International: Bahrain
• Bahrain Center for Human Rights
• Redress Trust: Bahrain
• International Freedom of Expression Exchange: Bahrain
• National Democratic Institute: Bahrain
• Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005, US Department of State
• International Confederation of Free Trade Unions: Bahrain
• Arab Human Rights Index: Bahrain
• Freeing the Arab Media from State Control: The state of the Press in BahrainPDF (116 KiB), Arab Press Freedom Watch Third Annual Conference, May 2004
• Bahrain: Five years of lost opportunities, Proceeding of a seminar held under the auspices of Lord Avebury, the Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group in the House of Lords, 15 December 2005