Islamic Action Society Political , Islamic society Email : amal.society11@gmail.

com Bahrain

Amal, First Political Party in Bahrain and the Region under Kangaroo Military Trials

Sheikh Mohammed Ali Almahfoodh

Chairman of Amal Islamic Society (Amal) & Elite Amal Leaders sentenced to 10 years prison

A Brief Case Report

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Sheikh Mohammed Ali Almahfoodh Custody Details Report

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In the Name of God, the Merciful

Preface: On the second of May 2011, around two oclock early morning, a special team of the so-called national security of Bahrain raided the house where AlMahfoodh and his two sons were living with his friends house in Jabalat-Habshi. The members of the team were all masked and fully armed with electric-shock weapons and with different types of personal guns and pistols, and they were accompanied by some members of the police. The masked armed people were around 40 persons and they just raided the house of one of the friend of AlMahfoodh. The team members attacked the house by sneaking from the roofs of the house and broke the entrances to only break everything and destroy every piece of furniture in the house. The members of the national security team attacked AlMahfoodh with his two sons, and his friend, beating them violently with hoses, sticks, boxes and kicks. They also assaulted them verbally with bawdy language and cursed them and their Shiite faith. The house was destroyed totally, and even the fences of the stairs were broken and thrown away. Much property was stolen from the house from perfumes and watches, to money and jewelry. After some time, the four of them were taken in separate cars with their eyes covered to unknown destinations. After around a month and a half, the family of AlMahfoodh received a phonecall from him and it lasted for 6 minutes. He did not know where he was, and he did not recognize the date or time at that moment. In addition, he could not speak about any of his being subject to torture; neither could he speak about his health. The whole family was very concerned because his voice was very thin and his focus was not acceptable. After a bit less than two months, the family received a call from the National Security, and they were told to have a visit with their detainee in the Prison of Dry Deck Center of Detention. The visit allowed only 4 of his family members, not allowing any access to personal stuff or requirements such as toothpaste and shampoo. The visit lasted for 10 minutes where the detainee and the family were accompanied by 6 of the national security guards. Prior to the detainees entrance, the family was told that the conversation allowed is limited to the family status only, without any reference to the political situation or anything else. The family was asked to appoint a lawyer to speak for AlMahfoodh in the First Hearing of the Military Court which was only after 4 days of meeting the detainee.

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AlMahfoodh looked very pale and sick and the family was almost sure that he was subject to severe torture in custody. It seemed that he lost a lot of his weight, and his focus was not very well in the first visit. Since there were many guards, it was almost impossible to find out anything about his health, but we were sure that this number of guards is only trying to prevent him from telling us about his torture. This fact was supported by many statements from Human Rights Watch & Amnesty offices about seeing AlMahfoodh in Bahrain Defense Force Hospital (BDF) more than two times. In addition, some of the recently released detainees assured us that AlMahfoodh was put in private cell for more than 45 days, where he was subject to severe torture and abuse. As a matter of fact, later on, he told us that the National Security wanted to kill him by torture at the beginning, and he was subject to severe torture with electric shocks and severe whipping and beating. In general, we were told by the recently released detainees that all Amal Members were subject to severe torture. With the beginning of July till now, we receive a weekly five-minutes-call from AlMahfoodh and we have a ten-minutes-visit on a weekly basis as well. The number of visitors is six not four now, but the visit is still escorted by members from the national security. In the following pages, a full detailed account will be narrated about the events that took place before taking AlMahfoodh into the National Security Custody. A) House Raids: The National Security Service with the Military teams converted the house of AlMahfoodh into a military center since March 28th, 2011 till he was arrested on May 2nd; but the house was subject to raids till the end of the Safety Law period which ended on May 31st. They lived inside the house 24 hours, seven days a week and this took place for more than two full months. The habitants of the house fled away for their lives and personal security. All people who tried to enter the house were subject to torture, harassment, and custody. Two men were arrested by the National Security only because these two wanted to mend the broken main door of the house (More information is provided below). The family of AlMahfoodh cannot return to their house until the moment of this report due to constant raids. When the National Security Team or the teams related to the Military used to leave the house, they intentionally cut off the electricity of the house from the main supplier. Consequently, all the electric equipments and tools of the house were destroyed, in addition to the food and medicines. All the doors were broken and destroyed totally inside the house, and many electronic supplies and tools with some furniture is totally destroyed. Many personal properties were stolen such as Electronic devices and Professional Photograph cameras.

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On the night of taking AlMahfoodh and his companions into custody, his eldest son, was forced under torture to guide the National Security to the car owned by AlMahfoodh. The thugs of the National Security smashed every detail in the car with iron bars and even the care was taken into custody till the moment of writing this report.

Raids targeting the Eldest Daughter of AlMahfoodh: From the first raid on April 2nd 2011, Almahfoods son-in-law, was arrested in commando; this raid was performed by a team from the National Security. The familys house was raided four times (April 2nd, 19th and 30th), seeking to arrest AlMahfoodh. The raids were performed at late nights, early mornings trying to create as much terror and fear as possible in the house. All the doors were broken throughout the raids and all the habitant of the house were subject to curses, harassment, and torture. Usually, every time in every raid the carry out an investigation with the eldest daughter of AlMahfoodh that lasts for 3 hours. The raids were carried out by teams carrying arms and electric-shocks weaponry. Some of the members carry video cameras and they video-record how women scream and cry. Most of them were dressed in civil garbs, but they are usually escorted by the police. The daughters of AlMahfoodh were subject to threats by the guns carried by the Security. They were also victims of verbal abuse and harassment, and the thugs spit on them as well. All the children of the house were victims to the shouts and threats terrifying them and ordering them to shut up and stop crying. Every time, all the men in the house were subject to severe torture and electric shocks. The daughter of AlMahfoodh, was threatened to kidnap her two sons, one 5 years old, and the other 2 years old only to reveal the place of her father. After every raid, the wife of AlMahfoodh goes into a total collapse due to excessive violence and terror, and she is taken to hospital to receive appropriate treatment.

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Targeting & Raiding Relatives & Friends: More than thirty houses were raided in search for AlMahfoodh. All the raided houses were subject to destroying doors, torturing the habitants and stealing. Many of the habitants, especially men, were severely tortured by hose-beating or/and by electric shocks. Many devices and props were stolen from mobile phones to jewelry and expensive accessories Violations & Custody: More than 13 of his friends and relatives were taken in commando to add pressure on AlMahfoodh. The duration of custody varied between 22 days to 4 months. All these detainees were subject to severe torture and abuse and insults. All were subject to severe investigations to confess details related to Sheikh AlMahfoodh. None of them faced any legitimate charges. Three women from AlMahfoodh family were subject to investigations by the National Security. The duration of investigations varied from three to four hours. The Security intentionally blindfolded their eyes all the time of investigation. They were also threatened and subject to verbal harassment and dirty language.

Around 10 persons were subject to custody and severe torture They were dragged in the early hours of morning around 2-3 a.m. blindfolded, and without slippers, wearing the minimum garments. Most were dragged out from their beds. They were all subject to electric shocks, whipping with hoses, and other types of severe torture. They were continuously threatened to be arrested or killed if they do not reveal the place of AlMahfoodh. Some were returned home by the same car that dragged them, but others were thrown more than 10 Kilometers away from their houses, and they had to go on foot despite the unbearable pains they suffered after torture.

Termination from Work: There are 7 persons of AlMahfoodh family, who were fired from their job as a means of adding more pressure on AlMahfoodh and taking revenge.

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Targeting Amal Islamic Society (Amal) By Bahraini Regime, Report (Brief)

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In the Name of God, the Merciful Who are we? Amal Islamic Society is an Islamic political society that focuses on the state and the citizens, and defends human rights on this land in order to maintain a decent human life based on dignity, freedom and security. The society was established by 410 members in Bahrain these are referred to as the Founding Members. It was officially and legitimately registered under the laws of the Ministry of Labor & Social Service in the Kingdom of Bahrain on the first of Ramadan in 1423, on November 6th 2002. Preface: The Bahraini regime has performed many violent arrest-campaigns against the members of Amal. Many of its founding members were taken into custody, led by the Chairman Sheikh Mohammed Ali AlMahfoodh, after many night raids to the houses and to the location of the society. Since the early days of establishing Amal in 2002, there have been many attacks targeting the society in order to corner its political work and reduce its human right battle both of which are the top-goals of Amals political agenda. Following are brief accounts of the tensions between the government and the society: a. Closing the Society for 45 days, 2005: In 2005, the regime stopped the political work of Amal, and closed its center as a consequence to a ceremony of honoring a group of previous detainees known as the 73 Candles. This group is composed of 73 detainees who spent 7 to 20 years in prison due to their political activities. Amal was the first society officially registered to be subject to such an action by the regime. b. The Commandos Investigations & Society Raids: In December 2007, a special Commandos team raided the building of the society in Janabiya, claiming a search of tools of arms/weaponry inside the building. Mr. Ebrahim Alarab a founding member was detained in addition to Isa Alsirh a very active member. According to Alkhaleej newspaper from the Emirates, the whole building was subject to examination in search of weapons under the presence of the Vice-Chairman of the society and the Chief of Police Investigations but nothing was found. This play was ended from this scene since the weaponry claim was only fabrications from the regime in order to raid the building.

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c. Society Elections Cancellation: In the series of targeting Amal, in May 2008, the regime cancelled the results of the societys secretarial elections and it also froze all their bank accounts. The regime claimed that elections should not be in places of worship, and hence the results are void. This was an unacceptable act against Amal from the regime. At that time, the Chairman stated that, It seems that our society is intentionally destined to go into endless conflicts with a ministry after another, and this is against our policy. Since the society was founded, we did not aim at going into conflicts or confrontations with any party. This accuse of abusing places of worship is only a weak cause in order to prevent the flow of our political work. The Matams1 are not shops to be abused or misused. There are more than 4000 Matam in Bahrain, all of which deliver their cultural and religious uplifting message. In addition, we do not live in a civil state in order to spate religion from the state, and this action requires immediate justifications from the executive regime. d. Closing the Societys Building & Banning Official Newsletter: In the context of the intentional limiting practiced against freedom of speech and thought, the regime froze the publishing license of the societys newsletter on the 30th of September 2010. The regime also banned the official website of the society, an action that was practiced against many other political societies in Bahrain. This action only highlights the regimes lack of tolerance and forbearance towards any opposing voice or opinion. e. Society Accounts Frozen: In another annoying step, the Ministry of Justice froze all the accounts of the society in December 2010 without any previous notice. This action was not explained by any justifications from the Ministry, and the action is still in effect till the moment of writing this report. f. The Pearl RevolutionsAmal under Regimes Fire: After the crackdown of the Pearl Revolution, the regime revealed its original face, translated by a violent attack against the top-leaders, decision-makers, and members of Amal Islamic Society, from clergy, to professionals, to women and even children. In this context, the regime targeted more than 200 of Amals members (founding members and decision-maker) by direct detention or night raids performed against the related families.
1

Matams are building of ceremonial worships, and they are means of delivering speeches and agendas in the Shiite culture.

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Since the early days, Sheikh Moahmmed Ali AlMahfoodh, the Chairmans house was subject to violent raids, but he was not there. The house was severely damaged and much of its furniture was destroyed. Later, the raid were organized on nightly basis against his relatives houses, and the Securty men practiced torture, harassment and insults against the relatives. Some relatives were arrested en commando, which raises the question of what type of law the regime is trying to practice or enforce. The Vice-Chairman, Sheikh Abdullah Alsaleh, was also subject to many attacks. His house was raided many times on almost a daily basis, but he was not found as well. Many of his relatives were subject to nightly raids accompanied by torture and harassment as well.

g. Ministry of Justice Cases raised in order to Dissolve Amal: On April 14th 2011, the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs raised a case in order to dissolve Amal Islamic Society, as a result to what the Ministry claimed to be severe violation of the Kingdoms constitutional rules and decrees; and performing activities that damaged social peace and the national unity; and motivating the people to disrespect the constitutional agencies and authorities. However, the Ministry soon withdrew its case as a consequent to American pressure; and it declared that the procedures are not sufficient, in order to keep some of what remained from the mirage of democracy if any. h. Society Raids & Destructions: On March 28th 2011, the regime raided the building of the society. All the doors and gates were destroyed totally, the rooms were severely damaged, all the electronic devices and computers were stolen or broken, and the private files of the society were all stolen. The regime tore the Quran copies in the society, and they broke all the Turba (Shiite people use a stone made of special clay while praying); and this only reflect a sectarian act intending to insult religious beliefs. They also broke many frames and tore many pictures of Sheikh Mohammed Ali AlMahfoodh, the Chairman, and many martyrs of this party as shown in the photography appendix. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Destroying electronic devices, computers and televisions Broken doors and gates Damaging the library Damaging the societys furniture Insulting societys leaders and martyrs by tearing their pictures

i. Injustice: Court of AlMahfoodh & Amal: The first session of the case of Amal in the National Safety Military Court began on Tuesday June 14th 2011. The chairman of Amal with 22 of the Shirazzi2 group in Bahrain was denied any access to lawyers or physical
2

Shirrazi is a term that is given to any person who follows Imam Shirazzi in terms of religious issues.

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examination to the court-appointed doctor prior to the trial sessions. Most of the 23 detainees were kept in solitary cells for more than 40 days, and they were transferred to the Dry-Deck House of Detention just two to three days prior to the trial. It is important to note the following in this case: 1. Amal is a legitimate society that is registered under the law of Bahrain in 2002. 2. The 23 detainees are all from the Shirazzi group in Bahrain, but many of them are not members of Amal, and hence this trial is intentionally set targeting a group of people based on their religious doctrines; therefore, it lack any sort of credibility. 3. Amal is the only official society that was attacked in this savage manner from the regime. 4. There were noticeable traces of severe torture on the bodies of detainees.

The Charges that were stated against Amal are: 1. Propagating speeches that lead to a Coup dtat by force and illegitimate devices, encouraging public strikes and civil disobedience, and challenging the authorities. 2. Participating in illegal protests and assemblies assemblies composed of more than five people. 3. Propagating fake news and images that distort the image of Bahrain and destabilize the security of Bahrain through submitting videos and pictures that reflect internal conditions to foreign television channels. 4. Public encouragement of hatred against the regime. 5. Propagating untrue news about the interior conditions of Bahrain on the internet, and television channels, and the international networks. 6. Two detainees were accused of obtaining white arms. Summary of the trials Sessions: A. Preface: In the first session, on June 14th 2011, the charges against Amal were listed and stated, and each detainee was introduced to the related lawyer. Most lawyers are volunteering in their cases, and the detainees do not meet their lawyers except for two minutes in the courts hall after the trial is finished till the moment of writing this report. The first session appointed the lawyers, and ordered medical examination for all detainees. Since June 14th till the moment, the courts session are run on weekly basis, except in Ramadan when the court was on vacation. The trial sessions were resumed after Ramadan, on September 5th, where the session was held to the hearing of the witnesses of Offense/the Public Prosecution.

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B. Witnesses of Offense: The prosecution witnesses were three; and they do not have any tangible or concrete proof to condemn any of Amals members. The three of them confessed that they were present at the moment of detaining most of the group, but they failed to present any evidence against them. The witnesses did not know the detainees in person and they all work in the National Security of Bahrain. According to the lawyers of defense, there was no written order of detention from the Public Prosecution, and all the detainees were detained in burglary and raids. The lawyers asked the witnesses of offense about their resource of prosecution and condemnation and they did not present any tangible proof. Their answers were consensus that all the resources are confidential and secret, and they claimed that they had a written order of detention but they did not present it or submit it to the court. The testimonies of the three witnesses reflected a clear ignorance of their knowledge of the detainees and the whole case. They did not know any of the detainees personally or officially, and all what they have of knowledge about the whole case is based on confidential resources, which they refused to declare to the court. The only consensus true testimony of the three witnesses was the religious background3 of all the detainees, which is not a criminal charge in a country that claims the freedom of religion and belief in the official constitution. From another perspective, according to the lawyers of defense, the lack of the Public Prosecution Permission of Detention makes the whole case void and meaningless, and hence all the detainees must be released.

C. Witnesses of Defense: On Sept 13th, the court was run for the hearing of the witnesses of defense. The witnesses were more than 40 but the court was sufficient with only 23 witnesses claiming lack of time. Some of Amals Case detainees did not have any relationship with Amal, and the witnesses testified to prove this point. In addition, the lawyers declared that the court should be transferred to a civil court to comply with the Royal Decree of the King, where all the trials of the National Safety were to be transferred to the Civil Court. The lawyers asked the judge to release the detainees because the duration of detention of investigation has finished most of them have spent more than three months under custody. In Addition, the witnesses of defense proved that more than 7 of the detainees do not have any membership with Amal currently or prior to the crisis. The lawyers of defense defied all the claims of offense stated by the Public Prosecution. In this context, the witnesses denied any presence of a written order of detention from the Public Prosecution, and witnessed severe torture practiced against the detainees. In the concluding remarks of the lawyers, there
3

The witnesses of offense accused the detainees of being members of the Shirazzi group religiously based.

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were points that directly defy the credibility of the Public Prosecution witnesses and the whole court; the points are as follows: 1. There was no Public Prosecution Permission of Detention presented at the moment of arrest, and hence the whole case is void. 2. The evidence of Offense is based solely on the testimonies of the three members of the National Security without any written or recorded evidence submitted to the court. 3. The detainees confessional statements claimed by the Public Prosecution were submitted under severe torture, both physical and mental. 4. The detainees are charged with participating in illegal assemblies and protests although the Crown Prince personally has encouraged this issue publicly4 in an interview on the CNN channel. This was also supported by the Deputy in Charge of Executive Chief Officer of the Authority of Television and Radio of Bahrain, Mr. Mohammed Ali Alrumaihi5 (many official spokesmen and ministers also encouraged freedom of speech and assembly)6. 5. Most of the detainees spent more than three months under custody and hence the duration of investigatory procedures claimed by the prosecution have finished. 6. The Public Prosecution claims that detainees have propagated televised and radio pictures and news that damage the reputation of the country and destabilize the national security. However, there was no recorded or documented evidence that was presented to the court neither officially nor behind the curtains. Therefore, all the charges are void from a legal perspective. 7. The lawyers wonder how the detainees are criminals until they prove innocence while the norm is the detainees are innocent until they prove to be guilty. The lawyers believe that this court is based on revenge or on fake claims since the only proven and consensus accusation is that the detainees are from the Shirazzi group. This classification is based on religious doctrines and beliefs, a fact that has no relationship with politics and violation against the law/constitution of Bahrain. D. Final Verdict: On October 4th 2011, the National Safety Court stated the final verdict of Amal, sentencing 14 members to prison and releasing nine others. The session took only 5 minutes and the judge said that the verdict is not final and there are chances for appeals. This decision enhances the fact that Amal is targeted by the regime. The sentences were as follows: 1. 10 years prison sentences: a) Sheikh Mohammed Ali Almahfoodh b) Sheikh Abdullah Alsaleh c) Sayed Mahdi Almossawi d) Sheikh Jasim Aldimistani e) Talal Abdulhameed
4 5

http://bna.bh/portal/en/news/447595, http://bna.bh/portal/news/447681, http://bna.bh/portal/news/447588 http://bna.bh/portal/en/news/447346 6 Minister of Social Development, Dr Fatima Albeloushi declared and supported this in Geneva. http://bna.bh/portal/news/448735

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2. 5 years prison sentences: a) Sheikh Yaser Alsaleh b) Sheikh Abduladheem Almuhtadi c) Sheikh Habeeb Aljamri d) Sheikh Idrees Ilikiri e) Sheikh Mohammed Ali Alsaleh f) Jaafar Abdulla Aljamri g) Habeeb Alansari h) Mohammed Ebrahim

Conclusion: The court announced it verdict sentencing Amals members and Chairman from 5 to 10 years prison. This Kangaroo Court is a farcical court where all the members of offense and the judge are merely acting and complying with a ready-made-series of sessions, regardless to the defense party and their evidence. For the last ten years, Amal has been calling for an urgent national dialogue in order to evade an eminent but inevitable blow-out in the street due to the deteriorating conditions of civil rights and civil liberties in the country. However, these calls were received by no one, and the regime only insisted on targeting Amal basically because Amal said the truth about the political situation. Moreover, in the last four years, Almahfoodh always foreshadowed a blinking crisis if serious changes were not applied immediately on the human rights level. Currently, it is no secret that Bahrain is living a crucial crisis, and this crisis could only be solved by standing at the root of the political issues, Amal since its inception was calling for a fruitful dialogue and had supported any initiative for a dialogue as long as it is fruitful and productive. To conclude, this a call for urgent intervention to stop this fake trial against people who have no guilt but to call for more democracy and implement the global human rights on the ground and not only on the papers of the constitution. The changes should secure a bill of rights as in the American Constitution in order to secure the global civil rights and civil liberties.

*******End of Report*******

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Appendix: Photography Report

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Traces of damage and destroyed devices

Another Wall-picture of the late Activist Abdulameer Alarab

A destroyed picture of the beloved Late Activist Abdulameer Alarab

Victims of their hatred

Traces of damage and chaos in the media committee centre

Broken entrance of Alarabs Hall

Main Hall

Destroyed television

Private Society files

Pictures of the Chairman

Secretary Office

Secretary Office

Reception Hall

Why they dont want the state of societies and agencies Sectarian hatred against belief & thought A casket of Holy Turbadestroyed

What remained of the picture of Martyr Abbas Alaisereena

A Poster of the Chairman and one of his famous sayings