EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: MDE 11/03/95

Distr: UA/SC

24 April 1995

Further information on UA 85/95 (MDE 11/02/95, 6 April 1995) - Arbitrary arrests / Fear of torture / Unlawful killings

BAHRAINShaikh 'Abd al-Amir Mansur al-Jamri and 18 members of his family

Shaikh Khalil Sultan

Shaikh Hassan Sultan

Zahra Salman Hilal (f), aged 31

Ayat 'Abd al-Jabbar Salman (f), aged 12

Fatima 'Ashur Singais (f), aged 60, and her daughter Malika (new spelling), aged 27, teacher

and many others

Muhammad Ja'far Yusuf 'Atiyya, early 30s

Muhammad 'Ali 'Abd al-Razzaq, aged 48

On 15 April, Shaikh 'Abd al-Amir al-Jamri was taken from his home in Bani Jamra and transferred to an undisclosed location. His whereabouts remain unknown and Amnesty International fears for his safety and well-being. The house arrest order imposed on 18 other members of his family on 1 April was lifted on the same day.

Malika Singais, a teacher of Arabic at Sar Secondary School for Girls, remains in detention although her precise whereabouts are not known. Her mother, Fatima 'Ashur Singais, has been released from custody, as has 12-year-old Ayat 'Abd al-Jabbar Salman.

Zahra Salman Hilal, who was arrested from her home on 1 April, remains held at the Juveniles Prison in Madinat 'Issa. She went on hunger-strike shortly after her arrest, demanding to see her 18-month-old daughter, Maryam, whom she was permitted to see briefly. More recently, she began another hunger-strike in order to be allowed to see her husband, Ahmad Mahdi Salman, himself detained since mid-January 1995. According to Amnesty International's information, this was granted in mid-April, but both husband and wife remain in detention without charge or trial.

A growing number of women have been arrested in recent weeks. Among them were six teachers and several of their students from Madinat 'Issa Secondary School for Girls, who were arrested on 12 April. The arrests were reportedly carried out after the Ministry of Interior learned that protests were being planned at the school. All were held for one or two days in police custody in Madinat 'Issa and then released uncharged. The six teachers were subsequently dismissed from their jobs. At least five other students from Hidd Secondary School for Girls were also arrested on 11 April and released uncharged shortly thereafter.

The whereabouts of Shaikh Khalil Sultan and Shaikh Hassan Sultan remain unknown.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters

- seeking information about the whereabouts of Shaikh 'Abd al-Amir al-Jamri and the reasons and legal basis for his arrest;

- requesting information on his whereabouts, seeking assurances that he is being treated humanely and urging that he be granted immediate access to lawyers, relatives and independent doctors;

- expressing concern that Malika Singais, Zahra Salman Hilal and many others arrested since December 1994 remain held without charge or trial, urging that they be released promptly unless they are to be charged with a recognizable criminal offence;

- urging that the precise whereabouts of all those detained to be made known, and that they be granted immediate access to their relatives, lawyers and independent doctors, and humanely treated in accordance with international standards.

APPEALS TO

His Highness

Shaikh 'Issa Bin Salman Al Khalifa

Office of His Highness the Amir

P.O.Box 555

The Amiri Court

Rifa'a Palace, Bahrain

Telexes:8666 Qasar BN; 8500 Qasar BN

Telegrams: His Highness the Amir, al-Manama, Bahrain

Faxes: +973 668884

Salutation: Your Highness

His Excellency

Shaikh Muhammad Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa

Minister of Interior

P.O.Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain

Telexes:9572 PSMKT BN or 8333 ALAMAN BN

Telegrams: Minister of Interior, al-Manama, Bahrain

Faxes: +973 276765 or 290526

Salutation: Your Excellency

His Excellency

Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa

Prime Minister

P.O.Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain

Telexes:9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO BN

Faxes: +973 533033

Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO: Diplomatic representatives of Bahrain accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 6 June 1995.