Cairo September 6, 2012

ANHRI denounces the excessive use of force, by the Bahraini security forces, to disperse the demonstrations in several areas in Bahrain yesterday to denounce the judgments against the icons group.

The Bahraini security forces had used tear gas, sound bombs and bullets from an automatic weapon (shotgun) (a weapon used for hunting birds), to disperse demonstrations in many parts of the country, to denounce the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment, up-healing the judgments of the Court of National Safety(exceptional court), against the group of opposition figures and activists, supporting  the Bahraini uprising, which resulted in the injury of many of the demonstrators who were suffocated because of the gas density as well as injuring one of the protesters by the shot (shotgun).

Moreover, Bahrain continues to track activists and torturing them, as the Bahraini court yesterday adjourned the trial of the activist “Zainab Al-Khawaja” to the hearing of Sept. 10 to pleading, with the continued confinement, due to practice its right to peaceful demonstration.

In a related context the juvenile judge released yesterday both Children “Muhsin Muhammad” aged 13 years and “Mirza Abdul Shaheed” aged 11 years, after being held for 28 days due to accusations in participating in peaceful demonstrations and setting fire to tires to disable the road, which is a violation of both international treaties and conventions.

ANHRI confirmed that: “The continuation of the Bahraini authorities in hostility against  activists and opposition is clear and abusing them in various ways and methods, through arresting or prosecuting them. But that increase their determination to achieve their demands of reform and democracy”.

The network: “The complete absence of any indications of the intention of the Bahraini authorities to change its suppressive policies against the practice of citizens to the freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful demonstration, that makes the international community responsible to intervene to press the Bahraini regime to ensure its application of its obligations in accordance with international covenants and charters of human rights”.

ANHRI calls the Bahraini regime to immediately release all prisoners of conscience and opinion and legally prosecuted and to ensure their safety. ANHRI calls the Bahraini regime to review its position on the freedom of opinion and expression and peaceful demonstration.