Last week, Jalal Al Qassab, 60, and Reda Rajab, 67, filed their third and final appeal against their convictions for “ridiculing” the Islamic faith. In March they were sentenced to one year in prison and fined.
Both men are members of Al Tajdeed, a cultural and social organization registered in Bahrain in 2002. The organization’s mission is to foster open discussion about religion and Islamic jurisprudence. Former members told HRW that the group was riddled with abusive behavior.
In February, prosecutors cited complaints from the Interior Ministry’s Directorate General for Cybercrime and the Ministry of Social Development, alleging that YouTube commentary by al-Qassab on various verses of the Quran “contradicts authoritative judgments on the power of the state.”・Criminal charges were filed against Tajdeed members. “Allah” and “insulted a symbol and revered figure of a particular religious community.”
In May, the High Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the lower court’s verdict against al-Qassab and Rajab. “We are standing here to defend God’s word,” Zahra Murad, deputy director of cybercrime prosecution, reportedly told the appeals court. After this decision, authorities immediately transferred the men to Jau Prison to begin their sentences.
The two were found guilty of violating Article 309 of the Bahrain Penal Code. The law punishes “any person who, by any means of expression, insults any recognized religious sect or ridicules its rituals,” and Article 310 of the law stipulates that “any person who insults any recognized religious sect or ridicules its rituals” “Insults in public places” were made illegal. “Mocking” religious figures or symbols and sectarian teachings.
The court’s actions violate international human rights law, which protects the rights to freedom of religion and expression, as well as Bahraini criminal law. Articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantee the rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression, respectively. Bahrain ratified the ICCPR in 2006.
Article 22 of the Bahrain Constitution stipulates that “freedom of conscience is absolute,” while Article 23 of the constitution stipulates that “freedom of conscience is absolute,” while Article 23 of the constitution stipulates that “freedom of conscience is absolute,” and “freedom of conscience is absolute.” recognizes the right to “freedom of opinion and expression, provided it does not provoke Sectarianism. ”
Bahrain should comply with its international treaty obligations by ceasing to persecute individuals who wish to exercise their rights to freedom of religion and expression. Convictions based on this and other expressions should be quashed and provisions of the criminal code that clearly violate the Covenant on Civil Rights should be amended.