Cairo January 30, 2013

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), denounces the intransigences of the minor criminal court during reviewing the case of the human rights activist “Syed Yusuf El-Mohafza”, in which he is accused of spreading the false news.

The minor criminal court IV, this Tuesday, during the review the human rights activist “El-Mohafza”, who is accused of spreading false news, had heard to two of prosecution witnesses; who conducted the investigations and the other is the technical preparation of the report regarding the fact to be reviewed. The lawyers have investigated both witnesses during the hearing and the court refused their request to bring defendant witnesses in addition to, the court refused to bring the video, the court determined March 4, 2013 hearing for pleading.

The security forces, have arrested El-Mohafza, on December 17, 2012, on the background of presence in Manama to cover the events that took place in December not to participate in the demonstrations. On December 18, the prosecution pressed the charges of spreading false news on “twitter”. It has also decided to imprison him for seven days on investigation before it decided in December 25 renew his imprisonment for 15 days before he was released on January 17, 2013.

In the series of the trials that took place in Bahrain against some activists and demonstrations, the court adjourned on January 29, the trial of 5 persons who are accused of assembly and possessing Molotov, to the hearing of February 4, 2013 for pleading. The Major Criminal Court I, released one of three defendants (others are not arrested yet), in the case of assembly and burning tiers in Ras Um Roman, the court determined the hearing of February 25, 2013 to review and to notice the second and the third defendants. The public prosecution pressed the charges of deliberately with other unknown person, in an assembly of five persons for the purpose to prejudice the security, burned the tires which put the life and the money of people into risk, in  on them.

ANHRI said that “the refuse of the court to bring the defendant witnesses and to bring the video of the fact in which El-Mohafza was accused of spreading false news, are a serious violation to his right of speedy trial. The intransigences of the court to address the requests of the defense, proves its intention to establish the charges on him in order to punish him and to politicize the court, which became clear in all the recent trials in Bahrain in which the activists, bloggers and opposition members are a party in”.

ANHRI calls on “the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience and drop all the charges pressed on them in addition to stop prosecuting them and guarantee their safety”.
For more information
http://www.anhri.net/?p=68440
http://www.anhri.net/?p=67559
for more information on Bahrian

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