Bahrain Mirror- Exclusive: 40 Members of the European Parliament from different political groups sent an open letter to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, urging her to call for immediate release of Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei's family.

In the letter, MEPs echoed the concerns raised by six experts from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Amnesty International on the allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and ill-treatment of Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei's in-laws and that their detention represents a clear "attempt to force him to halt his peaceful activities and muzzle him from afar".

The 40 MEPs urged for an end to the continuing harassment and targeting of Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei's in-laws and call for their immediate and unconditional release. In addition, they called on the Government of Bahrain to drop the charges against them as they are based on false confessions extracted by force, and to ensure a full investigation and prosecution in relation to the reported cases of torture and ill-treatment.

They further urge Ms. Mogherini to publicly condemn all acts of intimidation of dissent and to call for the release and the protection of all human rights defenders and their relatives.

The European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights said that he welcomes this initiative led by MEP Julie Ward and reiterates the letter's appeal to HR/VP Federica Mogherini and calls on the EU to undertake a strong action on this issue.

The Bahraini authorities arrested Al-Wadaei's mother-in-law, Hajar Mansour Hassan, Sayed Nizar Al-Wadaei and Mahmoud Marzooq Mansour and accused them of planting bombs in south west of Manama, based on forced confession extracted under torture, ill-treatment and "confidential sources".

Arabic Version