Bahrain Mirror - Exclusive: Deputy Head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Said Yousif al-Muhafdha, said that what is occurring with Rayhana Al-Mosawi and her husband, after they filed a complaint to the National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR), is "what we feared and expected". He noted that these were the same concerns that drove the people away from contacting these institutions or trusting them.

In an exclusive interview with Bahrain Mirror, al-Muhafdha added, "Investigations with Rayhana and her husband, by the Public Prosecution (Special Investigations Unit), was not aimed at seeking the perpetrators, who names were raised by Rahyana." He clarified that investigations focused on pressuring her and her husband to confess the name of the writer who published their story in Bahrain Mirror.

Moreover, the deputy head of BCHR added, "What's happening now shows that authorities are pursuing the crime revealer rather than the perpetrations. This action is repeated with many of those filing complaints to these non-independent governmental organizations, and we have faces many past experience at the BCHR (in this regard)."

In reference to a similar incident that occurred with prominent rights activist, Nabeel Rajab, al-Muhafdha said, "Nabeel Rajab took some witnesses on a hit and run incident that caused the death of a child protester. Instead of arresting the perpetrators, the witnesses were targeted and arrested, while the killers are still free."

"The real problem is not in filing the complaints to the NIHR, the General Secretariat of Grievances, or other governmental institutions. The challenge is rather to guarantee the safety of witnesses and victims from official revenge or targeting," al-Muhafdha went on to say.

Furthermore, Said Yousif al-Muhafdha wondered, "Where is Doctor Abdullah al-Dirazi who asked the victim Rayhana to file her complaint to the institute? Where does he stand in the face of the behavior manifested by the employees of the concerned state institutions, which are investigating Rayhana as a suspect rather than a victim?"

Arabic Version