24 Jun 2011

GENEVA / HUMAN RIGHTS

The UN human rights office spoke out against the harsh sentences, including life imprisonment, handed down this week to several activists in Bahrain, saying their trials bear the marks of political persecution. The office is also due to deploy a delegation to Yemen for a 10-day mission to assess the human rights situation in the country. CH UNTV

Posted at: June 24, 2011 12:52 pm

Duration: 01:35

Available in: SD

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STORY: GENEVA / HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 1:35
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 24 JUNE 2011, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, Press Room III, Palais des Nations, Geneva
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Press Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: 
"We're deeply concerned about the harsh sentences including life imprisonment that were handed down this week to 21 political prisoners in Bahrain on very broad charges.  There are serious concerns that the due process rights of the defendants, many of whom are well known as human rights defenders were not respected and the trails appear to bear the marks of political persecution."
3. Cut away, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Press Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: 
"We have received worrying reports about the treatment in detention of some of these protestors, including severe beating of some of those just sentenced.  We note particularly that four individuals previously arrested reportedly died in detention due to injuries resulting from severe torture. The Government must urgently conduct an independent investigation into these allegations. The High Commissioner is sending a letter to the King of Bahrain to express these concerns as well."
6. Cut away, journalist
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Press Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: 
"The main goals of the mission are to go and assess the situation.  There'll be meeting government officials, human rights defenders, victims of violations, members of the political opposition, internally displaced persons.  They're also hoping to visit medical facilities and prisons and detention centres to understand what the situation is and come back with recommendations for the government."
8. Cut away, Press Room III, Palais des Nations, Geneva

STORYLINE:

The United Nations (UN) human rights office today (24 June) spoke out against the harsh sentences, including life imprisonment, handed down this week to several activists in Bahrain, saying their trials bear the marks of "political persecution."

On Wednesday, Bahrain sentenced 21 activists and opposition leaders reportedly for plotting to overthrow the Government, which has been has engaged in a violent crackdown against protesters calling for greater democracy, as witnessed in other countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, is writing to King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa of Bahrain to convey her concerns, her spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, told reporters in Geneva.

She added that, according to reliable sources, the Lower National Safety Court has convicted more than 100 individuals since March this year, mostly for crimes allegedly committed during the protests.

According to the High Commissioner (OHCHR), which has received "worrying" reports about the way they are being treated, up to 1,000 people reportedly remain in detention.

Shamdasani noted in particular that four individuals previously arrested reportedly died in detention due to injuries resulting from severe torture. She called on the Government to "urgently conduct an independent investigation into these allegations."

Shamdasani also told journalists that the UN human rights office is due to deploy a three-member delegation to Yemen on Monday for a 10-day mission to assess the human rights situation in the country in light of recent events. The team will visit Yemen from 27 June to 6 July.