EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: MDE 11/03/94

Distr: UA/SC

3 March 1994

Further information on UA 22/94 (MDE 11/02/94, 24 January 1994) - Fear of Torture / Legal Concern

BAHRAIN:Tawfiq AL-MAHROUS

'Abd al-Ridha AL-SHUWEIKH

'Ali 'OMRAN

Mohammad HASSAN

and 14 others (names unknown)

A number of arrests took place at al-Mu'min Mosque in Manama on 19 January 1994. Since then some have been released, but those named above and 14 others, whose names are not known, are believed to remain in prison. They may already have been charged and sentenced. Their whereabouts remain unknown and they are believed to be held in incommunicado detention. They may have been subjected to torture or ill-treatment.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The arrests allegedly took place on the evening of 19 January as members of the majority Shi'a community were gathered at al-Mu'min Mosque for the 40th day commemoration ceremony of the death of Ayatollah Golpayegani. The gathering was reportedly a peaceful one. According to reports the mosque was surrounded by police and those inside given five minutes to leave. The police then entered the mosque using teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. An unknown number of arrests took place at the mosque while others were arrested later at their homes. Some were allegedly beaten at the time of their arrest.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes and airmail letters either in English, Arabic or in your own language:

- urging that the names and whereabouts of all those arrested on 19 January 1994, in connection with the gathering at al-Mu'min Mosque, be made public;

- seeking assurances that all those held are being humanely treated in accordance with international human rights standards, and that they are being granted access to lawyers, relatives and medical treatment, if necessary;

- if they have been tried and sentenced, requesting details such as the date and place of their trial, the charges of which they were convicted, and the sentences passed;

- urging the immediate and unconditional release of any who are held solely for the non-violent expression of their conscientiously held beliefs;

- requesting the authorities to initiate a thorough and independent inquiry into the reports of arrests and beatings by police during what appears to have been a peaceful ceremony on 19 January at al-Mu'min Mosque in Manama, and to make the findings public.

APPEALS TO

His Highness

Al-Shaikh 'Issa Bin Salman Al Khalifa

Office of His Highness the Amir

P.O. Box 555

The Amiri Court

Rifa'a Palace

Rifa'a, Bahrain

Telexes: 8666 Qasar, BN 8500 Qasar BN

Telegrams: His Highness the Amir, Manama, Bahrain

Faxes: +973 778884

Salutation: Your Highness

His Excellency

Al-Shaikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa

Minister of Interior

PO Box 13

Manama, Bahrain

Telexes: 9572 PSMKT BN or 8333 ALAMAN BN

Telegrams:Minister of Interior, Manama, Bahrain

Faxes:+973 276337 or 290526 or 754303

Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

His Excellency

Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa

Prime Minister of Bahrain

PO Box 1000

Manama, Bahrain

Faxes:+973 533033

and 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 14 April 1994.