On 10 March, ADHRB has delivered an oral intervention at the United Nation Human Rights Council session 46 during interactive debate under item 3.
Madam President-
We would like to bring to the attention of the council the constant repression that civil society organizations and human defenders are facing in Bahrain especially under the directive of the newly appointed prime minister and crown prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.
The right to free expression, assembly and associations are submitted to extensive restrictions. Many of those restrictions also impacts civil society space and thus undermine the activity of CSOs.
Corruption and nepotism is another serious issue in the country; where the current prime minister and the Al-Khalifa tribe control the economy hence the wealth in the country causing majority of the population to live under poor economic conditions.
Many leaders of the civil society organizations are deprived of their liberty and spending life imprisonment on charges related to freedom of expression and speech like Dr. Abduljalil Alsingace, Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, and Naji Fatil. In addition, leaders of the political opposition in the country have also been arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment because of their role in the pro-democracy movement and calling for right of self-determination for the people in Bahrain. Like the leader of the political opposition in Bahrain Mr. Hasan Mushaima, and his co-leader Mr. Abdulwahab Husain.
In addition, we are concerned about the lack of cooperation between the Government of Bahrain and the different United Nation mechanisms despite the consistent joint communication reports from several special mandates holder. Bahrain as a member of the Council should be held accountable for its lack of communication with the Council mechanisms.
Thank you
