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:

• Circular to EI member organisations

• Model letter to diplomatic missions in Bahrain

To get an overview of EI actions against human and trade union violations in Bahrain by chronological order, please click here