Release the Bahrain Leaflet Detainees

To:  His Majesty, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, The Royal Court, Riffa, Kingdom of Bahrain

Since November 16, 2006, Bahraini authorities have imprisoned Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi (dentist, age 35) and Husain AbdulAziz Al Hebshi (insurance sales executive, age 32) for possessing internet-downloaded publications which called for the boycott of the November 2006 national elections.

The Bahraini Public Prosecution charged them with "favouritism and promoting the change of the State system through illegal means and without a legitimate reason", and "spreading false news and rumours, which would cause disruption of public security, and damage public interest". These charges come under Articles 160, 161 and 168, postulated in a special chapter in the Penal Code- no 15 of 1976- dedicated to State Security crimes. According to these articles, Dr Mohammed and Husain could face up to seven years imprisonment.

Your majesty,

We applaud the Government of Bahrain's accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which became part of the national legislation under Bahrain Law No. 56 of 2006, published in the Official Gazette No. 2752 on August 16, 2006. However, we would like to highlight Article 19 of the ICCPR which states that: (1) "Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference", and (2) "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice."

Dr. Mohammed and Hussain's possession of the publication, and their intention to distribute it, was merely an exercise of their legal right to expression, guaranteed in Article 19 mentioned above. It is also protected by Article 23 of the Constitution of Bahrain which states that: "freedom of opinion and scientific research is secured, everyone has the right to express his opinion verbally, in writing or otherwise, in accordance with the terms and conditions prescribed by the law".

We, the undersigned, are convinced that what Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi and Mr Hussain AbdulAziz Al Hebshi did was not a crime under the provisions of Bahraini law or international legal instruments. We therefore plea for their immediate and unconditional release, setting a good example of respect and protection of human rights values as expected from Bahrain, a member the UN Human Rights Council.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Release the Bahrain Leaflet Detainees Petition to His Majesty, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, The Royal Court, Riffa, Kingdom of Bahrain was created by Bahrain Center for Human Rights and written by Nabeel Rajab (info@bahrainrights.org).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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