Bahrain Mirror- Exclusive: The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders denounced the continued arbitrary detention of Nabeel Rajab, which seems to be yet another evidence of a long-standing pattern of harassment against him to sanction his legitimate human rights activity.

The Observatory called upon the Bahraini authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Rajab, to put an end to any act of harassment against him and to ensure that all judicial proceedings against him are carried out in full compliance with the right to due process, the right to a fair trial and the right to be presumed innocent, as protected under international law.

The Observatory urged its followers to write to the authorities of Bahrain to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Nabeel Rajab and that of all human rights defenders in Bahrain; release Nabeel Rajab immediately and unconditionally, as his detention is arbitrary and its conditions amount to ill-treatment and are endangering his life; put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Nabeel Rajab and against all human rights defenders in Bahrain; conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly, in particular its Articles 1, Article 6 (c), 9, 11 and 12.2; and ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Bahrain.

It also called on its followers to send letters to King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the United Nations in Geneva Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri and Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Belgium Ahmed Mohammed Yousif Al-Dosari.

It is to mention that a Bahraini Court decided to postpone Nabeel Rajab's hearing until September 11, 2017, despite a request by his lawyers to hold the next hearing sooner.

Arabic Version