The below photos tell the story of a delegation of Bahraini’s who attended the United Nations Universal Periodic Review on Bahrain.
The occasion brought together Bahraini’s from across the society to work in unison to achieve international condemnation of Bahrain.
Alaa Shehabi, Jalila Al Salman and Syed Hadi Al Musawi
Dr. Nada Dhaif and Maryam Al Khawaja
Journalist Lamees Dhaif
After the UPR session, two well-attended side events took place.
The first featured speeches from Maryam Al Khawaja, Dr. Nada Dhaif and Lamees Dhaif and discussed the limits to free expression in Bahrain
Bahraini’s also took part from the floor with strong interventions.
The next session featured a wide range of Bahraini’s. Dr. Taha Derazi, the leading brain surgeon in the Gulf who was dismissed from his job, kicked things off.
The Deputy Vice President of Bahrain’s Teachers Union, Jalila Al Salman, also gave a strong speech relaying how she was arrested and tortured for 3 months and how her colleague Mahdi Abu-Deeb is still in prison.
There was also a screening of Lamees Dhaif’s film on Bahrain “Do not let Bahraini’s Down” which you can view below:
Other speakers in this session were lawyer Mohamed Al Tajer, journalist Faisal Hayat, Syed Hadi Al Musawi from Al Wefaq, Hussain Abdullah from Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, Niccolo Figo-Talamanca.
Marco Perduca, an Italian Senator, also made a strong speech and promised ongoing support for Bahrain.
Group photo from after the side events:
Syed Hadi Al Musawi, Head of Al Wefaq Human Rights Department, speaks to the media:
With a positive UPR session that brought a lot of pressure on Bahrain and two well attended side events, the delegation were in high spirits.
The following day, the delegation visited the HQ of The High Commissioner for Human Rights and met with staff of the special rapporteurs on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary executions, Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Torture and Human Rights Defenders.
After more positive meetings, the group left in high spirits.
