http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/6198#.Uc1LLY86m4k.twitter

[28 June 2013] - 

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) has expressed concern in regards to the ongoing crackdown on freedom of speech on the internet, as another twitter user receives a prison sentence.

On 25 June 2013, the lower criminal court headed by a member of the ruling family, Shaikh Rashid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa,sentenced child Ali Faisal Alshofa (17 years old), a high school student, to 1 year in prison for insulting the king,Hamad Al-Khalifa, on Twitter.

Ali Al Shofa was arrested in a house raid at dawn on 12 March 2013. He was kept in detention for two months pending investigation, until he was released on bail of BHD 100 on 8 May 2013 while still on trial. Ali was accused of posting an insulting tweeting using the account @alkawarahnews, which he denied relation with, and his lawyer Merfat Janahi submitted evidence that the account is still running by other persons.

The BCHR again points to the blatant absence of any form of independent or fair judiciary system according to international standards; as the judge presiding in the case stems from the same family as the king, the subject of the lawsuit.

Last month, on 15 May 2013, the court sentenced five other twitter users to one year imprisonment each, also on the charge of insulting the king on twitter. (Details on http://bahrainrights.org/en/node/6122). In total, more than 106 months of imprisonment were collectively delivered since June 2012 against twelve online users for charges related to freedom of expression on social network websites. Said Yousif AlMuhafdha, Head of Documentation and Monitoring at the BCHR and acting Vice President, has a case pending in court for disseminating false news on Twitter. He was acquitted by the court, but the public prosecution appealed the acquittal, and the trial will resume on 1 July 2013.

Earlier this month, the BCHR reported the abduction and incommunicado detention of online user Jaffar Al-Demstani on 20 June 2013 for tweeting about the torture of his father, Ebrahim Al-Demstani. (Read more onhttp://bahrainrights.org/en/node/6188).

The ongoing crackdown on online users and the use of the judicial system to limit their freedom of speech is in direct violation with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 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.”

Based on the above information, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights demands that the Government of Bahrain:

• Immediately release all persons sentenced to prison for their online activities, as well as all other political detainees who are being held for practicing their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, which are guaranteed by international law.
• Guarantee the basis of free trials and independence of the judicial system according to international standards.
• Drop all charges related to freedom of expression in cases that are currently ongoing in court.
• Withdraw all national and local laws that would restrict freedom of opinion and expression, or prevent the transmission of information.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

• Visit CRIN's page on Bahrain
• Read more about CRIN's campaign to end the inhuman sentencing of children

Previous News release items

• 27/06/2013: NORTHERN IRELAND: Court ruling paves way for gay and lesbian couples to adopt in Northern Ireland
• 27/06/2013: Goa cabinet approves foster care scheme for needy children
• 26/06/2013: UNITED KINGDOM: Coalition government in spending review battle over free nursery education
• 26/06/2013: TORTURE: Men, women and children tortured to confess to crimes in Mauritania
• 26/06/2013: Not my Crime, Still my Sentence. Join the European Prisoners' Children Campaign!

Organisation Contact Details:

Bahrain Center for Human Rights
10 Beatrice Gardens
Lithos Road
London, NW3 6EL
Tel: 00447588029986/0097339633399
Email: info@bahrainrights.org
Website: http://www.bahrainrights.org

Last updated 28/06/2013 15:04:40

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.