Bahrain: WHRDIC Statement: Free woman human rights defender Ebtisam Al-Saegh
The Women Human Rights
Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC), of which the OMCT is a member, is a network that supports and protects woman human rigths defenders
worldwide in their defence of human rights. 
The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition calls for the
immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender Ebtisam
Al-Saegh, and for an end to the harassment, intimidation, and threats she
has been subjected to. We express deep concern for Ebtisam
Al-Saegh’s safety and wellbeing, and about the continued
harassment,
intimidation and violence she has faced at the
hands of authorities in Bahrain, that is in direct violation of the
country’s commitment to international human rights law.
Ebtisam Al-Saegh, who works for Salam for Democracy and Human Rights
(SALAM DHR)
reporting on human rights
violations and calling for justice for victims of torture in Bahrain, was
arrested at the end of May, beaten and sexually assaulted by members of the
Bahraini National Security Agency (NSA). The Bahraini authorities have not
investigated these claims, putting Ebtisam Al-Saegh at renewed risk for
torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual assault.
On 3 July, Ebtisam Al-Saegh was detained following a raid on her home,
when masked officers in plainclothes and without presenting a warrant,
arrested her. She was later taken to Issa Town Women’s Detention
Centre, after an interrogation at an unknown location. Earlier that
day Ebtisam Al-Saegh had been
tweeting about the ill treatment of women by the NSA.
On 6 July, her home was again raided again by masked
men and all the family’s phones were confiscated. They told her
daughter that they knew she had been giving out information about her mother
who had not cooperated with them
.
Ebtisam Al-Saegh has been targeted
numerous times in the past
, including through interrogation, media
harassment, and a travel ban imposed on her and other human rights defenders
prior to the 32nd
regular session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The Women Human Rights
Defenders International Coalition calls for the immediate and unconditional
release of Woman Human Rights Defender Ebtisam Al-Saegh, the end to the
harassment, intimidation, violence and threats towards her and her family,
and for the Bahraini authorities to end their campaign against all human
rights defenders.