A/HRC/36/31
Annex I
Comprehensive information on alleged cases of intimidation
or reprisal for cooperation with the United Nations
on human rights
1.
Algeria
1.
On 31 March 2017, some mandate holders raised concerns with the Government over
allegations of reprisals against Rafik Belamrania, founding member of Association pour les
enfants des disparus forcés en Algerie – Mish’al, for publishing on Facebook on 14 February
2017 a decision made by the Human Rights Committee, regarding the summary execution of
his father in 1995 (see A/HRC/36/25, para. 13, DZA 2/2017).
2.
On 20 February 2017, Mr. Belamrania was summoned to and interrogated at the police
station in Jijel. On 21 February 2017, he was charged with “apology of terrorism on
Facebook,” under article 87 of the Penal Code and detained the following day. In its response
to mandate holders dated 29 May 2017, the Government stated that on 28 November 2016
the judicial police was informed that a citizen publicly expressed his support for people
accused of “apology of terrorism” and it was established that the person in question was Mr.
Belamrania. The Government informed that Mr. Belamrania circulated photos and expressed
his support for terrorist organizations, including Daesh. The Government further informed
that Mr. Belamrania was arrested on 20 February 2017, and on 22 February 2017 he was
placed under custody, and stressed that Mr. Belamrania was provided with all legal
guarantees during this process. The Government’s reply did not address the allegations
relating to possible reprisals.
3.
On 8 March 2017, the rapporteurs designated to follow up on findings on reprisals of
the Human Rights Committee sent a letter to the Government of Algeria, requesting
clarifications on the situation of Mr. Belamrania. The Government responded on 18 July 2017
that the allegations of arbitrary detention of Mr. Belamrania were unfounded as he benefited
from all guarantees during the process and that his custody did not go over the maximum
time allowed in the penal code. The Government further stated that the arrest of Mr.
Belamrania had nothing to do with the situation of his father.
2.
Bahrain
4.
In the light of an ongoing trend of major harassment and intimidation against human
rights defenders, the imposition of travel bans on selected individuals, the arrest, detention,
and ill-treatment of targeted individuals and one particular case involving sexual assault and
torture as a form of reprisal, allegations were addressed by special procedure mandate holders
and the President of the Human Rights Council who were in contact with the Government on
these cases. The Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights addressed allegations on
cases in writing to the Government. Special procedures have expressed concerns about an
orchestrated crackdown on civil society, stressing that the authorities have resorted to drastic
measures to curb dissenting opinions, including reprisals for cooperating with the United
Nations, and in particular OHCHR (see A/HRC/34/75, para. 10 BHR 4/2016 and BHR
7/2016).
5.
Several allegations were received by special procedures about travel bans allegedly
imposed on human rights defenders for their cooperation with the Human Rights Council, in
particular the defenders’ participation in the thirty-second and thirty-third sessions of the
Council, the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, or human rights workshops. On 25 November
2016, three mandate holders raised concerns about allegations of a travel ban imposed on
civil society representatives Mohammed Jawad, Ms. Nedal Al-Salman, Hussain Salam
Ahmed Radhi, Mohammed Al-Tajer and Enas Oun in this regard (see A/HRC/34/75, BHR
16
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