On 22 september, ADHRB has delivered an oral intervention at the United Nation Human Rights Council session 48 under item 3 on Systematic Religious Discrimination in Bahrain.
Madam President-
The systematic violations of human rights in Bahrain has been the subject of several joint communications by United Nations Special Procedures, including the mandate holders on enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, freedom of religion, and torture. The most recent joint communication on August 24th included the cases of two Bahraini citizens, Shaikh Zohair Ashor and Mr. Ali Al-Wazeer, who have faced severe human rights violations including enforced disappearances, physical and psychological torture, regular insults to their religious believes, and arbitrary detention. Both of them were unable to access legal representation and were not provided with a fair trial in accordance with international standards.
These two Bahraini citizens represent the stories of thousands of political prisoners who have experienced the same, if not worse, violations to their fundamental human rights. Dr. Abduljalil Alsingace is a leading human rights defender and academic who is currently on a hunger strike to protest against the attacks on his freedom of expression while he serves life imprisonment for his human rights work. The Bahraini government has repeatedly targeted Dr. Alsingace including depriving him of his much needed medical care.
The joint communications from the various mandate holders, as well as the hunger strike of Dr. Alsingace, portray the reality of the situation inside Bahrain. The Human Rights Council has a duty to address these systematic violations of human rights and therefore, we hope that it condemns the Government of Bahrain for their lack of action in this regard.
Thank you
