SRW Joins 155 Civil Society Organizations in Calling for Maryam al-Khawaja’s Release

18 SEPTEMBER 2014 – Washington, DC – Shia Rights Watch joined more than 150 civil society organizations from around the world in calling on the King of Bahrain to immediately release prominent human rights activist Maryam al-Khawaja. Please continue reading for the full text of the letter or click here for a PDF.

18 September 2014
HM Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain

Dear King Hamad,

We, the undersigned 155 civil society organisations based in over 60 countries write to you united in our condemnation of the politically motivated arrest of human rights defender and co-director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, Maryam Al-Khawaja at Manama airport on 30 August 2014. We urge that Maryam is immediately and unconditionally released.

We believe that Maryam Al-Khawaja is being persecuted for exercising her legitimate rights to freedom of expression and association in the defence of fundamental freedoms including her co-operation with international institutions and her important role in documenting human rights violations in Bahrain. We stand in solidarity with Maryam and all other human rights defenders wrongly imprisoned by your government for their work and beliefs.

We remind you that the harassment, intimidation or stigmatization of a human rights defender, including arrest, detention, trial or imprisonment for reasons of the opinions they may hold, constitute a serious violation of Bahrain’s obligations under international law.

We remain concerned that since the pro-democracy protests intensified in February 2011 your government has deliberately subverted democratic freedoms using a combination of legal and extra-legal measures involving politically motivated prosecutions, brutal crackdowns on protests and silencing expressions of dissent in the print and online media. Many have raised the concern about the arbitrary detention of hundreds of pro-democracy activists and their being subjected to torture and ill-treatment in detention centers across Bahrain.

At the UN Human Rights Council, during Bahrain’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2012 your government agreed to protect human rights defenders and allow them to conduct their work without hindrance, intimidation or harassment. On 5 September 2014, a group of United Nations independent human rights experts also demanded Maryam Al-Khawaja’s release, and urged you to follow through on your commitments made during the UPR to end the persecution of all human rights defenders in Bahrain. We support Maryam’s courage and strength for advocating for democratic change.

Sincerely,

1. African Life Center – USA
2. African Women’s Active Nonviolence Initiatives for Social Change (AWANICh) – Democratic Republic of the Congo
3. Aithria Agro-Environmental Research and Action Team – Greece
4. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) – Bangladesh
5. Aman Network for Rehabilitation & Defending Human Rights – United Kingdom
6. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) – USA
7. Andalus institute for tolerance & Anti-violence studies – Egypt
8. Arab Network for Democratic Elections – Lebanon
9. Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) – Lebanon
10. Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) – Egypt
11. ARTICLE 19 – UK
12. Asian Human Rights Commission – Hong Kong
13. Asian Press Institute – Sri Lanka
14. Association Dea Dia from Serbia – Serbia
15. Association for Progressive Communications – South Africa
16. Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) -Canada
17. Association Transparence et Développement (ATED) – Mauritania
18. Avocats Sans Frontières Network – France
19. Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) – Bahrain
20. Bahrain Human Rights Observatory (BHRO) – Bahrain
21. Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) – United Kingdom
22. Bahrain Rehabilitation & Anti Violence Organization (BRAVO) – Bahrain
23. Bahrain Salam for Human Rights – United Kingdom
24. Baidarie Pakistan – Pakistan
25. Belgrade Center for Human Rights – Serbia
26. Bishkek Feminist Collective SQ – Krygzistan
27. Building More Future Opportunities and Capacities (BMFOCA) – Nigeria
28. Burundi Child Rights Coalition (BCRC)– Burundi
29. Bytes for All – Pakistan
30. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) – Egypt
31. Campaign Against Ignorance & Illiteracy (CAII) – Nigeria
32. Cambodia Center for Human Rights (CCHR) – Cambodia
33. Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) – Canada
34. Center for Peace Education – USA
35. Center for National and International Studies (CNIS) – Azerbaijan
36. Center International Training for Human Rights and Development – Democratic Republic of the Congo
37. Center of studies on Justice and Resolution of 1325 – Democratic Republic of the Congo
38. Charity and Security Network – USA
39. Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea – United Kingdom
40. Civic Initiatives – Serbia
41. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation – South Africa3
42. Civil Rights Defenders – Sweden
43. Coalition pour le Development et la Rehabiniltation Social (CODR UBUNTU) – Burundi
44. Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) – South Sudan
45. Concertation Nationale de la Société Civile du Togo (CNSC Togo) – Togo
46. Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE) – Colombia
47. Counseling Center for Transgender People Association – Turkey
48. Danish PEN – Denmark
49. Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) – Philippines
50. Democracy Monitor – Azerbaijan
51. Diverse Voices and Action for Equality – Fiji
52. East and Horn of African Human Rights Defenders Project – Uganda
53. Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms – Egypt
54. Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) – Egypt
55. Elma7rosa Network for Advocacy Media& Arts – Egypt
56. English PEN – UK
57. Ethiopian Human Rights Project – Ethiopia
58. European-Bahraini Organisation for Human Rights (EBOHR) – Switzerland
59. European Women’s Lobby – Belgium
60. European Saudi Organizations for Human Rights – Germany
61. Federation of African Muslim Women in America (FAMWA) – USA
62. Families of Desaparecidos for Justice – Philippines
63. Foundation of The Victims Of Abduction And Forced Disappearance (FVAFD) – Egypt
64. Fontaine-ISOKO for Good Governance and Integrated Development- Burundi
65. Freedom International – Ghana
66. FIDH, within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, France
67. Freedom House – USA
68. Freddom Now – USA
69. Frontline Defenders – Ireland
70. Ghanaian Centre of PEN International – Ghana
71. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) –USA
72. Groupe des Experts Nationaux – Madagascar
73. Gulf Civil Society Association Forum – Kuwait
74. Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) – Lebanon
75. Helsinki Citizen’s Assembly – Turkey
76. Human Rights Center “Viasna” – Belarus
77. Human Rights Concern Eritrea – United Kingdom
78. Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS) – Netherlands
79. International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran – USA
80. International Centre for supporting Rights and Freedoms (ICSRF) – Egypt
81. International Commission of Jurists – Switzerland
82. International Pen, San Miguel Chapter – Mexico
83. International Service for Human Rights – Switzerland
84. International Solidarity Network Women Living Under Muslim Laws – USA
85. International Youth Human Rights Movement – Russia
86. Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) – UK
87. Lualua Centre for Human Rights(LCHR) – Lebanon
88. Justice for Iran (JFI) – United Kingdom
89. KAOS GL – Turkey
90. Karapatan Alliance – Philippines
91. Khiam Rehabilitation Center For Victims of Torture – Lebanon
92. Kitgum Women Peace Initiative (KIWEPI) – Uganda4
93. Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM) – Serbia
94. Ligue des Droits de la personne dans la région des Grands Lacs (LDGL) – Democratic Republic of Congo
95. Ligue Algerienne Pour la Defense des Droits de l (LADDH) – Algeria
96. Maharat Foundation – Lebanon
97. Martin Ennals Foundation – Switzerland
98. MENA Monitoring Group – Tunisia
99. Middle East Democracy (POMED) – USA
100. Mpalabanda – Associacao Civica de Cabinda – Angola
101. Movimiento Amplio de Mujeres de Puerto Rico – USA
102. Monitoring of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia
103. Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum – Sri Lanka
104. Nasra for Feminist Studies – Egypt
105. New Bakkah Foundation – Switzerland
106. National Lawyers Guild – USA
107. National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms – Yemen
108. National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) – Somalia
109. No Peace Without Justice – Italy
110. World Organisation Against Torture, within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders – Switzerland
111. Pacific Feminist SRHR Coalition – Australia
112. Palestinian Conflict Resolution / Transformation Center – Palestine
113. PEN Center – Nicaragua
114. PEN American Center – USA
115. PEN International – USA
116. PEN International Women Writers Committee – Egypt
117. Policy Center – Serbia
118. Pusat Komas – Malaysia
119. Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) – France
120. Réseau des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en Afrique Centrale (REDHAC) – Cameroon
121. Right Defenders Lawyers & Consultants (RDLC) – Pakistan
122. Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association – Turkey
123. Shia Rights Watch – USA
124. Social And Human Development Consultative Groups (SAHDCG) – Sudan
125. South African Centre of PEN International –South Africa
126. Synergie des Femmes pour les Victimes de Violences Sexuelle – Democratic Republic of the Congo
127. Secularism Is a Women’s Issue – UK
128. Society of Former Political Prisoners Against Arrest and Detention in the Philippines – Philippines
129. South Sudan Law Society (SSLS) – South Sudan
130. Synergie des Associations Feminines du Congo – Democratic Republic of the Congo
131. Swiss Italian PEN – Switzerland
132. Tanzania Human rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) – Tanzania
133. Teso Women Peace Activists (TEWPA) – Uganda
134. The Training Nest – Sri Lanka
135. Three Cities Foundation – Malta
136. Trans-der – Turkey
137. Transparency International – Bangladesh
138. Ucan Supurge Women’s Association – Turkey
139. Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign (TALC) – Zambia
140. Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights – USA
141. Un Ponte Per- Italy5
142. Union Nacional de Instituciones para el trabajo de accion Socilal – Bolivia
143. Vivarta – UK
144. West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN) – Togo
145. Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) – Liberia
146. Women Peace Initiatives-Uganda (WOPI-U) – Uganda
147. Women and Allies Peace Builders Network – Burundi
148. Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) – Philippines
149. Women’s Resource Center – Pakistan
150. Women’s Solidarity Fund – UK
151. World Movement for Democracy – USA
152. Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) – Zambia
153. Zeugmadi LGBT- Turkey
154. Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum – Zimbabwe
155. 1325 Policy Group – Sweden

UN Cuts Aid to Syrians

Today, United Nations announced it will cut its aid to Syrians by 40% starting October 2014. The humanitarian organization stated the cut is due to lack of funding that estimates about $56 million. So far four million Syrians are receiving food supplies from this NGO. UN asks governments to increase their donations in order to prevent such cut.

More than 100,000 Syrian have been killed and about 3 million have fled to neighboring countries due to unrest in Syria. As many as 25% of Syrian children have lost their caretakers and rely on single mothers for their needs. As many as 150,000 children are born among refugees 77% of which have no registered identification. Syrian children and families who have no safe shelter, no access to school and lost their loved ones now face food cut. The future of such families and children is unpredictable as the world abandoned Syria and Syrian for political reason.

Shia News Wire_#7

September 17, 2014

ISIS Demands Capital of Shia and Christian in Mosul

ISIS announced all businessmen in Mosul must turn in any properties and capital that belongs to Shia and Christians immediately. Local Sunni businessmen reported they have been threatened that their found and capital will be seized if they refuse to cooperate with ISIS in collecting Shia and Christin businessmen properties.

Shia and Christian residence of Mosul fled the city after it was attacked by ISIS. The management of Shia shrines in Najaf and Karbala dedicated shelters for those who fled Mosul.

Shia Killings in Pakistan Continues

Haider Ali was ambushed near a market in Khyber-Pukhtoonkhwa Province on Wednesday September 17th. Latter on the same day his body was found as he was shot to death.

on the 16th a retired Shia professor, Anees Anwar, was killed near Saifee College in district central of Karachi. Professor Anwar was on way to his home when a motor cycle rider opened fire upon him in Block G North Nazimabad.

Former Member of Kuwait Parliament Khalid Al Shatti, Arrested

According to Shia Rights Watch sources in Kuwait, on Sunday September 7, 2014, 6:00 PM, Kuwait airport security forces arrested the former member of Kuwait parliament and Lawyer Khalid Al Shatti.

He was then transferred to the Criminal department and from there he has been transferred to public prosecution for further investigation.

Khalid Al Shatti is known for his work toward bringing criminals to justice and free speech against injustice in Kuwait. He opposes the idea of sectarianism which leads to a collapsed country. He is against extremism and tries to prevent the Wahhabi ideology in becoming a threat in his country Kuwait.

ISIS Demands Capital of Shia and Christian in Mosul

ISIS announced all businessmen in Mosul must turn in any properties and capital that belongs to Shia and Christians immediately. Local Sunni businessmen reported they have been threatened that their fund and capital will be seized if they refuse to cooperate with ISIS in collecting Shia and Christin businessmen’s properties.

Shia and Christian residence of Mosul fled the city after it was attacked by ISIS. The management of Shia shrines in Najaf and Karbala dedicated shelters for those who fled Mosul.

Najaf and Karbala Under Attack

Two cars exploded in AlQadir area of Najaf today afternoon. As local authorities reported as many as 12 people have been injured.

Another car exploded in Karbala, injuring seven Shia Muslims.

Karbala and Najaf are Shia populated cities and a host of a major Shia shrines. These cities have been targeted many times by anti-Shia groups despite heavy security.

Arresting former member of Kuwait parliament and Lawyer Khalid Al Shatti

Breaking: According to Shia Rights Watch sources in Kuwait, on Sunday September 7, 2014, 6:00 PM, Kuwait airport security forces arrested the former member of Kuwait parliament and Lawyer Khalid Al Shatti.

He was then transferred to the Criminal department and from there he has been transferred to public prosecution for further investigation.

Khalid Al Shatti is known for his work toward bringing criminals to justice and free speech against injustice in Kuwait. He opposes the idea of sectarianism which leads to a collapsed country. He is against extremism and tries to prevent the Wahhabi ideology in becoming a threat in his country Kuwait.

In his twitter account @khdalshatti, he stated “It is our duty toward our Country Kuwait which gave us a lot to oppose the Wahhabism and defend the victims of extremism”. He also stated that he does not allow the extremist to make the Kuwait a base for their work.

Explosions in Karrada and Kadhimiya

Iraqi Shia are attacked once again as two car exploded in Karrada and Kadhimiya neighborhood. Explosion in Kadhimiya killed 11 and injured 32 as it targeted civilians in busy shop and restaurants of the area.

Also the explosion in Karrada claimed 17 lives and injured six.

Shia of Iraq have been under targeted attacks by number of anti-Shia groups including ISIS and Ba’athists. So far ISIS has killed 7000 Shia Muslims.

Bahraini Government Making a Political Mistake by Arresting Maryam Al-Khawaja

Maryam Al-Khawaja, a Bahraini human rights defender, the daughter of the prominent Bahraini human rights defender Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, head of the foreign relations office, vice president for the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and the acting President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights since Nabeel Rajab was arrested, was detained at Bahrain International Airport on 30 August.

Bahrain government arrested Maryam for leading a campaign called Wanted for Justice and also insulting the king.

Unlike the Saudi government who hides its human rights violations, arrests, funding terror and so on by generous donations and meaningless laws and statements, the Bahraini government uses its international immunity and world’s silence to publicize its violations towards Shia Muslims. This governments arrest and detailing of a young woman who’s human rights leadership has threatened Bahrain has changed the international image of this country.

Arresting such well known human rights defender and charging her for her campaign suggests Bahrain government is proudly accepting its violations toward the Shia majority of this country and has reason to hide under humanitarian aids of the Saudi king.

It would be interesting to see the reaction of international committees and the Obama administration who have thus far given this ally the freedom of violation by their friendship and silence. Such arrest can play an important role in sifting many who claim respect for human dignity, American values, or human rights. The fact that Maryam has not done any crime is clear to all, and all know she is only a peaceful rights defender, so is anyone defending her now?

Shia News Wire_#6

September 3, 2014

670 Shia Prisoners Killed in Mosul

The United Nations states they have evidence that ISIS has killed 670 Shia inmates from a Mosul prison. According to The Guardian, ISIS fighters sorted inmates based on their faith, asking Sunnis to recite prayer and identify their backgrounds. They then took the Shia prisoners to some desert like area, placed them in four rows, and shot them as they kneeled. Some survived by playing dead and reported the story to the UN.

This massacre that took place in June 2014 was strongly condemned by Navi Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights. Earlier ISIS forced women to engage in sexual relationship with fighters as they destroyed Shia properties and killed their residences.

Kuwaiti Government Must Explain its Involvement in Funding Terror

Shafi Al-Ajmi’s lawyer claims he has documents that prove his client’s actions were done under knowledge and approval from the Kuwaiti government. As SRW reported last week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Al-Ajmi under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 as of August 6^th, 2014. Treasury.gov stated “Al-Ajmi operates regular social media campaigns seeking donations for Syrian fighters and is one of the most active Kuwaiti fundraisers for ANF. In July 2014, he publicly admitted that he collected money under the auspices of charity and delivered the funds in person to ANF. Al-Ajmi also acknowledged purchasing and smuggling arms on behalf of ANF”. Al-Ajmi is responsible for the slaughter of many Shia families in Syria by founding and encouraging Anti-Shiism. Defenddemocracy.org also reported “The latter al-Ajmi has implied that he supports slaughtering captured Shi’ite fighters, women, and children in Syria and had his preacher’s license suspended in August for radical invective on Syria and Egypt”

Muhammad bin Nasir, the lawyer of Shafi Al-Ajmi claimed his client operated under the full knowledge of the government. His claim came after the arrest of his clients by the Kuwaiti authorities. If bin Nasir publicized his claim, the Kuwaiti must explain thier support for terrorist groups through Al-Ajmi and other like him.

As SRW has always emphasized, clerics in Islamic Nations are employees of their governments and the local authorities must be held responsible when such employees call for slaughter of minorities or engage in founding terrorist groups. The case of Al-Ajmi is yet another example and must be taken seriously.

All clerics who call for hatred are representatives of their governments and therefore Kuwait is responsible for the same crime as Al-Ajmi and must be punished in international human rights court.

Kuwaiti Government Must Explain its Involvement in Founding Terror

The lawyer of the Shafi Al-Ajmi claims he has documents that prove his client’s actions were done under knowledge and approval of Kuwaiti government. As SRW reported last week The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Al-Ajmi under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 as of August 6th/2014. Treasury.gov stated “Al-Ajmi operates regular social media campaigns seeking donations for Syrian fighters and is one of the most active Kuwaiti fundraisers for ANF. In July 2014, he publicly admitted that he collected money under the auspices of charity and delivered the funds in person to ANF. Al-Ajmi also acknowledged purchasing and smuggling arms on behalf of ANF”. Al-Ajmi is responsible for slaughter of many Shia families in Syria by founding and encouraging Anti-Shiism. Defenddemocracy.org also reported” The latter al-Ajmi has implied that he supports slaughtering captured Shi’ite fighters, women, and children in Syria and had his preacher’s license suspended in August for radical invective on Syria and Egypt”

Muhammad bin Nasir, the lawyer of Shafi Al-Ajmi claimed his client operated under the full knowledge of the government. His claim came after the arrest of his clients by the Kuwaiti authorities. If bin Nasir publicized his claim, the Kuwaiti must explain his support for terrorist groups through Al-Ajmi and other like him.

As SRW has always emphasized all clerics in Islamic Nations are employees of their governments and the local authorities must be held responsible when such employees call for slaughter of minutes or engage in founding terrorist groups. The case of Al-Ajmi is yet another example and must be taken seriously.

All clerics who call for hatred are representatives of their governments and therefore Kuwait is in the shares the same crime as Al-Ajmi and must be punished in international human rights court.

Welcome to Shia Rights Watch

ISIS Demands Capital of Shia and Christian in Mosul

Shia Killings in Pakistan Continues

Former Member of Kuwait Parliament Khalid Al Shatti, Arrested

670 Shia Prisoners Killed in Mosul

Kuwaiti Government Must Explain its Involvement in Funding Terror