In a joint appeal promoted by Parliamentarians for Global Action ( PGA), No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and the Radical Party (NRPTT ), 110 parliamentarians from 43 countries call on the authorities in Bahrain to immediately release Sheikh Ali Salman, Secretary General of Bahrain’s largest opposition party, Al Wefaq, who has been arrested and detained since 28 December 2014 on charges of “promoting the overthrow and change of the political regime by force”. The signatories include 36 Members of the European Parliament  as well as a large part of PGA Board and International Council leaders, who represent the entire membership.
The first trial hearing of Sheikh Ali Salman was held today before a Higher Criminal Court in Manama. Despite Salman`s denial of all charges brought against him and the call for his release on bail by his defence team, the judge decided to keep him behind bars and set the next hearing 25 February 2015.
As highlighted by the signatories of the appeal, Salman has consistently called for peaceful protest, condemned all forms of violence and advocated for a fair and just democratic political system in Bahrain through the establishment of a genuine constitutional monarchy. The accusations made by the Ministry of Interior against Salman are therefore without merit and are part of a routine campaign of intimidation and threats against leading political figures and human rights defenders through the use of politically-motivated charges.
While the Government of Bahrain continues to claim publicly it is working towards reform, the arbitrary detention and prosecution of Salman and other outspoken activists, along with the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters and the blanket ban on protests blatantly speak to the contrary and contribute to heightened tensions that can only set the country further along the dangerous path of disunity.
If Bahraini authorities really want to engage the country in a truly democratic transition, they should ensure the safe and immediate release of Sheikh Ali Salman, as well as all other people arbitrarily detained in Bahrain simply for expressing their right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. As called for by the signatories of the appeal, the international community, whose response has, so far, been weak and deaf to the plight of the Bahraini citizens, should also demand that Bahrain complies with its obligations under international human rights laws and stops any further threats against the peaceful opposition leaders and human rights advocates. A truly democratic transition in Bahrain will be achieved only if all those who are committed to peaceful and nonviolent dialogue are able to contribute fully to the political process without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

• For further information, contact Nicola Giovannini on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-3915.
• Check also the special section on NPWJ Bahrain Project

Joint Appeal of Parliamentarians Calling for the Immediate Release of Sheikh Ali Salman

We, the undersigned democratically elected Members of Parliament, are deeply concerned by the arrest and arbitrary detention since 28 December 2014 of Sheikh Ali Salman, the respected Secretary-General of Bahrain’s largest opposition society, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, notably for the charges of “incitement to promote the change of the political system by force, threats and other illegal means;” “disrupting public order” and “publicly inciting others to disobey the law”[1]. Salman was also elected member of the Bahraini Parliament in 2006 and served for four years until 2010.

We express our undiminished solidarity with and support for our colleague Salman, who has consistently called for peaceful protest, condemned all forms of violence and advocated for a fair and just democratic political system in Bahrain through the establishment of a genuine constitutional monarchy. The accusations made by the Ministry of Interior against Salman of seeking to change the political system through forceful means are without merit and are being used as a smokescreen for a politically-motivated attack on the right to freedom of expression. Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and other human rights organizations including Amnesty International have analysed the speeches and statements of Mr. Sheikh Ali Salman,[2] which confirm his enduring and profound dedication to non-violence, democracy and the rule of law.

Over the past four years, Sheikh Salman has met with government representatives   in an attempt to begin a process of national dialogue to end the ongoing political and human rights crisis in Bahrain. His arrest and ongoing detention undermine these efforts and are contributing to heightened tensions that can only set the country further along the dangerous path of disunity. As highlighted by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in a statement released on 30 December 2014, “Opposition parties are fundamental pillars of any democracy and Sheikh Salman’s arrest risks intensifying the fraught political scene that has seen anti-government protests for nearly four years.”

We call upon the Bahraini authorities to ensure the safe and immediate release of Sheikh Ali Salman, as well as all other people arbitrarily detained in Bahrain simply for expressing their right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The arbitrary detention and prosecution of Salman and other outspoken activists, along with the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters and the blanket ban on protests, invalidates the claims of the government of Bahrain that it is  implementing the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the UN’s Universal Periodic Review, and compromises any chances of reconciliation and unity in Bahrain.

We therefore also urge our own governments to demand that Bahrain complies with its obligations under international human rights laws and stops any further threats against the peaceful opposition leaders and human rights advocates, who should be able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

[1] See for more details, AI’s press release calling for his immediate and unconditional releasehttp://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE11/001/2015/en/b6380030-d13d-409a-baa6-2c4d87d844b6/mde110012015en.pdf
[2] see also article above as well as
– http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15461&LangID=E
– http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/7215

Signatories:

1. Dip. Manuel Garrido, Argentina
2. Dip. Margarita Stolbizer, Argentina
3. Mr. Laurie Ferguson, MP, Australia
4. Ms. Melissa Parke, MP, Australia
5. Mr. Tony Zappia, MP, Australia
6. Mr. Alan Griffin, MP, Australia
7. Ms. Jill Hall, MP, Australia
8. Mr. Andrew Leigh, MP, Australia
9. Sen. Claire Moore, Australia
10. Sen. Christine Milne, Australia
11. Sen. Lisa Singh, Australia
12. Sen. Penny Wright, Australia
13. Sen. Lee Rhiannon, Australia
14. Sen. Gavin Marshall, Australia
15. Hon. Petra Bayr, MP, Austria
16. Mr. Mohd Ali, MP, Bahrain
17. Mr. Israfil Alam, MP, Bangladesh
18. Sen. Alain Destexhe, Belgium
19. Mr. Dirk Van der Maelen, MP, Belgium
20. Ms. Françoise Schepmans, MP, Belgium
21. Mr. Wouter De Vriendt, MP, Belgium
22. Sen. Lisa Shoman, Belize
23. Sen. Emmanuel Nkengurutse, Burundi
24. Hon. Chief Paul Nji Tumasang, MP, Cameroon
25. Mr. Norman George, MP, Cook Islands
26. Hon. Paul Dehé, MP, Cote d’Ivôire
27. Dep. Yacouba Sangare, Cote d’Ivôire
28. Dep. Dieudonne Sunguma Kangimbi, Democratic Republic of Congo
29. Dep. Emery Okundji Ndjovu, Democratic Republic of Congo
30. Dep. François Bemba, Democratic Republic of Congo
31. Sen. Sebastien Lonalisa, Democratic Republic of Congo
32. Dip. Minerva Tavarez Mirabal, Dominican Republic
33. Mr. Bart Staes, MEP, European Parliament (Belgium)
34. Mr. Claude Rolin, MEP, European Parliament (Belgium)
35. Ms. Frédérique Ries, MEP, European Parliament (Belgium)
36. Mr. Jeppe Kofod, MEP, European Parliament (Denmark)
37. Ms. Christel Schaldemose, MEP, European Parliament (Denmark)
38. Ms. Heidi Hautala, MEP , European Parliament (Finland)
39. Ms. Sylvie Guillaume, MEP, European Parliament (France)
40. Ms. Barbara Lochbihler, MEP, European Parliament (Germany)
41. Ms. Maria Heubuch, MEP, European Parliament (Germany)
42. Mr. Helmut Scholz, MEP, European Parliament (Germany)
43. Ms. Nessa Childers, MEP, European Parliament (Ireland)
44. Ms. Marian Harkin, MEP, European Parliament (Ireland)
45. Mr. Ignazio Corrao, MEP , European Parliament (Italy)
46. Mr. Brando Benifei, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
47. Ms. Patrizia Toia, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
48. Mr. Nicola Caputo, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
49. Mr. Marco Valli, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
50. Ms. Eleonora Evi, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
51. Mr. Fabio Maassimo Castaldo, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
52. Ms. Laura Ferrara, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
53. Mr. Piernicola Pedicini, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
54. Ms. Laura Agea, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
55. Mr. Dario Tamburrano, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
56. Ms. Elly Schlein, MEP, European Parliament (Italy)
57. Ms. Judith Sargentini, MEP, European Parliament (Netherlands)
58. Ms. Ana Gomes, MEP , European Parliament (Portugal)
59. Mr. Ivo Vajgl, MEP, European Parliament (Slovenia)
60. Mr. Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, MEP , European Parliament (Spain)
61. Mr. Ernest Urtasun, MEP, European Parliament (Spain)
62. Mr. Javier Nart, MEP, European Parliament (Spain)
63. Ms. Iratxe García-Perez, MEP, European Parliament (Spain)
64. Ms Soraya Post, MEP, European Parliament, (Sweden)
65. Ms. Julie Ward, MEP, European Parliament (United Kingdom)
66. Ms. Jean Lambert, MEP, European Parliament (United Kingdom)
67. Ms. Anneliese Dodds, MEP, European Parliament (United Kingdom)
68. Mr. Alyn Smith, MEP, European Parliament (United Kingdom)
69. Mr. Oras Tynkkynen, MP, Finland
70. Hon. Alban Bagbin, MP, Ghana
71. Hon. George Loh, MP, Ghana
72. Dr. Richard Winfred Anane, MP, Ghana
73. Sen. Simon Desras, Haiti
74. Mr. Sarhang Mohammed, MP, Iraq
75. Sen. David Norris, Ireland
76. Sen. Averil Power, Ireland
77. Sen. Jim Walsh, Ireland
78. Mr. Mario Marazziti, MP, Italy
79. Hon. Lia Quartapelle, MP, Italy
80. Mr. Roberto Rampi, MP, Italy
81. Sen. Sergio Lo Giudice, Italy
82. Mr. Sim Him, MP, Malaysia
83. Dep. Bréhima Beridogo, Mali
84. Dep. Loubna Amhair, Morocco
85. Hon. Prakash Mahat, MP, Nepal
86. Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal, MP, Nepal
87. Hon. Ramesh Lekhak, MP, Nepal
88. Mr. Harry van Bommel, MP, Netherlands
89. Mr. Crossley Tatui, MP, Niue
90. Hon. Naveed Qamar, MP, Pakistan
91. Hon. Ibrahim Martin Bangura, Sierra Leone
92. Hon. Bernadette Lahai, MP, Sierra Leone
93. Mr. Jordi Xucla, MP, Spain
94. Mr. Carles Campuzano, MP, Spain
95. Sen. Urko Aiartza Azurtza, Spain
96. Dr. Ruth Wijdenbosch, MP, Suriname
97. Ms. Margareta Cederfelt, MP, Sweden
98. Ms. Désirée Pethrus, MP, Sweden
99. Mr. Jonas Sjöstedt, MP, Sweden
100. Hon. Dr. Pindi Chana, MP, United Republic of Tanzania
101. Hon. Yusuph Nassir, MP, United Republic of Tanzania
102. Hon. Isileli Pulu, MP, Tonga
103. Dep. Souad Abderrahim, Tunisia
104. Dr. Yusuf Irbec, MP, Turkey
105. Mr. Peter Okeyoh, MP, Uganda
106. Ms. Beatrice Atim Anywar, MP, Uganda
107. Rt. Hon. Caroline Lucas, MP, United Kingdom
108. Dip. Felipe Michelini, Uruguay
109. Mr. Ali Ashal, MP, Yemen
110. Ms. Fungayi Jessie Majome MP, Zimbabwe

• Download the appeal with the list of signatories as sent to the Bahraini authorities on 16 January 2015 (pdf format)
• Download the appeal with the list of signatories as sent to the Bahraini authorities on 28 January 2015 (pdf format)

For further information, see http://www.pgaction.org/news/release-sheikh-ali-salman.html or contact Nicola Giovannini on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-3915. Check also the special section on NPWJ Bahrain Project