Also published on Global Voices Advocacy

Arabic version here.

Ali Abdulemam with two of his children

Nine months after leading blogger and human rights activist Ali Abdulemam was arrested along with other political and human rights activists in Bahrain, a military court has sentenced him to 15 years in prison. The rest of activists face sentences that range from two years to life imprisonment, in the context of a crackdown to crush dissent in the country that started in September. The verdicts were immediately condemned by human rights groups such as Reporters without Borders and Amnesty International.

Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Program, reports:

“The trials appear to be politically motivated, since we have not seen any evidence that the activists used or advocated violence”.

AI also reports that at least 500 people have been detained in Bahrain since pro-reform protests began in February, four have died in suspicious circumstances in detention and almost 2,000 people have been dismissed or suspended from work. Crackdown against opposition to the ruling dynasty has also reached the point of shooting at peaceful protesters and locking up the nurses and doctors that treat them.

Ali Abdulemam, who is a father of three, was sentenced in absentia. He is known as “the godfather of blogging”, after years of work as a blogger and human rights activist, mainly through his portal BahrainOnline.org, one of the Kingdom’s most popular pro-democracy outlets. Because of his relevance in promoting democratic reforms and freedom of speech in the region through the use of digital tools, his arrest triggered a global campaign during his first ordeal back in 2005. His arrest again in September raised an outpour of support and solidarity, with bloggers from all over the world demanding his release and the release of the other activists. His Facebook group has more than 2.600 members and is growing rapidly fueled by the buzz created over twitter by many users.

Shadaio @Drdoos_BPR @abdulemam You should be proud that your words can make a difference. Keep it up

maryamalkhawaja In absentia: Ali AbdulEmam: 15 years imprisonment. Known as the Godfather of blogging. #bahrain #jun1

Shortly after being released on February 23, Abdulemam disappeared again, and neither his family nor any of his closest friends know his whereabouts.

Bahrain´s authorities continue to ignore international pressure, which has resulted into cancellation of the prestigious Formula 1 Grand Prix race in Bahrain for 2011, after the F1 teams unanimously objected to the race date due to the human rights abuses in the country.

Human rights organization Front Line Defenders reports:

“The verdict and the fact that the trial took place before a military court whose procedures fall far short of internationally recognised fair trial standards underlines the determination of the Government of Bahrain to secure a conviction at any cost”

Amnesty International calls on Bahrain’s authorities to end these unfair military trials and release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally.

علي عبد الإمام مع أولاده

بعد تسع شهور من اعتقال المدون البحريني الرائد والناشط الحقوقي عليّ عبد الإمام ضمن نشطاء سياسيين وحقوقيين آخرين في البحرين، حكمت عليه محكمة عسكرية بحرينية بالسجن لمدة 15 عاماً. أما باقي النشطاء فيواجهون أحكاماً تتراوح بين سنتين إلى السجن المؤبد، في حملة شرسة ضد المعارضين البحرينيين التي بدأت في سبتمبر / أيلول الماضي. ندد بالحكم الكثير من نشطاء ومنظمات حقوق الإنسان مثل مراسلون بلا حدود ومنظمة العفو الدولية.

يقول مالكولم سمارت، مدير منظمة العفو الدولية في الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا:

“The trials appear to be politically motivated, since we have not seen any evidence that the activists used or advocated violence”.

تقول منظمة العفو الدولية أيضاً أنه على الأقل هناك 500 معتقل في سجون البحرين منذ بدء احتجاجات الاصلاحيين في فبراير / شباط الماضي، بالإضافة إلى 4 قتلوا في طروف غامضة أثناء الاعتقال. بالإضافة إلى ألفي شخص فصلوا من عملهم. وصل الهجوم على المعارضين للعائلة الحاكمة في البحرين إلى درجة إطلاق الرصاص على المتظاهرين السلميين واحتجاز الأطباء والممرضات اللاتي ساهمن في علاج الجرحى من المتظاهرين.

وقد أصدر الحكم على عليّ عبد الإمام، وهو أب لثلاثة أطفال، غيابياً. يعرف عليّ بأنه أبو التدوين في البحرين، بعد سنوات من التدوين والنشاط الحقوقي، أغلبه على موقع ملتقى البحرين، واحد من أكثر المتنفسات الديموقراطية شعبية في المملكة. ولأنه يدعم المطالبة بالديموقراطية وحرية التعبير في المنطقة باستخدام الإنترنت، أدى اعتقاله أول مرة [بالإنجليزية] لحملة دولية للافراج عنه عام 2005. وبعد اعتقاله ثانية في سبتمبر / أيلول كانت هناك حملة ضخمة [بالإنجليزية] للتضامن معه ومع النشطاء الآخرين. حيث تضامن المدونون من جميع أنجاء العالم مع عليّ وغيره من النشطاء داعين للإفراج عنهم. زاد عدد أعضاء مجموعة فيسبوك التي أنشئت للتضامن معه على 2600 عضو ويزيدون بسرعة كبيرة تحت تأثير مستخدمي تويتر.

Shadaio @Drdoos_BPR @abdulemam You should be proud that your words can make a difference. Keep it up

maryamalkhawaja In absentia: Ali AbdulEmam: 15 years imprisonment. Known as the Godfather of blogging. #bahrain#jun1

بعد فترة قصيرة من الافراج عنه في 23 فبراير / شباط، اختفى عبد الإمام ثانية، ولا تعرف عائلته ولا أي من أصدقائه مكانه حتى الآن.

وتستمر السلطات البحرينية في تجاهل الضغط الدولي، مما أدى إلى إلغاء سباق السيارات فورميولا 1 الجائزة الكبرى في البحرين عام 2011 نتيجة لانتقاد فرق المتسابقين لحالة حقوق الإنسان في البلاد.

وتقول منظمة الخط الأمامي وهو من منظمات حقوق الإنسان:

“The verdict and the fact that the trial took place before a military court whose procedures fall far short of internationally recognised fair trial standards underlines the determination of the Government of Bahrain to secure a conviction at any cost.

ودعت منظمة العفو الدولية السلطات البحرينية إلى إنهاء المحاكمات العسكرية والإفراج عن كل معتقلي الرأي فوراً وبدون شروط.

Ali is now recovering from his long ordeal and is catching up on the lost time with his family. He is back to his wife and children, he asked us to thank all of you for your support and solidarity.

We members of the Campaign to Free Ali Abdulemam also would like to thank all the people of goodwill who spoke, wrote, and acted on his behalf and on behalf of free speech.

The distinguished Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton,

Pleasant greetings,

I am the wife of arrested Bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemam. Ali is the father of my five year old son Mortada and my twin daughters Sarah and Zahra who are younger than a year old.

I have received news of your impending arrival to my country Bahrain. I would like to send to you my urgent appeal for help in the releasing of my husband who has been imprisoned in Bahrain since September 4th of this year.

My husband was arrested after being summoned before the National Security Apparatus with accusations – which were never proven – of “spreading false information.” The National Security Apparatus published an explanation immediately following his arrest . After a global campaign by bloggers and defenders of the freedom of opinion and expression and human rights  , instead of reviewing the detention order of my husband, his arrest was publicized in the media and he was depicted as a terrorist in the media and government communiqués.

Madam Secretary,

It has become clear to me that my husband has been subjected to the crudest forms of torture and physical and psychological abuse throughout his time in prison. He was forbidden from meeting with an attorney throughout the harsh investigation and his time with the public prosecution. In fact, my husband met with his lawyer for the first time in the courtroom. The court also denied the lawyers’ requests to present the barbaric torture my husband was subjected to. The court continues to proceed with the prosecution of my husband based on coerced confessions that have no connection with my husband’s personality, which is known by all the people of Bahrain, especially his family and blogger friends all over the world. Furthermore, the media has refused to publish the torture and abuse my husband was subjected to or the proceedings of the trial which we know are full of difficulty and hardship.

Madam Secretary,

My husband was fired from his job at Gulf Air which he was devoted to for thirteen years without a single accusation or examination by the investigative council. Thus, with my husband’s arrest alone we are immediately faced real suffering that increases with the continuation of my husband’s absence which agonizes me and his three children.

I wish to inform you Madam that I consider all that we have faced as a family and all that my husband has faced up to today as a result of my husband’s sincere expression of his views and aspirations in reform and goodness for Bahrain and the region. My husband protests peacefully through blogging on what he considers to be harmful to the interests of the people. Ali supports and calls for reform in Bahrain and Iran by devotion to individual freedom and the freedom to express one’s opinion. That much is obvious from his blog posts.

Madam Secretary,

I am certain that you will meet with the highest officials in Bahrain on your anticipated trip. I am also certain that those officials will immediately comply with any appeal from you to enforce justice and release my husband. Therefore, Madam Secretary, I implore your sympathy, and all that is provided for in the values of American freedoms, as I appeal to you to include my husband’s case on your anticipated trip’s agenda. Your support will surely strengthen the value of democracy and freedom which support the development of justice, peace, and tranquility.

I would like to thank you for taking on this moral responsibility. I sincerely hope you will support my request.

Jenan Al Oraibi
The wife of arrested Bahraini blogger (Ali Abdulemam)

السيدة الفاضلة وزيرة الخارجية الأميركية، هيلاري كلينتون
تحية طيبة وبعد

أنا زوجة المدون البحريني المعتقل علي عبد الإمام. علي هو أب طفلي مرتضى ذو الأعوام االخمسة وأب طفلتاي التوأم سارة و زهراء وهما لم تتما بعد عامهما الأول.

بلغني نبأ قدومك القريب إلى بلدي البحرين، وأحببت أن أرسل لكِ ندائي العاجل للمساعدة في إطلاق سراح زوجي المعتقل في البحرين منذ الرابع من سبتمبر الماضي.
لقد اعتقل زوجي بعد استدعائه من قبل جهاز الأمن الوطني بتهمة لم تثبت هي “نشر أخبار كاذبة”. وقد أصدر هذا الجهاز بياناً إثر اعتقاله . وبعد حملة عالمية في أوساط المدونين والمدافعين عن حرية الرأي والتعبير وحقوق الإنسان.  وعوض أن يتم مراجعة أمر احتجاز زوجي، جرى التشهير به في وسائل الإعلام ووصفه بأنه إرهابي في وسائل الإعلام وبيانات السلطة

.سيدتي الفاضلة

لقد تبين لي أن زوجي تعرض لأبشع أنواع التعذيب والانتهاك الجسدي والنفسي طيلة فترة احتجازه. وحرم من مقابلة المحامي طيلة فترة التحقيق القاسي معه وإبان عرضه على النيابة العامة، وقد التقى محاميه لأول مرة في قاعة المحكمة

لم تستجب المحكمة لطلبات المحامين للنظر للتعذيب الوحشي الذي تعرض له زوجي، وهي ماضية في محاكمته على أساس اعترافات قسرية لا تمت لشخصيته التي يعرفها به كل شعب البحرين فضلاً عن عائلته وأصدقائه المدونين في كل أنحاء العالم. ورفضت وسائل الإعلام نشر ما تعرض له زوجي من تعذيب وانتهاك أو حتى نشر مجريات المحاكمة التي نعرف تفاصيلها بمشقة وعناء
سيدتي الفاضلة،
لقد فصل زوجي من عمله في شركة طيران الخليج والذي أخلص له طيلة ثلاث عشرة سنة دون أن تثبت عليه تهمة أو يعرض على لجنة تحقيق. بل لمجرد اعتقاله. ونحن نتعرض إثر ذلك إلى أذى حقيقي يزيد من مرارة غيابه المفجع عني وعن أطفاله الثلاثة
أفيدك علماً سيدتي، أني أعتبر أن كل ما نتعرض له كعائلة ويتعرض له علي اليوم أنه نتاج تعبيره الصادق عن رأيه وطموحه في الإصلاح والخير للبحرين والمنطقة. ومعارضته السلمية من خلال التدوين لما يعتبره مسيئاً لصالح الناس. لقد دعم علي وناشد للإصلاح في البحرين وإيران مقدساً الحريات الفردية وحرية التعبير عن الرأي. يلحظ ذلك جلياً من خلال مدونته
سيدتي الفاضلة،
إني على يقين أنك ستلتقين في زيارتك المرتقبة أهم المسئولين في الدولة. وإني على يقين كذلك أن هؤلاء المسئولين سيستجيبون بشكل فوري لأي نداء من قبلك لإحقاق العدالة والإفراج عن زوجي. وعليه يا سيدتي فإني أناشدك تعاطفك كما أناشد من خلالك كل ما تنص عليه قيم الحريات الأميركية أن تدرج قضية زوجي على جدول أعمال زيارتك المرتقبة بما يعزز قيم الديمقراطية والحرية التي تدعم مسيرة العدل والسلام والطمأنينة
أشكر لك تحملك هذه المسؤولية الأخلاقية. وكل أمل أن يلقى خطابي هذا صداه المرجو عندك
جنان العريبي
زوجة المدون البحريني المعتقل  علي عبد الإمام

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights was able to document the testimonies of the detainees, including Abdulemam.

What did Ali say before the judge?

“I was subjected to torture, beatings, insults and verbal abuse. They threatened to dismiss my wife and other family members from their jobs. I was interrogated in the prosecution without a lawyer, and the officer there who appeared to be from the National Security dismissed my denials to the allegations put against me. He never allowed me to respond to the questions he was asking, but rather answering them himself whilst I was stood behind the door as I was not permitted to sit during the investigation.” – Ali Abdulemam, 28 Oct 2010.

Sources in Ali’s family told Free Ali Abdulemam campaign:

[...] On the trail day they didn’t allow his wife to go inside the court , only Ali’s older brother was allowed to go inside while his wife and another brother of Ali were waiting outside.

[...] Ali said in the court that he was subjected to torture, beatings and humiliation and cursing. he was hung from the ceiling and blindfolded on the first day. He was also threatened to fire his wife from his job and all his family members from their jobs if he did not confess.

[...] His son , he is very much attached to his dad I’m very concerned and worried about him. His mom is very sick and tired , she couldn’t go and visit him until now , she can’t see him in prison and in this way , she is an old lady they filled her heart with sorrow and grief . Ali is her youngest son. All his brothers and sisters and all his friends are suffering from his absence in this terrible day, some of them started to show their sadness through writing some pomes about him , about his lively character and lovely smile and about their memories that share with him.

We still need your help! check this post on what you can do.

Join the Global Campaign to Free Ali Abdulemam

1- Send appeals to the Bahraini Embassies in your country.

2- Send to the Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs on Twitter: @KhalidalKhalifa

3- Spread the Word on Twitter- use # Abdulemam and #Bahrain.

4- Add a Banner on your blog/website

5. Write blog posts demanding the Freedom of Ali Abdulemam.

6. Spread this video!.

While we are defending Ali, others are defending Bahrain, with lack of concern for the activists it has wrongfully detained. Nevertheless, we are grateful to those who have spoken up in defense of human rights: Sohrab Ahmari, who, in response to the aforementioned piece urged the United States promote human rights and respect for the rule of law in Bahrain, and most recently, Joshua Colangelo-Bryan who wrote in the Wall Street Journal:

“Business Friendly Bahrain” reads the visa that was stamped in my passport when I arrived in Bahrain. But it seems questionable that Bahrain will be able to sustain its carefully honed image as a country that respects the rule of law. Judging from Ali Abdulemam’s fate, a reversion to the vicious repression of the past seems more likely.

We are grateful to the journalists, activists, and human rights defenders who have helped bring Ali’s cause to light and keep it at the forefront of everyone’s minds. As Ali’s trial nears, we urge you to continue doing what you can to help. Here are nine more ways you can help:

1. Send appeals to the Bahraini embassies in your country of residence.

2. Share this blog with friends and family.

3. Tweet (use the hashtags #Abdulemam and #Bahrain).

4. Add a banner to your blog or website.

5. Show solidarity by joining the Facebook group.

6. Write to journalists you know, asking them to cover Ali’s story.

7. Speak respectfully to the Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs on Twitter: @KhalidalKhalifa

8. Blog about Ali.

9. Upload videos, demanding Ali’s freedom.

It has been almost one month since the arrest of Bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemam. Ali has been held in solitary detention since then. His legal status remains unclear as no lawyer has seen him, and the authorities do not provide any details on the exact charges that Ali and the other detained human rights defenders will face.

Ali’s wife, Jinan, was allowed to see him on September 30 very briefly. She is trying to get another visit so Ali can see his children. He appeared to be in good health but was not aware of the “Free Abdulemam” campaign, which indicates that he has been in total isolation from the outside world since his detention.

Vincent Forest, Head of the EU office of Front Line, International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, completed on September 30 a mission to Bahrain to assess the current situation for imprisoned human rights defenders and political activists.

“Our friend and former colleague Ali Abdulemam has been denied access to his lawyers and there are serious fears about the use of torture”, Forest said. “Ali´s initial 15-day period of detention expired on Sunday, 19 September. His detention now appears to continue in contravention of the applicable Bahraini legislation.”

Front Line demands that Ali Abdulemam and other detained human rights defenders be either released or charged with a recognisable offence under international law. “Ali Abdulemam should as a matter of urgency have access to his lawyer and family, Mr Forest said. “All allegations of ill-treatment and torture should be independently and impartially investigated”.

Bahrain has also imposed travel bans on human rights defenders who are targeted on the basis of their legitimate and peaceful human rights work. It looks as though they may soon be lifted due to the high level of international pressure.

More than ever, we need your help. Join the Global Campaign to Free Ali Abdulemam http://freeAbdulemam.wordpress.com

1- Send appeals to the Bahraini Embassies in your country

2- Send to the Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs on Twitter: @KhalidalKhalifa

3- Spread the Word on Twitter- use #Abdulemam and #Bahrain

4- Add a Banner on your blog/website

5. Upload videos of yourselves and write blog posts demanding the Freedom of Ali Abdulemam

وقد نشرت هذه المقالة أصلا في الأصوات العالمية

على عبد الإمام في ورشة المدونين العرب ببيروت - عام 2009

أشعل الغضب الناتج عن اعتقال المدون البحرينيّ، والناشط في مجال حقوق الإنسان، علي عبد الإمام، تضامن المدونين والمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان حول العالم.

نشر دفاع الأصوات العالمية، في الخامس من سبتمبر الماضي، خبر القبض على المدون البحرينيّ، والمساهم في الأصوات العالمية، عليّ عبد الإمام، بزعم نشره لأخبار كاذبة على موقع ملتقى البحرين الوطني، الذي شارك في تأسيسه عام 1999، (ومن الجدير بالذكر أن الموقع محجوب الآن، كما يشتبه في استيلاء السلطات علي كلمة المرور). ويعتقد الكثيرون أن القبض على عليّ عبد الإمام، والذي يعد جزء من حملة فرض النظام الطائفيّ في البحرين، قد أجج حملة تضامن ومجموعة دعم على فيسبوك، إلى جانب تقديم عريضة. ليس هذا فحسب، بل أدانت منظمات دولية عديدة الاعتقال، مثل هيومان رايتس ووتش، ومنظمة الخط الأمامي والشبكة العربية لمعلومات حقوق الإنسان ومراسلون بلا حدود.

من هو عليّ عبد الإمام؟

يعد عليّ عبد الإمام من مؤسسي موقع ملتقى البحرين عام 1999، ونما الموقع ليصبح الموقع الأول في البحرين ثم سريعاً ما أصبح عليّ من أشهر  المدونين في البحرين. وقد تم اعتقاله من قبل عام 2005 مع اثنين من زملائه، إلا أنه قد أُطلق سراحه بعد خمسة عشر يوماً. وانضم لدفاع الأصوات العالمية عام 2008 كما أنه حضر قمة الأصوات العالمية لهذا العام.

ويشاركنا سامي بن غربية المزيد من الأخبار حول عليّ عبد الإمام:

يعد علي عبد الإمام مدون بحريني بارز ومساهم في دفاع الأصوات العالمية، كما إنه من مؤسسي موقع ملتقى البحرين الوطني. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، فهو من رواد الناشطين العرب، حيث استخدم الإنترنت للتوصل إلى إصلاح سلميّ، كما دفع العديد من الشباب، ليس فقط البحرينيين بل والعرب أيضاً، لاستغلال الإنترنت للتعبير عن أنفسهم والالتحام في مناظرات حية.

ويضيف المدون الموريتاني: ناصر ودادي على مدونته دخنستان عن شخصية علي عبد الإمام قائلاً:

عليّ مفكر حر وأب لثلاث أطفال، والأهم من ذلك أنه من أصوات الإصلاح الذي يتلهف الغرب على سماع مثله في المنطقة . ويُعد القبض عليه ضربة قاصمة لحركات دعم حقوق الإنسان في المنطقة. أتمنى ألا يتم نسيانه مثل كثير من شباب العرب الآخرين الذين تتمثل جريمتهم الوحيدة في رغبتهم في الحصول على صوت مسموع.

وهذا ما ذكره حسين يوسف – الذي تم القبض عليه جنباً إلى جنب مع علي عبد الإمام عام 2005 – عن صديقه المقرب:

يسعى عليّ وراء التغيير، فهو لا يؤمن بأن التغيير مستحيل أو سيء، هو يريد إعطاء الفرصة للشباب للتعبير عن مشاعرهم وأحلامهم، وللمناقشة والتفاوض لتصحيح أخطائهم وأخيراً لتعلم احترام بعضهم البعض وقد كان ذلك مشروعه، موقع ملتقى البحرين الوطني، منذ ما يزيد على عشر سنوات مضت.

تَدَفُّق دعوات التضامن

ولقد أعرب المدونون داخل العربي وخارجه عن مدى تضامنهم مع عبد الإمام وتساءل المدون البحريني محمود في مدونته عرين محمود عما يعنيه ذلك للمدونين والنشطاء البحرينيين:

يمثل عبد الإمام عشرات وربما مئات بل وأكثر من البحرينيين الأكثر وعياً، والذين تم اتهامهم بنوايا خبيثة ضد النظام الحاكم. وطبقاً لما أصدرته معظم منظمات حقوق الإنسان النشطة في البلد، فقد انتهكت حقوق هؤلاء المدونين، حيث وصل الحال بالبعض بإدانة سلطات الأمن بممارسة أنواع العذاب ضدهم أثناء اعتقالهم. وكل ما أخشاه أن يؤدي هذا الحدث الأخير إلى تدهور سمعة الدولة وإعطاء البعض المبرر لاتهامها بأنها معادية لحرية التعبير وحقوق الإنسان.

وكان ذلك ما ذكرته ريناتا أفيلا – وهى مُدَوِّنة من جواتيمالا ومساهمة في الأصوات العالمية – عن تلك الظروف:

وتكتب لينا بن مهني المدونه التونسية والمشاركة في الأصوات العالمية في مدونتها:

تكاد لا تشرق الشمس إلا ونسمع عن إلقاء القبض على مدون أو صحفي كما في حالة فاطمة آرابيكا، زهير مخلوف، عبد السلام البارودي وغيرهم الكثير. أتمنى إطلاق سراح “علي” قريباً وآمل أن يكون بصحة جيدة.

واهتمت المدونة البوتانية المقيمة بنيويورك – سونام أونجمو – بالموقف في مدونتها روايات التنين مضيفة:

بينما أكتب تلك المشاركة، فإني أشكر الله على العديد من النعم التي أتمتع بها وقد حرم منها الكثيرون؛ فمثلاً الزميل المدون في موقع الأصوات العالمية – علي عبد الإمام من البحرين والذى قامت السلطات البحرينية بإلقاء القبض عليه في وقت مبكر هذا اليوم بتهمة بثه لأخبار خاطئة على مدونته، التي سريعاً ما استولت عليها السلطات، لقد وجدت الرسالة هذا الصباح وحاولت القيام بالقليل الذي يمكنني فعله؛ لذا فقد قمت بنشر هذه الرسالة على فيسبوك ولكني الآن وبعد أن استغرقت وقتاً في التفكير حول موقفي أنا أصبحت أفكر في هؤلاء الذين لم يكونوا ذوي حظ وافر مثلي.

الصورة بكاميرا جيليان يورك.

Join the Global Campaign to Free Ali Abdulemam http://freeAbdulemam.wordpress.com

1- Send appeals to the Bahraini Embassies in your country.

2- Send to the Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs on Twitter: @KhalidalKhalifa

3- Spread the Word on Twitter- use # Abdulemam and #Bahrain.

4- Add a Banner on your blog/website.

5. Write blog posts demanding the Freedom of Ali Abdulemam.

6. Spread this video!.

We appreciate the solidarity and support you have shown – but we still need your help! Here’s how you can contribute:

1. Write an original blog post or make a video explaining why you support the release of Ali Abdulemam.
2. Include a link back to this post, so we can easily find your post or video and share it.

Not sure what to say? Check out what the media has been saying, or human rights organizations statements or  watch this video.

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لقد مر أسبوع واحد، ونحن بحاجة لمساعدتكم

لقد مضى أسبوع على اعتقال علي عبد الإمام، وتم وضعه في حجز انفرادي ومُنع من زيارات الأهل والمحامين، وطبقا لمركز البحرين لحقوق الإنسان، فإن علي عبد الإمام في خطر التعرض للتعذيب.

نحن نُقدر تضامنكم ودعمكم اللذان أظهرتموه، ولكننا مازلنا بحاجة لمساعدتكم. يمكنكم المساهمة من خلال:

1. كتابة تدوينه أو عمل فيديو يوضح لماذا تساندوا إطلاق سراح علي عبد الإمام.

2. قوموا بتضمين رابط لهذه التدوينه حتى يتسنى لنا العثور علي ما قمتم بنشره، لكي نقوم بنشره.

لا تدري ماذا تقول؟ يمكن مطالعة ما تناولته وسائل الإعلام أو بيانات منظمات حقوق الإنسان أو مشاهدة هذا الفيديو

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Une semaine déjà, et nous avons besoin de votre aide !

Une semaine s’est écoulée depuis l’arrestation de Ali Abdulemam. Depuis son arrestation Ali est détenu à l’isolement et interdit de voir sa famille ainsi que son avocat. Selon le centre Bahreïni pour les droits de l’Homme, il existe un risque sérieux pour que Ali soit torturer.

Nous apprécions la solidarité et le soutien que vous lui avez montré, mais nous avons encore besoin de votre aide ! Voici comment vous pouvez y contribuer :

1. Écrivez un post sur votre blog ou faites une vidéo expliquant pourquoi vous soutenez la libération de Ali Abdulemam.

2. Incluez un lien vers ce post, afin que nous puissions trouver facilement votre texte ou votre vidéo et les partager.

Vous ne savez pas quoi dire ? Découvrez ce que les médias et les ONG des droits de l’Homme ont dit sur Ali, ou regardez cette vidéo.

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Ha pasado una semana, ¡y necesitamos tu ayuda!

Ha pasado una semana desde el arresto de Ali Abdulemam. Ali ha sido aislado y no se le permite ver a su familia ni a su abogado. Según el Centro por los Derechos Humanos de Bahrein está bajo riesgo de tortura.

Agradecemos tu solidaridad y el apoyo que has mostrado, pero seguimos necesitamos tu ayuda. Si quieres contribuir:

1. Escribe una entrada orginal en tu blog o haz un vídeo explicando por qué apoyas la liberación de Ali Abdulemam.

2. Enlaza a esta entrada, para que podamos encontrar fácilmente la tuya, o el vídeo, y compartirlos.

¿No se te ocurre qué decir? Consulta lo que han dicho los medios, o mira este video.

Ali needs your support ! Don’t let bahraini regime silence his voice !

The following is a roundup of coverage from mainstream media and advocacy groups (we’re tracking blog posts in support of Ali here):

• The World Movement for Democracy has posted a “democracy alert” urging individuals to write to Bahraini authorities and urge them to release Ali.
• The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Bahraini authorites to release Ali.
• The LA Times’s Alexandra Sandels gave Ali a brief mention in this piece on Bahrain’s crackdown on Shi’a activists.
• Lebanese advocacy group Samir Kassir Eyes put out an alert (Arabic).
• IFEX has put out a call in Arabic to support Ali.
• France24 has put out an excellent video (embedded) with brief written explanation of the campaign to free Ali.
• The Atlantic’s Max Fisher has just written a piece on Ali as part of the “Liberal Arab Movement.”

Ali Abdulemam, an extremely active blogger and cyber activist from Bahrain, was arrested and then imprisoned on the 4th September after being accused by the authorities of posting false information on the portal BarhainOnline.org, one of the Kingdom’s most popular sites, which incidentally has been inaccessible ever since. There has been huge reaction to his arrest on the web.

A Facebook group supporting Ali Abdulemam was set up soon after his arrest. Several hundred web users have joined and are determined to fight for Bahrain’s right to freedom of speech. The group is circulating these posters online calling for people to mobilise support for Abdulemam.

Web users who wish to take part in the campaign can, amongst other things, download these banners expressing support for the imprisoned activist, and then display them on their blogs or social networks.

The mobilisation has moved on to a global scale. Many bloggers, from Morocco to Bulgaria, as well as Ecuador, have taken up Abdulemam’s cause and are demanding the Bahrain authorities free him as soon as possible. Web users can also send messages directly to the country’s Foreign Minister via his Twitter account.

Meanwhile, this blogger says the arrest comes at a time when Bahraini activists’ are facing increasing repression. And he voices concern that Abdulemam will be tortured by the authorities.

According to several NGOS present in Egypt, this fear is justified. “Human Rights watch” and “Reporters without Borders” have published these reports online, saying the torturing of prisoners is common place in the country.

France24.com

علي عبد الإمام

أُعتقل على علي عبد الإمام، وهو مدون رائد في البحرين، وكاتب في دفاع الأصوات العالمية من قبل جهاز الأمن الوطنيّ البحرينيّ تحت إدعاء “بثه لأخبار كاذبة حول الأوضاع الجارية في البحرين” على موقع ملتقى البحرين الوطني، واحد من أهم المواقع البحرينية الداعية للديمقراطية، فيها يعتبر واحد من أسوأ الحملات الحكومية البحرينية على مدى السنين الماضية. وذلك ضمن اتهامات أخرى منها “تكوين شبكة تنظيمية سرية كان لديها مخططات إرهابية” يتضمن أعضاؤها بعض النشطاء السياسيين والحقوقيين. موقع ملتقى البحرين الوطني محجوب في البحرين. أرسل علي قبل اعتقاله يذكر فيها تلقيه مكالمة من جهاز الأمن الوطني، وبعد ذلك تم اعتقاله والزعم أنه كان يريد الهروب خارج البلاد. ويذكر أن الحكومة البحرينية لها سجل طويل في ممارسة التعذيب تجاه المعارضين السياسيين وكان التليفزيون البحريني يبعث برسائل كراهية طائفية لتبرير هذه الحملات الحكومية. تم اعتقال عليّ من قبل لنشره محتوى معارض على موقعه. هو أيضاً مشارك في دفاع الأصوات العالمية والأصوات العالمية بالعربية (لينجوا العربية). تحديث 1#: هناك حملة إلكترونية للمطالبة بحريته الآن. تحديث 2#: موقع ملتقى البحرين الوطني الآن مُعَطَّل.

Ali in handcuffs-unknown date

Amidst fear for Ali’s safety from torture among Bahraini activists on the ground contacted by this campaign, the latest news indicate that Ali’s wife and family applied to visit him today at his place of detention at the Bahrain Interior Ministry. It is still unclear whether the application will be accepted, however sources informed us that the Interior Ministry officials told the family to bring Ali some clothes.

In the meantime, there has been an outpour of support and solidarity from all over the Arab blogosphere and also from the global blogosphere. bloggers from over 15 countries so far have posted on their blogs demanding Ali’s release and that release of the other detainees in the latest wave of arrests in Bahrain in a variety of languages and some have volunteered design of badges to be distributed and displayed by bloggers. Also, activists revived the original Free Ali blog that was started during Ali’s first ordeal back in 2005.

On the social media front, a Facebook group was created and is growing rapidly fueled by the buzz created over twitter by many users. Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid Al-Khalifa who maintains a twitter account, was targeted by twitter users demanding Ali’s release in the last 48 hours.

The Bahraini government, already bracing for a potential global embarrassment, issued a statement yesterday citing anti-terror legislation trying to link Ali to an alleged conspiracy about Bahraini opposition and its sectarian crackdown on them. The government alleges it detained Ali while he was trying to “flee the country” omitting to mention that Ali is an airport employee whose work requires to be at said location.

In the same statement, and in the wake of a speech by Bahrain’s king, they allege that the current wave of repression is to stop a “terrorist plot” to undermine the country.

by describing him with the bizarre term “referred to as a blogger”, Bahraini officials seem anxious to cover up their tracks and to disguise its attempt to silence BahrainOnline (Ali’s very popular forum.)

According to Bahraini activists, the forum is back again online after it was taken down yesterday most likely after the Interior Ministry forced Ali through coercion to hand them the passwords only to be recovered later by other activists. The same activists voiced concern over the government getting its hand on the contact info and the forum’s users who number in the thousands.

As this was unfolding, Bahrain’s Center of Human Rights, The Arabic Network for Human Rights (ANHRI) and Front Line Defenders issued statements raising concern for Ali and other detainees given Bahrain’s established torture track record.

This campaign holds Bahrain and its government fully responsible for any physical or psychological harm against Ali Abdulemam. We demand his immediate and unconditional release.

Update:

Some of the reactions:

Mahmood (Bahrain) - Who’s Next?

Global Voices (Global) - Ali Abdulemam, blogger and Global Voices contributor arrested

Ruslan Trand (Bulgaria) - Free Ali Abdulemam!

Hayder Joudah (Iraq) - Release Freedom of Expression. Release Ali Abdulemam.

Anas Qtiesh (Syria) - Freedom for Ali Abdulemam

Alan Mairson (USA) - We love cheetahs, but shut up about democracy

Renata Avila (Ecuador) – ¡Libertad para Alí Abdulemam ya!

Hussain Yousif (Bahrain) - Towards a better understanding of Abdulemam

Sonam Ongmo (USA) -  A beautiful Sunday becomes a day to think of many things ~ Free Ali Abdulemam!!

Leila Nachawati (Syria/Spain) - ¿Qué está pasando en Bahrein?

Hisham (Morocco) Freedom for Ali Abdulemam

For more check here

On 4 September 2010, Ali Abdulemam received a phone call summoning him to appear at the office of the NSA. He was later arrested at approximately 9 pm and has been held in incommunicado detention since then. The Ministry of Interior declared on Sunday that his arrest was “part of the investigations into the terrorist network accused of planning and executing a campaign of violence, intimidation and subversion in Bahrain”. Since Sunday 5 September, a day after his arrest, the website of BahrainOnline remains unavailable, both in Bahrain and from abroad. There are fears that Ali Adbulemam may have been forced to reveal the password of the database of his discussion forum, as following his arrest, members of his team found that the database’s password was changed and they could not access it.

Five years ago, in February 2005, Ali Abdulemam was arrested and detained for two weeks.

Front Line is seriously concerned at the wave of arrests of human rights defenders taking place in the past three weeks in Bahrain on the basis of an alleged terrorist plot. Since 13 August 2010, the security forces have arrested at least eight other human rights defenders, namely:

1.Dr. Abduljalil Al-Sengais: arrested on 13 August 2010. He is spokesman and Director of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy (see Front Line Urgent Appeal of 15 August 2010);

2.Abdul-Ghani Khanjar: arrested on 15 August 2010. He is spokesperson for the Bahraini National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture (see Front Line Urgent Appeal of 15 August 2010);

3.Suhail Al-Shehabi: arrested on 19 August 2010. He is active in a number of associations including the Committee of the relatives of detainees and the Committee of the Unemployed;

4.Ahmed Jawad Al-Fardan: arrested on 19 August 2010. He is a member of the Committee of the relatives of detainees in Karzakan;

5.Ali Jawad Al-Fardan: arrested on 20 August 2010. He is member of the Committee of the relatives of detainees in Karzakan;

6.Salman Naji: arrested on 21 August 2010. He is member of the Committee of the Unemployed;

7.AbdulHadi Al-Saffar: arrested on 22 August 2010. He is chairman of the Committee against high prices and actively involved in other associations including the Committee of the relatives of detainees;

8.Hassan Al-Haddad: arrested on 23 August 2010. He is member of the Committee of the Unemployed.

Two other human rights defenders, Mr Jaffar Al-Hessabi and Dr Mohammed Saeed, were reportedly arrested on 16 and 17 August 2010 respectively. Dr Mohammed Saeed is a board member of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.

According to the information received all the human rights defenders mentioned above have been held in incommunicado detention or have otherwise had their right to access a lawyer restricted. Some of them were able to see their lawyer during an interrogation with the public prosecutor but were not permitted to have a private meeting. Several of them also alleged to have been subjected to torture during their detention. Salman Naji was reportedly seen as not being able to move his hand.

Front Line fears that another leading Bahraini human rights defender, Mr Nabeel Rajab, may be arrested. On Sunday 5 September, the pro-government Gulf Daily News published on page 2 a picture of Nabeel Rajab linking his name to the alleged terrorist network.

Front Line believes that the arrest and detention of Ali Abdulemam and the other human rights defenders mentioned above is directly related to their human rights work. Front Line is very concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the aforementioned human rights defenders after reports suggested allegation of torture in Bahraini prisons.

frontline defenders Posted on 2010/09/06

Blogger Ali Abdulemam

Reportedly the Bahraini government has a long track record of using torture against dissidents http://bit.ly/9kZyJQ and their TV has been broadcasting hateful sectarian messages to justify its crackdown

Ali was arrested before also for content published on his portal, and he contributes occasionally to Global Voices Advocacy and Global Voices Arabic Lingua.

On February 27, 2005, he was arrested by the Bahraini authorities because of messages posted on BahrainOnline that are critical of the ruling regime. The following day two more moderators of BahrainOnline were arrested: Mohammed Al Mousawi and Hussain Yousif.

Update #1:

An online campaign calling for his freedom is now active.

Update #2:

BahrainOnline.org is turned down. It is up again now.