'Dirty tactics' against activists .

Published on Bahrain Center for Human Rights (http://www.bahrainrights.org)
Worrying Allegations over Government Attempts to Spy on Prominent Women's Rights Activist
By admin
Created 17 Mar 2007 - 22:09
BCHR calls for end to use of 'dirty tactics' against activists
Bahrain Center for Human Rights17 March 2007Ref: 07031701
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights is alarmed at allegations that the Bahraini government is employing 'dirty' tactics, including espionage, in its campaign to subdue local activists.
A Bahraini man, according to a statement given to the BCHR, was offered a large sum of money by Public Security officials in exchange for information on, and access to, the home of Women's Petition Committee head Ghada Jamsheer.
The Bahraini man from Muharraq, who previously worked in Ms Jamsheer's home to install a satellite receiver (dish), said that he was summoned to the Public Security building near the Interior Ministry Fort.
He claims that a public security official with a Jordanian accent asked him to provide them with access to Ms Jamsheer's house, and to show a public security force member the location of her bedroom.
The Bahraini man also alleged that the official indicated a small strip of transparent ribbon would be placed on Ms Jamsheer's bedroom wall.
Security officials were already in possession of a number of photographs of Ms Jamsheer and her house from the outside, according to the man.
He claims to have been offered a large amount of cash in BD 20 notes, which he refused.
According to article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "no one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks."
As noted in the US State Department report on Human Rights Practices in Bahrain, the Bahrain "government continued toinfringe on citizens' right to privacy ... Telephone calls and personal correspondence remained subject to monitoring. Police informer networks were extensive and sophisticated."
These shocking allegations come after anonymous phone threats were made to Su'ad Fathallah after she criticized the government for its anti-women policies on a television discussion alongside Ms. Jamsheer (BCHR Ref: 07011401 [0]).
Other related incidents include the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of National Unemployment Committee activist Musa Abda'ali by plainclothes security forces last year (see "Bahrain: Human rights defenders under threat [1]", Amnesty International, 17 July 2006), and recent anonymous phone calls threats against Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights vice president Hussein Jawad (BCHR Ref: 06101201 [1]).
In the past, the government has used personal information to blackmail or threaten activists in order to silence them or cause them to put an end to their advocacy work.
"Elsewhere, human rights workers and activists are lauded and celebrated as national figures of respect," BCHR president Abdulhadi Al Khawaja said.
"These tactics are deplorable, and unacceptable in a country which claims to be working towards democracy," he added.
"The right to privacy for all individuals is a part of the new Bahraini constitution, which should be upheld and implemented by the Bahraini government if it is to be respected by both the Bahraini people, and the International Community."
The BCHR calls for an end to dirty tactics being used by the government against activists.
With the recent escalation in the targeting of activists, the BCHR holds the Bahraini government fully responsible for the wellbeing and safety of Ms Jamsheer and her family, as well as other activists.
Source URL:http://www.bahrainrights.org/ref07031701