29th May 2013

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

22 May 2013 Dear Special Rapporteurs Mendez, Sekaggya and La Rue, We the undersigned NGOs worldwide are writing to express serious concern over the treatment of Bahrain human rights defenders whom we believe to be detained in violation of their right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. We have received alarming reports of torture and ill-treatment in prison, which contravene Bahrain's obligations under international law, as well as its promises to stop the practise of torture in detention. Read More force. Those mostly affected by the police brutality were Shia Bahrainis where more than fty people died, hundreds were jailed, and thousands lost their jobs. Over the past two years, Bahrain has experienced numerous democracy protests in a battle for inuence between Shia power Iran and Sunni Arab states including Saudi Arabia. Many mass protests have been abolished, but smaller demonstrations continue where the Bahraini Shia majority wants the Sunni rules to raise elections and create a constitutional monarchy. Read More

Bahrain - Joint appeal to the UN against ill-treatment and torture of detained human rights defenders, activists and photojournalist in Bahrain
The following is a joint appeal to three UN Special Rapporteurs calling for an investigation to torture in Bahraini prisons. The appeal, signed by over 50 NGOs, was initiated by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights and the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights :

Call over Bahrain medical college

Human rights lawyers have urged the Medical Council not to sanction accreditation for an Irish medical college's operations in Bahrain. The Ceartas group has claimed the Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandBahrain (RCSI-Bahrain) has been overseeing the teaching of medics in the troubled Arab state while some patients are tortured and doctors imprisoned.

Reports from Medecins Sans Frontieres, the USbased Physicians for Human Rights and a Bahrain government committee all state widespread human rights abuses since an uprising began in early 2011. Gearaid O Cuinn, codirector of Ceartas - Irish Lawyers for Human Rights, accused RCSI-Bahrain of using militarised hospitals and that medics are ordered to pass information on patients to the authorities. Read More call as it published a report documenting what it said were systematic violations of international human rights law and medical ethics at facilities where RCSI students are trained. The RCSIs operation in Bahrain has been the subject of controversy since early 2011 when scores of medics, including three who had trained at the RCSI in Dublin, were rounded up as Bahraini security forces tried to snuff out prodemocracy rallies. Read More

Call for Irish Medical Council not to accredit RCSIBahrain campus

The Irish Medical Council should not approve the Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandBahrain campus for accreditation due to abuses that have taken place in Bahraini hospitals where RCSI students receive training, an Irish human rights organisation has said. Ceartas (Irish Lawyers for Human Rights) made the

Raid on Bahrain Sheikhs Home Fuels Tension

Shias make up the majority population in Bahrain, but most of the money and power is controlled by the Sunnis and the Sunni Royal Family. Tensions and discrimination from this religious sectarianism have long been escalating. Lack of accountability has been regarded as the biggest problem for increasing tensions by Bahrains allies. In February 2011, thousands of prodemocracy protesters gathered in the Capital Manama but were later cleared out by the police

Bahrain on Wednesday, a security source said.

Bomb injures seven policemen in Bahrain - source

A remotely-detonated bomb injured at least seven policemen on patrol in

"There was an ambush ... while they (the police) were working on unblocking roads, they were targeted and three of them are seriously wounded," the source said. Read More

Bahraini jihadist killed in Syria

Syria loomed particularly large in Bahrain this week following the death of a Bahraini teenager and the parliaments call to raise funds and to adopt a staunch stance against militant militia Hezbollah. On Monday, Bahrainis were informed through social

networks and microblogs that Abdul Rahman Adel Al Hamad, 19, had been killed in Syria as he was ghting alongside the anti regime rebels. His young age and his status as the son of a wellknown religious gure in the country have augmented the impact of the news on the people. Read More

MPs urged to join anti-envoy drive

A PROTEST is being planned outside the US Embassy as part of a mounting campaign to oust American Ambassador to Bahrain Thomas Krajeski. The GDN reported on Tuesday that a petition calling for his removal would be sent to US President Barack Obama.

A group of online activists is now urging people to contact their MPs in Bahrain and persuade them to take part in a demonstration outside the US Embassy, in Zinj although no date has yet been announced. The campaign is being conducted on Twitter under the slogan "Stop the American Ambassador" and has been organised in response to allegations that Mr Krajeski is interfering in Bahrain's domestic affairs. Read More

Crown Prince Meets UK Foreign Secretary in London

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad AlKhalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister met with the United Kingdoms Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon William Hague MP today in London.

Discussing developments in Bahrain, His Royal Highness outlined the progress made by the Kingdom under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa. In doing so, he highlighted the reforms undertaken by Bahrain over many years since the National Action Charter, including the amendments made to the constitution in 2012. Read More