Support teachers in Bahrain

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**UPDATE**

The case of jailed Bahrain Teachers' Association President Mahdi Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Vice President Jalila al Salman has yet again been delayed with the hearing adjourned to May 30. The NASUWT has condemned the delay and is concerned at the deteriorating health of Mahdi.

Deputy General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: "This is a deplorable situation and a further confirmation of the contempt which the authorities in Bahrain hold for international law and fundamental human rights. 

"The NASUWT will not be deflected from campaigning to secure their release from prison, their reinstating them back into their jobs, and for the authorities to respect the rights of the Bahrain Teachers' Association under international human rights law."

David Cameron urged to intervene in Bahrain

International pressure increases on regime

Delegation hears disturbing testimonies of BTA activists

NASUWT urges members to support the plight of Bahraini teachers who are facing inhumane treatment by authorities in the country, by using the model letter provided by Education International to send to the relevant embassy in Bahrain.

Letter from General Secretary Chris Keates to Bahrain embassy

Letter from General Secretary Chris Keates to Foreign Secretary William Hague

The following emergency motion was adopted unanimously by the NASUWT Conference on 8th April 2012.

The NASUWT condemns the brutal and inhumane treatment of members of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association (BTA) by the Bahraini authorities.

The NASUWT asserts that there is no evidence that Mahdi Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb (BTA President) or Jalila al Salman (BTA Vice President) have used or advocated violence during the protests of February and March 2011.

The NASUWT regards Mahdi Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila al-Salman to be prisoners of conscience who have been unjustly imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

The NASUWT believes that the abusive treatment of members of the BTA is part of a deliberate attempt to undermine the ability of the BTA to organise and is a contravention of international human rights law.

The NASUWT is deeply concerned that the repression of teachers and students has not been stopped, and that arbitrary arrests, detentions and torture is continuing.

The NASUWT demands that the Bahraini authorities act immediately to:

(i) release Mahdi Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb immediately and unconditionally;
(ii) drop all the charges against Mahdi Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila al Salman;
(iii) ensure that the leaders of the BTA are protected from torture or other ill-treatment;
(iv) reinstate the teachers dismissed and the students expelled, together with their salaries and scholarships;
(v) order an immediate independent and impartial investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment, publish the results and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Furthermore, the NASUWT urges the Bahraini authorities to commit to respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of teachers, students and union activists in accordance with international standards.

URGENT APPEAL

On 2 May, the Bahrain Supreme Criminal Appeals Court once again adjourned the cases of Mahdi Isa Abu Dheeb and Jalila Al Salman, from the Bahraini Teachers Association, to 30 May, and refused to release Mahdi on bail.

Jalila and Mahdi were taken to a closed session with the judge, after refusing the illegal procedure their lawyers were brought in and back to the public session.

Their defence team has once more asked the Court to include the report of defendants, which was included in the Bahraini Independent Commission of inquiry (BICI), as evidence of their alleged mistreatment. In a previous Appeal hearing the Court agreed to add as evidence an official complaint of alleged mistreatment at the public prosecution by Mahdi and to refer Mahdi and Jalila for examination by an independent medical panel; these decisions have not been implemented. 

It has been reported that human rights organisations were not allowed to attend the Appeal hearing. 

The Bahrain authorities have postponed the visit of the UN special rapporteur for torture scheduled for last March until July, because they stated they needed more time to put reforms in place. But, the NASUWT and EI are concened that this will simply give more time for the torture and abuse to continue. The ITUC/EI delegation visit to Bahrain on 23-24 April, in which the NASUWT took part, has also been denied access to the King of Bahrain despite being promised an audience with him. We are continuing to submit evidence of allegations of mistreatment to the UN.

Following our representations to the Bahraini authorities, we have now received confirmation from the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent that they have been able to visit the President of the BTA whilst he is in prison. This is a major step forward and they will be able to monitor and assess Mahdi’s health condition whilst he remains in detention. We will be continuing to ask for visits to ensure that Mahdi is treated according to relevant international standards.

The Bahraini Teachers Association colleagues need more than ever our support, so we must keep the pressure on; we cannot waiver in our efforts. Even in the face of injustice and brutal repression, we have to continue to call for justice and ensure that the Bahraini government respects human rights and commits to a path toward genuine reform. 

In this regard a new global online campaign has been launched by EI in partnership with Labour Start; please add your voice to the campaign by taking action now using the link below. 

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1247

 

What else you can do

Write to the Bahraini authorities to appeal for the following:

• The immediate and unconditional release of Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi ‘Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb and to protect them from torture or other ill-treatment;
• The immediate establishment of a full, impartial and independent investigation into the reported ill-treatment of members of the BTA and to bring those responsible to justice;
• The immediate reinstatement of teachers dismissed and the students expelled, together with their salaries and scholarships;
• The Bahraini authorities to comply with fundamental rights and freedoms of teachers, students and union activists in accordance with international standards under ILO Conventions 87, 98 and 111, on freedom of association, collective bargaining and discrimination in employment;
• A peaceful transition to democracy and a fair resolution of the current impasse and legitimate claims of the Bahraini people.

SEND APPEALS TO:

• His Majesty Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain
  P.O. Box 555, Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain
  Fax: +973 17664587
• Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister
  Fax: +973 17533033; +973 175 32839
• H.E. Majid bin Ali al-Naimi, Minister of Education
  Fax: +973 17273656; E-mail: moe@moe.gov.bh

Copies to:

- Diplomatic representatives of Bahrain accredited to your country

- EI (headoffice@ei-ie.org or fax +32 2 224 0606).

Send online messages to the authorities through the EI website: www.ei-ie.org/uaas/issues_actions, and encourage your friends and colleagues to do so also.

Write to your MP by clicking on www.nasuwt.org.uk/ContactYourMP

Click 'like' on the International Solidarity Facebook page to find further information about other international solidarity campaigns and to receive the latest up to date information

 

Bahrain: Release detained teacher union leaders

Help us release the detailed teacher union leaders!

NASUWT, together with Education international (EI), the TUC and Amnesty International, urgently calls on its member organisations to appeal for the release of Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb, Vice-President and President of the Bahraini Teachers Association (BTA) arrested along with several other board members of the BTA.

EI also condemns government’s action to dissolve the BTA and replace its leaders with others more amenable to the regime.

Jalila al-Salman‟s house in Manama was raided on 29 March by more than 40 security officers. She was reportedly taken to the Criminal Investigations Directorate in Manama where she remained for about a week during which she was beaten and held in solitary confinement.

Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb‟s house was raided by 20 members of security forces on 20 March in the middle of the night. His wife and children were interrogated for two hours. This raid marked the beginning of the persecution of teachers and students, creating a climate of fear of arbitrary arrest and detention.

The charges against the two union leaders include “inciting hatred towards the regime”, “calling to overthrow and change the regime by force”, “calling on parents not to send their children to school” and “calling on teachers to stop working and participate in strikes and demonstrations”.

Amnesty International has reviewed the statements issued by the BTA and has listened to speeches delivered by its President Mahdi Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb. Amnesty found no evidence that either of them advocated violence of any kind. Consequently, Amnesty believes that they are likely prisoners of conscience detained solely for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly as leaders of the BTA.

On 23-24 April 2012, the NASUWT, together with representatives from EI and the International Trade Union Confederation took part in an international mission to Bahrain to protest at the treatment of the BTA members, to demand the immediate and unconditional release of BTA members, to secure freedom of association under international human rights law for teachers and the BTA. The mission also pressed for the reinstatement of teachers who had been unlawfully dismissed and suspended following the February 2011 protests. The delegation met with Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Labor.

 

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI)

 

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry BICI was established by the King of Bahrain “to investigate and report on the events occurring in Bahrain in February/March 2011, and any subsequent consequences arising out of the aforementioned events, and to make such recommendations as it may deem appropriate.”

The BICI was mandated to report on the events in question on the basis of international human rights norms and to provide an independent and impartial view on the accountability of those in government who have committed unlawful or negligent acts resulting in the deaths, torture and mistreatment of civilians.

The BICI report made a number of recommendations for justice and restoration of human rights in Bahrain, including calling on the Bahraini authorities:

“To make subject to review in ordinary courts all convictions and sentences rendered by the National Security Courts where fundamental principles of a fair trial, including prompt and full access to legal counsel and inadmissibility of coerced testimony, were not respected be subject to full review in the ordinary courts.”

“To avoid detention without prompt access to lawyers and without access to the outside world for more than two or three days. In any event, all detention should be subject to effective monitoring by an independent body.” 

“To ensure that the remaining dismissed employees have not been dismissed because of the exercise of their right to freedom of expression, opinion, association or assembly.”

“To reinstate all students who have not been criminally charged with an act of violence and to put in place a procedure whereby students who were expelled on legitimate grounds may apply for reinstatement after a reasonable period of time, and to adopt clear and fair standards for disciplinary measures against students and to ensure that they are applied in a fair and impartial manner.” 

“To develop educational programs at the primary, secondary, high school and university levels to promote religious, political and other forms of tolerance, as well as to promote human rights and the rule of law.”

Read the BICI report here.