Bahrain: Harassment of woman human rights defender, Ghada Jamsheer
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.”
Source URL:
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/1769
