Bahrain: Teacher leaders still detained
After two previous postponements, the Bahraini Supreme Court of Appeal has scheduled a new hearing of the case of Bahraini Teachers’ Association leaders Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila Al Salman on 2 April. Both were arrested in April 2011 after a crackdown by authorities following pro-democracy demonstrations.
New appeal
EI has launched a new appeal calling on member organisations whose governments have diplomatic representation in Bahrain to ask their Ministries of Foreign Affairs and embassies in Manama to help ensure that the judicial authorities respect transparent and fair judicial processes. This could be achieved by the presence of as many diplomatic observers as possible during the trial.
EI and the Bahrain Teachers’ Association have challenged the basis for the initial charges against Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila Al Salman. The crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations has seen many teachers and teacher trade unionists being harassed, arrested, or suspended from their teaching duties because they are involved in trade union activities.
Bail refused
Especially deplorable is the fact that the BTA President’s request for release on bail has been refused twice already, although he never used nor advocated violence, and his health is deteriorating.
EI is further disturbed that if Mahdi’s application for bail continues to be denied until the conclusion of the trial, he will have been spent over one year in prison without a judgement against him.
Please urge your government to take action and send diplomatic observers to the trial, you may use the model letter below:
