BCHR | Bahrain: Urgent Appeal: Khalil AlShaikh Arrested and Mistreatme
 

20-04-13 08:21 PM

http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/BCHR/...420-WA0000.jpg
Left: Khalil AlShaikh, Right: Ahmed AlShaikh
20 April 2013
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses grave concern about the continuous targeting of relatives of victims of extra-judicial killings, especially those are were witnesses to the crime. There is grave concern for the safety and well-being of Khalil AlShaikh, who called his family at 4:00am to ask for clothing. His family reported that he sounded fatigued on the telephone. His family has not seen him, and they are concerned for his safety. Ill-treatment and torture often occur in Bahrain during times of enforced disappearance.

Khalil Ali AlShaikh, 25 years old, was arrested yesterday after being wanted for two years. While having dinner with his friends at “Shams AlIraq” restaurant, intelligence officers surrounded the place and took him by force. Khalil is a photographer whose pictures have been used by several international media agencies. At the end of December 2011, Khalil was shot in the chest with a tear gas canister while filming attacks on a protest as can be seen in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibF6...e_gdata_player.
Khalil’s brother, Ahmed Ali AlShaikh, 22 years old, was arrested on the 31st of December 2012 from Bahrain International Airport. Ahmed was charged under the terrorism law, and was kept under interrogation for 60 days, which was then extended another 45 days, and a further 60 days after that. He is currently being held at the Dry Docks Prison, block 10.
Both Ahmed and Khalil were eye-witnesses to the killing of their cousin, 14 year old Ali AlShaikh who was shot in the neck with a tear gas canister on the 31st of August 2011. The AlShaikh brothers have also been subject to arrests and prosecution in the past. Ahmed was also arrested from the airport in 2011 and has, due to these two arrests and ongoing detention, lost two years of his university studies. Khalil AlShaikh was first arrested on the 23rd of September 2011 when protesters attempted to return to what was the Pearl Square. He was detained for three months then released on bail.
The home of Ahmed and Khalil AlShaikh was raided 11 times as per the family, vandalized, property stolen. In their immediate family alone there have been seven arrests, and three of the victims of extra-judicial killins are related to them. Namely, Ali AlShaikh, Sayed Jawad Ahmed (36 years old) and Sayed Hashim Sayed Saeed (15 years old).
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights has issued several statements about the targeting of witnesses and relatives of victims of extra judicial killings. The authorities in Bahrain not only have created a culture of impunity for those committing crimes against civilians in Bahrain, but prosecutes those who witness the violations as well.
The BCHR calls on the US, the UK, the UN and all other close allies and international institutions to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to:
1. Immediately release all political prisoners and drop politically motivated charges.
2. Immediately cease targeting families and witnesses of victims of extra-judicial killings, and allow them to come forward without fear of reprisals
3. Hold all officials responsible for human rights violations accountable, including those in high positions and members of the ruling family



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