Chan'ad Bahraini

This letter below was drafted by Desert Island Boy. Please read DIB's post for further information.

To whom it may concern,

I would like to bring to your attention the matter of one Ali Abdulemam a citizen of the Kingdom of Bahrain. He is one of the moderators of an Internet forum Bahrainonline.org that is highly critical of the government.

When the Kingdom of Bahrain introduced constitutional reforms in 2002, it guaranteed the freedom of conscience and of expression. Bahrainis still believe that measure to have been taken in good faith and cherish the freedom to express their views whatever they may be.

On Sunday, February 27th, Ali Abdulemam was detained and held for question by Bahrain's Public Security forces. Along with two other moderators, Mohammed Al Mosawi and Hussein Yousif, they are being held at the Hoora Police Station for questioning with little to no access to family.

Please find the specific charges attached on the next page.
This case has brought the issue of free speech to the forefront. Many have not been aware of the extent that the 2002 Press Law goes in curtailing free speech.
Bahrainis believe that its citizens should be allowed to publish on paper or on the web any form of constructive criticism without fear of incarceration or authoritarian intimidation. This is especially true for a country that has been lauded by Western Governments for it's progressive reforms.
We ask that as a public official, you would express your displeasure to the Bahraini Government with Sections 70 through 72 of Bahrain's Press Law that could be used to eliminate any criticism of Bahrain's allies, legislature, judiciary, public officials or representatives of foreign nations. Sections 73 and 74 assign full responsibility on any editor or website moderator for any comments that could possibly violate the previously mentioned articles. The net effect is that it forces citizens to become the censors that the government no longer wishes to be seen as. And finally section 75, which specifically targets the use of electronic media to express ones conscience. These articles are draconian and do not belong in a society that claims progress in participatory politics.

We ask that you would advise the Government of Bahrain to not criminalize legitimate debate and dissent. The matters addressed could very well be handled in civil proceedings as they are in other free nations.

Specific to Abdulemam, Mosawi and Yousif, we ask that you advise the Bahraini Government to recognize the poor publicity the incident has elicited and that it reconsider the prosecution of these cases. We ask that you advise them that a fair and evenhanded judiciary could enhance its profile in international relations, should they opt to go to trial. We ask that they display their ability to handle criticism no matter how aggressive it may be, rather than what might be perceived as repression and intolerance.

We thank you for looking into the matter and for helping speed the advance of progress and democracy in the Middle East.

//Page 2:

*For lack of a technical translation, I have used secondary paraphrased sources*

Ali Abdulemam has been charged with the following crimes.
1. Section: 165 (Incitement of Hatred towards the Regime)
Charge: From the Law of Penalties
Punishment: 3 years in jail.

2. Section: 214 (Defaming the Royal Entity)
Charge: From the Law of Penalties
Punishment: 3 years in jail.
3. Charge: Spreading News with intent to Destabilize National Security

4. Section violated: 75 (Using a Telecomm Network to Offend Public Policy)
Charge: From the Telecommunication Law
Punishment: 6 months in jail.

5. Section violated: 68 (Criticism of the King and/or inciting the commission of felonies and/or the overthrow of the regime)
Charge: from Press Law (Law #47, issued 2000)
Punishment: 6 months in jail.
Mohamed Mosawi and Hussein Yousif are in detention undergoing interrogation at the moment. Reportedly they are being pressured to close down their site and wipe out its databases.