Mohammed Al-Maskati: BahrainMohammed A

Status: Under government surveillance. Recently attacked by security forces on April 9, 2011. [Read more here] & [Here]

Activism:
President of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights. Recently staged sit-in to address the current situation, along with members of detainees’ families and other activists. He also leads the Political Prisoners Campaign for the WYMD. In May of 2010 Al-Maskati was charged with practicing human rights work without an officially licensed organization and charged a fine of BD 500.

Current Situation in Country:
Executive Authority has escalated a campaign against civil liberties since mid-August; many activists have been arrested including prominent bloggers, human rights defenders, and clerics. Several detainees have been subjected to torture and denied basic rights while in custody.It is estimated that over 250 Shiites, mostly youth, have been arrested based on the claim that the government is cracking down on a “sophisticated terrorist network operating with international support” (Gulf Daily News). These arrests have likely been made in an attempt to protect Sunni government control in the upcoming election on October 23rd.

 Suggestions for Action:

Write posts or record videos of support on the Bahrain Center for Human Rights website: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/2894 

Send articles to Bahraini news outlets about Mohammed's human rights and democracy work, asking that they publish the truth about Mohammed rather than the government propaganda.

Call on the government of Bahrain to stop the attacks and smear campaigns against Mohammed; and to reform laws to align with international standards guaranteeing freedom of individuals to work in the human rights field.

    • Cheikh Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain,
      Fax: +973 176 64 587
    • Cheikh Khaled Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
      Tel: +9 73 172 27 555; Fax: +9 73 172 12 6032
    • Cheikh Khaled Bin Ali Al Khalifa, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs,
      Tel: +9 73 175 31 333; Fax: +9 73 175 31 284
    • Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the UN in Geneva:
      1 Chemin Jacques-Attenville
      1218 Grand-Saconnex, CP 39
      1292 Chambesy, Switzerland
      Fax: +41 22 758 96 50
      Email:       info@bahrain-mission.ch