NASUWT presses for release of jailed Bahraini trade union leaders
Following a call by Education International (EI) to continue to put pressure on the Bahraini authorities in order to drop all charges against Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila Al Salman, the President and Vice President of the Bahraini Teachers’ Association (BTA), the NASUWT has written to the British Prime Minister and the British Embassy in Bahrain.
On 9 September, the Manama Appeals Court will hold the final defence court session regarding the appeal of the BTA leaders against the prison sentences of 10 and 3 years inflicted to them by a military court in September 2011.
Throughout the appeal process, the court has consistently denied release on bail to Mahdi. The Court eventually, at the end of June, accepted to include medical reports of the BTA President and evidence of torture. However, the prison officials have deliberately ignored doctors instructions for Mahdi, especially in relation to his diabetes. Prison visitors have indicated that his health has deteriorated badly.
The NASUWT will continue to place pressure upon the Bahraini authorities and has worked closely with the TUC and EI to try to secure their release.
