Need Your Urgent Intervention

Subject: Need your urgent intervention


As you know that I was always subjected to different kinds of harassments, such as close monitoring of my house by security bodies in plain clothes standing out of the house most of the time, as well as attempt to fix camera and wiring my house, and banning me from publishing in local newspapers, and Filing more than 20 falls criminal and civil cases that was presented before court against me, and now again breaking into my house for videoing and picturing while I was abroad.

On November 18, 2008, the security body instructed a female of Egyptian nationality (W. S.) to enter my house, taking advantage of my time in South Africa, under the pretext of carrying out the work of decoration that I have asked her to do, which is not at all true.

She filmed and pictured inside and outside the house, including bedrooms, bathrooms , wardrobes and every corner of the house.

My family members tried to stop her from continuing doing so, and they tried to remove the memory chip from her camera, but they failed. Then they called the police later. My family filed a complaint against her for entering the house without the knowledge of its owner, and filming without permission from me. complaint number is 2028-2008.
The police of Budaya Station refused to ask her for the memory chip that have the film and photos and instead help her to hide them. Public Prosecutor also refuse to activated the case tell today, and I believe it is an order from the National Security Apparatus.

These shameful actions has violated my rights to privacy and security’ which I am afraid that is a plan to make a something towards damaging my images and repetition in society, taking advantage of those photo and film.

I strongly belief that the National Security Apparatus and the Royal Divan, are behind this action as a result of my fight for the women rights and human Rights.

Therefore, I request you as an honorable institution and respected international organizations to do what is appropriate for you to stop the National Security Apparatus and the royal court of harassing and targeting me.

Ghada Jamsheer
Head of the Women's Petition Committee
Tel: 0097339680807
Fax: 973 17694422
ghadajamsheer@hotmail.com
Bahrain in 14 January 2009


Published on Front Line (http://www.frontlinedefendersorg)
Bahrain: Harassment of woman human rights defender, Ghada Jamsheer
By khalid
Created 2009/01/17 - 22:03
Front Line is deeply concerned following information received regarding an alleged harassment campaign against Ghada Jamsheer, a woman human rights defender. Ghada Jamsheer is the president of the Women's Petition Committee, an organisation which campaigns for the rights and dignity of women in the shari'ah family courts.
While Ghada Jamsheer was attending the AWID (Association for Women's Rights in Development) conference in South Africa between 14 and 17 November 2008, her home was reportedly entered by a state security agent and detailed photographs were taken. Her house phone, mobile phone, and email account are reportedly under surveillance and received many threatening SMS.Ghada Jamsheer and her family have also been threatened and followed in a car, while members of security in civilian clothes have been sent to her house to shout at her with abusive language.
Finally, she has been accused of attacking officers performing their duties and has been prevented from accessing the media.Front Line is concerned that the harassment campaign and the media ban on Ms. Ghada Jamsheer is directly related to her legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular women's rights in Bahrain, and that it may form part of an ongoing campaign against human rights defenders in the country. Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Ghada Jamsheer, as well as that of her family.
Front Line urges the authorities in Bahrain to:
1.
Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the harassment against Ghada Jamsheer and her family, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards ;
2.
Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological security and integrity of Ghada Jamsheer and the members of her family;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Bahrain are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
Front Line respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 9 (3-c):
“everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, /inter alia: (/c) To offer and provide professionally qualified legal assistance or other relevant advice and assistance in defending human rights and fundamental freedoms”, and to Article 12 (1 and 2): “(1) Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to participate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; (2) The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threat, retaliation, de facto or /de jure/ adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”