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EI launched in November an Urgent Action Appeal for Bahrain. It demands that Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb, Vice President and President of the Bahrain Teacher Association (BTA), be released from jail.

Absence of due process of law

Mrs Jalila al-Salman, acting Chair of the BTA (in lieu of Mahdi Abu Dheeb, detained since April 2011), was transferred to the Women Prison of Isa Town on 7 November after being summoned without explanation to the Investigation Department in Manama. Her lawyer and family were not allowed to accompany or contact her. Neither could she go home before being transferred to the prison.

Jalila and Mahdi were condemned in September 2011 by a military court after being forced to sign “confessions” while in detention. Mahdi and Jalila’s only “crime” was to have the temerity to promote respect for the values of solidarity, equality and democracy by supporting calls for reform in Bahrain. On 21 October the Manama Appeal Court upheld the guilty verdict against Mahdi and Jalila, but reduced their prison sentences to five years and six months respectively. The lawyers of the BTA leaders filed an objection to the Supreme Court regarding this verdict.

EI unwavering support to BTA colleagues

EI has been supporting the Bahraini teachers and the BTA since the beginning of the governmental repression in March 2011. EI condemned the crackdown on the teachers and their representative union on several occasions and launched numerous urgent action appeals. EI presented a complaint to the ILO and a submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review process of Bahrain. EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, visited the Bahrain teacher leaders and activists in November 2011 and took part in a joint trade union mission to Bahrain in April 2012. The international pressure exerted so far by EI and its affiliates has resulted in the presence of international human rights organisations and Western diplomatic representations in Bahrain in almost all judicial hearings of BTA leaders.

The recent verdict of the Manama Appeal Court and the arrest of Jalila on 7 November prompted EI to strengthen its campaign. EI officially protested to the authorities against the recent developments and a new online campaign was launched on the LabourStart website. On the International Labour Organisation (ILO) front, EI and ITUC just submitted a supplement to the ILO complaint 2882 to be received by the Committee on Freedom of Association meeting this month in Geneva. EI also requested the ILO Director General, Mr Guy Ryder, to intervene directly with the Bahrain authorities to respect the trade union and human rights of the BTA and to comply with their obligations as ILO Member State.

Immediate and unconditional release of BTA leaders

EI calls on its member organisations to urge the Bahraini authorities to immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb, Vice President and President of the Bahrain Teacher Association (BTA). EI also invites all concerned citizens to inform national Governments and the Bahraini diplomatic representations in their countries.

Answer the EI Urgent Action Appeal now! Click here to help BTA leaders be set free and get a fair trial.