Mounting fears for Bahraini teachers held after protests
\n27 July 2011 – Amnesty International <\/p>\n
Bahrain\u2019s authorities must immediately release two teachers held since they led a strike in March if they are being held solely for their involvement in peaceful protests, Amnesty International said today amid claims one of them was tortured. <\/p>\n
Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi \u2018Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb were among several board members of the Bahrain Teachers\u2019 Association (BTA) arrested in Manama after the group called for a teachers\u2019 strike amid wide-scale pro-reform protests in March.<\/p>\n
Their colleagues have since been released, but the two \u2013 the group\u2019s former president and vice-president \u2013 are still facing trial on charges that include \u201cinciting hatred against the regime\u201d and \u201ccalling to overthrow and change the regime by force\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of the statements made in relation to the teachers\u2019 strike advocated violence of any kind. If these teachers are being held solely because they led a peaceful demonstration, they must be released immediately,\u201d said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International\u2019s Middle East and North Africa Director.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very concerned about reports that Jalila al-Salman was beaten in custody \u2013 Bahraini authorities must immediately set up a full, impartial and independent investigation into these allegations and bring to justice anyone found responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the unrest in Bahrain in February and March, the Minister of Human Rights and Social Development dissolved the BTA\u2019s board and replaced them with government appointees.<\/p>\n
More than 40 security officers raided Jalila al-Salman\u2019s house in Manama on 29 March. At first, she was reportedly taken to the Criminal Investigations Directorate and held in solitary confinement and subjected to beatings for about a week.<\/p>\n
She was then transferred to a detention centre in \u2018Issa Town, just south of the capital, where she remains. Her family learned of her whereabouts two months after her arrest, but have only been allowed to visit her on two occasions, under strict surveillance.<\/p>\n
Both Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi \u2018Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb appeared before a military court several times in June before their cases were transferred to a civilian court and postponed until further notice. …more<\/p>\n