03/06/2012
STUDENT ARRESTED FOR READING POETRY YOU CAN WRITE A LETTER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Twenty-year-old student Aayat Alqormozi could be
sent to prison at any time for reciting poems she
wrote criticizing the King of Bahrain and the Prime
Minister. She read the poems aloud during the
February 2011 pro-reform rallies. On 30 March
2011, she was arrested after being forced to
surrender herself to the authorities in order
to protect her family. Prior to turning herself in,
security forces had twice raided her parents’ home
and threatened to kill her brothers.
Aayat Alqormozi was detained until July 2011
and was tortured in detention. A military court
sentenced her in June to one year in prison, and in
November the High Criminal Court of Appeal, a
civilian court, ruled that her case had been stopped
pending further notice. However, her legal status
remains uncertain and the charges against her
have not been dropped. In September, she was
prevented from returning to Bahrain University to
complete her studies when a guard stopped her
from entering the campus. University authorities
have given her no explanation for this, although in
January 2012 she signed some documents stating
she could resume her studies.
At least 1,000 people have been detained in
Bahrain in relation to the pro-reform protests that
began in February. Five people have died as a
result of torture in custody. Dozens of those
detained were brought to trial before military
courts, including Aayat Alqormozi. The trial of
civilians by military courts breaches international
fair trial standards. As of October 2011, all cases
have been transferred to civilian courts.
Please write, calling on the authorities to ensure
that Aayat Alqormozi’s conviction is rescinded
and any charges against her are dropped. Urge
them to investigate her allegations of torture and
other ill-treatment in detention, and bring those
responsible to justice. Send appeals to:
Dr Fatima Mohamed Al-Balooshi
Minister of Human Rights and Social
Development
Ministry of Human Rights and Social
Development
P.O. Box 32868
Manama
Bahrain
Fax: +973 17104977
e-mail: [email protected]
Salutation: Your Excellency
