Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Prime Minister
PO Box 1000
al-Manama, Bahrain

Your Excellency:

I wish to express my concern regarding the recent arrest of Ahlam al-Sayyid Mahdi (age 19, university student), Amal Ahmad Rabi’ (age 19, university student), Maryam Ahmad Bilway (age 18), and Laila ‘Abd al-Nabi Rabi’ (age 16, secondary school student).

These four young women were among a number of people arrested after participating in a demonstration in the village of Sitra on 26 March 1997. They have been held incommunicado without charge since their arrest, reportedly at a police station in Madinat ‘Issa.

I am very concerned for the safety and welfare of these four young women. Why were they arrested if no charges have been filed against them? And why are they still detained?

I call on you to ensure that the reasons and legal basis for their continued detention are clarified. I also urge you to use your influence to ensure that all of them are being treated humanely and granted access to their families and lawyers. I understand that other young women detained previously at Madinat ‘Issa have been ill-treated.

Your Excellency, I find it very disturbing that these young women are still being held. If they committed a recognizably criminal offense, they should be officially charged and then brought to trial in accordance with international standards. If they are not to be charged, they should be released immediately.

Respectfully yours,