Call for the Immediate Release of Human Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab

Human Rights Ambassador, William Nicholas Gomes, Calls for the immediate release of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab.

Nabeel Rajab

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Nabeel Ahmed Abdulrasool Rajab (Arabic: نبيل أحمد عبدالرسول رجب‎, born on 1 September 1964) is a Bahraini human rights activist and opposition leader. He is president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR). He is also a prominent international human rights activist. He is a member of the Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch's Middle East Division, Deputy Secretary General for the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), former chairman of CARAM Asia, member of the Advisory Board of the Bahrain Rehabilitation and Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO), and president of Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR).

Rajab started his human rights activity during the 1990s uprising before going on to become involved in campaigning on behalf of migrant workers in GCC countries. He subsequently became a leading campaigner against civil and human rights abuses in Bahrain including torture and deaths in official custody. He is known for his pioneering use of social networking as an important element in human rights campaigning which has brought him into conflict with the authorities. Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Reporters Without Borders have described him as being targeted by Bahraini authorities for his human rights activities.

During the Bahraini uprising, in which he led numerous protests, he has clashed with the political authorities and security forces. His house has been attacked with tear gas, he has been arrested several times, he has allegedly been beaten, and he has been the target of death threats. As well as criticising the Bahraini government itself, he has also been sharply critical of the role of Bahrain's allies, including the United States.

Following protests during the Formula 1 race in April 2012 that attracted media attention, Rajab was arrested and incarcerated several times. On 9 July, he was detained and sentenced to three months prison for having "insulted Bahrainis" in a Twitter message and most recently on 16 August, while still in detention, Rajab was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on three protest-related charges. The verdict has drawn criticism from Bahrain's western allies and human rights organizations. In December, 2012, the sentence was reduced to 2 years in prison after appeal.[5] Rajab's human rights work has been recognized internationally but within Bahraini society he remains a figure of controversy. Labeled as the informal leader of the uprising and a hero to protesters, Rajab is viewed by some Sunnis as a troublemaker.

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Attn. Cheikh Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, Fax: +973 176 64 587 Cheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Fax: +973 175 31 284 Lt. Gen. Cheikh Rashed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, Fax:+973 17390000. HE Dr. Salah bin Ali Abdulrahman, Minister of Human Rights Affairs, Fax: +973 171 01 888 Cc: HE Mr. Nasser Al Belooshi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to France, Fax: +33 1 47 20 55 75 HE Mr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Fax: +41 22 758 96 50 Paris-Geneva, November 19, 2013 Excellencies, I am William Nicholas Gomes,Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com. I am adding my voice with International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in the framework of their joint programme, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and call upon the highest authorities of Bahrain to guarantee the release of Mr. Nabeel Rajab, Deputy Secretary General of FIDH, who will have served 3/4 of his sentence on November 29th, 2013 and is therefore eligible an early release. Mr. Nabeel Rajab’s term as Deputy Secretary General of FIDH has been renewed by the newly elected International Board of FIDH at the occasion of its first meeting held in Paris on November 9, 2013. Mr. Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), is serving a two years’ imprisonment sentence for advocating and exercising the right to peaceful assembly. He has been detained since July 9, 2012. Between September and December 2012, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders conducted four judicial observation missions to monitor the hearings in the trial of Mr. Nabeel Rajab. A report presenting the findings of those observations concluded that the trial in appeal against Mr. Rajab failed to comply with international standards of fair trial. The entire procedure was fraught with serious human rights violations from the time of arrest, through detention, trial and conviction [1]. We consider that Mr. Rajab’s conviction blatantly violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) ratified by Bahrain [2], but also a number of basic internationally recognised human rights such as the right to fair trial. Though the authorities of Bahrain have committed on several occasions to implement the recommendations issued by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), including the release of all prisoners of opinion, Mr. Nabeel Rajab is still detained. I urge the relevant authorities to comply with both international and domestic laws and release Mr Rajab without any further delay. The Observatory calls in particular for the implementation of articles 349, 350, 353 of the Bahraini Code of Criminal Procedure. According to these provisions, detainees imprisoned for misdemeanours are eligible for an early release after serving 3/4 of their sentence given that their conduct and behaviour in prison are satisfactory. I express my sincere hope that you will take these considerations and requests into account. Yours sincerely, Yours Sincerely, William Nicholas Gomes Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com Twitter @wnicholasgomes www.williamnicholasgomes.com Footnotes [1] See Observatory Judicial Observation Mission Report: «Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Advocating and Exercising the Right to Peaceful Assembly», released on 14 February, 2013. [2] Participation in peaceful activities to protest against violations of human rights, including through peaceful assemblies, is protected under international law.

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Salem-News.com Human Rights Ambassador William Nicholas Gomes is a Bangladeshi journalist, human rights activist. As an investigative journalist has written widely for leading European and Asian media outlets. William Gomes concentrates on humanity; his advocacy of human beings in dangerous, preventable circumstances does in fact lead to some of our most vital reports, because they give a voice to the voiceless.

William Gomes said, "I am against any form of intolerance alongside xenophobia and antisemitism. I am and will always stand strong in combating all forms of racial discrimination and intolerance any where." Read his letters and reports to see what the new generation of world journalists are doing to preserve human rights worldwide.