WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can write a letter to King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, and other members of the Bahraini authorities, as well as to the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Human Rights Defenders, registering your grave concern at the ongoing harassment of the human rights defender, Ghada Jamsheer, and members of her immediate family.
SAMPLE LETTER
[date]
Subject: Harassment of women’s human rights defender, Ghada Jamsheer
Your Majesty:
The Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) international solidarity network is deeply concerned by the recent harassment campaign against Ms. Ghada Jamsheer, a woman human rights defender. Ghada Jamsheer is the president of the Women's Petition Committee, an organization 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.
Ghada Jamsheer and her family have also received threats, including many threatening text messages, and have been followed in a car. State security agents in civilian clothes have been sent to Ghada Jamsheer's house to shout at her using abusive language. She has been accused of attacking officers performing their duties and has been prevented from accessing the media. In addition, we have learned that Ms. Jamsheer’s mother and sister have had court cases brought against them, which we are concerned are directly linked to her defence of human rights.
We are concerned that the harassment campaign and the media ban against Ghada Jamsheer are directly related to her legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular women's rights in Bahrain, and that this may form part of an ongoing campaign against human rights defenders in the country. We are seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Ghada Jamsheer, as well as that of her family.
We urge 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.
We appreciate your attention to this serious matter.
Sincerely yours,
[Your name / your organization]
ADDRESSES
King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa Office of the King The Amiri Court, Rifa'a Palace, PO Box 555 Manama, Bahrain
Ministry of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Foreign Minister P.O. Box 547, Government Road Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 17210666
His Excellency Dr. Nezar bin Sadik Al Baharna Minister of State for Foreign Affairs P.O. Box 547, Government Road Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 17210666
Ministry of the Interior His Excellency the Minister of the Interior Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa P.O. Box 13 Salmaniya Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: 17254666
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Khalifa P.O Box 450 Diplomatic Area Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: 17536343
Ms. Margaret Sekaggya Special Representative of the Secretary General for Human Rights Defenders Attn: Melinda Ching Simon Room 1-040, c/o UHCHR-UNOG 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Fax: +41 22 917 9006
SEEK FOR 'EMBASSY OF BAHRAIN IN (YOUR COUNTRY)' AND SEND A COPY OF THE LETTER THERE, TOO
Source: http://www.wluml.org/english/actionsfulltxt.shtml?cmd%5B156%5D=i-156-563471
H/T: http://bahrain-eve.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html
You can write a letter to King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, and other members of the Bahraini authorities, as well as to the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Human Rights Defenders, registering your grave concern at the ongoing harassment of the human rights defender, Ghada Jamsheer, and members of her immediate family.
SAMPLE LETTER
[date]
Subject: Harassment of women’s human rights defender, Ghada Jamsheer
Your Majesty:
The Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) international solidarity network is deeply concerned by the recent harassment campaign against Ms. Ghada Jamsheer, a woman human rights defender. Ghada Jamsheer is the president of the Women's Petition Committee, an organization 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.
Ghada Jamsheer and her family have also received threats, including many threatening text messages, and have been followed in a car. State security agents in civilian clothes have been sent to Ghada Jamsheer's house to shout at her using abusive language. She has been accused of attacking officers performing their duties and has been prevented from accessing the media. In addition, we have learned that Ms. Jamsheer’s mother and sister have had court cases brought against them, which we are concerned are directly linked to her defence of human rights.
We are concerned that the harassment campaign and the media ban against Ghada Jamsheer are directly related to her legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular women's rights in Bahrain, and that this may form part of an ongoing campaign against human rights defenders in the country. We are seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Ghada Jamsheer, as well as that of her family.
We urge 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.
We appreciate your attention to this serious matter.
Sincerely yours,
[Your name / your organization]
ADDRESSES
King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa Office of the King The Amiri Court, Rifa'a Palace, PO Box 555 Manama, Bahrain
Ministry of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Foreign Minister P.O. Box 547, Government Road Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 17210666
His Excellency Dr. Nezar bin Sadik Al Baharna Minister of State for Foreign Affairs P.O. Box 547, Government Road Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 17210666
Ministry of the Interior His Excellency the Minister of the Interior Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa P.O. Box 13 Salmaniya Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: 17254666
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Khalifa P.O Box 450 Diplomatic Area Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: 17536343
Ms. Margaret Sekaggya Special Representative of the Secretary General for Human Rights Defenders Attn: Melinda Ching Simon Room 1-040, c/o UHCHR-UNOG 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Fax: +41 22 917 9006
SEEK FOR 'EMBASSY OF BAHRAIN IN (YOUR COUNTRY)' AND SEND A COPY OF THE LETTER THERE, TOO
Source: http://www.wluml.org/english/actionsfulltxt.shtml?cmd%5B156%5D=i-156-563471
H/T: http://bahrain-eve.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html
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