Bahrain Mirror- Exclusive: The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), asked its followers to address the Bahraini authorities to urge them immediately release human rights activist Ibtisam Al-Saegh. The Observatory also called to send messages to each of King of Bahrain, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Islamic Affairs and Interior, Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the United Nations in Geneva, Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Belgium or embassies of Bahrain in their countries.

The Observatory expressed its outmost concerns over the arbitrary detention of Ibtisam Al-Saegh and fears that she might be at risk of torture while in detention.

The Observatory asked its followers to write to the Bahraini authorities to guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of Al-Saegh, as well as of all human rights defenders in Bahrain and immediately allow her to access her family and lawyers and guarantee her right to due process and a fair trial.

It demanded the Bahraini authorities to order an immediate, thorough, transparent, effective and impartial investigation into the above-mentioned allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and physical and psychological pressure of Al-Saegh by security agents during her interrogation in May 2017 in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal, and apply the sanctions provided by the law to them.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders requested its followers to urge the Bahraini authorities to put an end to all forms of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Ibtisam Al-Saegh and all human rights defenders in Bahrain, so that they are able to carry out their legitimate activities without hindrance and fear of reprisals; comply with all the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, in particular with its Articles 1, 5(b), and 12.2; and ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Bahrain.

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