The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights
http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/

                           CHILD CONCERN
                        Case BHR 191296.CC

The   International  Secretariat  of  OMCT  requests  your  URGENT
intervention in the following situation in BAHRAIN.

Brief description of the situation :
Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO), a member of the network,
has expressed its grave concern about a continuing wave of massive
arbitrary  arrest  and  detention. Among  the  detainees  are  the
following children :

Yasser Abdallah Khalil, 12 years, Samahij, 25.11.96
Jaffer Ali Hassan, 16 years, Arad, 05.12.96.
Mohammed Hassan Elias, 12 years, Samahij, 25.11.96.
Mohammed Hassan Kharfoush, 11 years, Samahij, 25.11.96

The  cases are some of the people who have been detained over  the
last  four weeks. The detainees are held incommunicado. Given  the
circumstances  of  their arrest and the great  number  of  similar
cases over this year (see cases: BHR 211196.CC; BHR 041196.CC; BHR
281096.CC; BHR 070596.CC; BHR 100496.CC) there are grave fears for
their   physical  and  psychological  integrity.  The  information
suggests that the main reasons behind the arrests would appear  to
be  aimed  at  discouraging people from demonstrating against  the
current  authorities. Such activities have been a part of  popular
movement  and  disturbances started on December 1994  calling  for
democratic reforms and the release of detainees.

These  persons  were  arbitrarily detained under  the  1974  State
Security  Law,  Article 1 of which provides for the administrative
detention  without  charge or trial for up  to  three  years.  The
International Secretariat notes that the above-mentioned  measures
violate many articles of The International Bill of Rights and  the
principles  32(1)  and  37 of the UN Body  of  Principles  on  the
Effective Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or
Imprisonment.

Moreover,  noting that Bahrain is a State Party to the  Convention
of  the  Rights  of the Child whose articles 37  and  40,  amongst
others,  provide that the arrest, detention or imprisonment  of  a
child  shall  be used only as a measure of last resort,  and  that
children  have  the  right to be presumed  innocent  until  proven
guilty  by  law.  The International Secretariat remarks  that  the
detention of these minors is in breach with the provisions of  the
Convention.

Action requested:
Please write to the Bahrain authorities urging them to:

i.  order  the  immediate  release of all children  detained,  and
    guarantee their physical and psychological integrity;

ii. put an end to the arrest, detention and torture of children;

iii.      ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and
    fundamental  freedoms  in accordance with  national  laws  and
    international standards.

Addresses :
His  Highness  Shaikh Issa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Office  of  His
Highness  the Amir, P.O. Box 555, The Amiri Court, Rifaa  Palace,
Bahrain. Fax : + 973 668884. Telex : 8666 Qasar BN; 8500 Qasar BN

His  Excellency  Shaikh  Khalifa  Bin  Salman  Al  Khalifa,  Prime
Minister, P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain.
Telex : 9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO BN

His Excellency Shaikh Muhammad Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of
Interior, P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain.
Fax : + 973 276765 or 290526. Telex : 9572 PSMKT BN OR 8333 ALAMAN
BN

Geneva, 19 December 1996

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number
of this appeal in your reply


Ben Schonveld
Projects Manager

OMCT - SOS Torture Tel: +41-22-733 31 40 
Case Postale 119   Fax: +41 22-733 10 51
CH 1211 Geneva 20  Conf: omctsostorture@conf.igc.apc.org
Switzerland        OMCT@iprolink.ch

OMCT is the l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture
             The World Organisation Against Torture