24 April 2014 \u2013 An independent United Nations human rights expert today urged the Government of Bahrain to stop the harassment and persecution of a Shi\u2019a Muslim leader who was reportedly forced to leave the country following threats from State security agents to arrest him and his son.<\/p>\n
Heiner Bielefeldt, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, said he received reliable information that Hussain Mirza Abdelbaqi Najati was forced to leave for Lebanon on 23 April after being exposed to \u201cenormous pressure and harassment\u201d by Bahrain authorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cTargeting the most senior and influential Shi\u2019a religious figure in Bahrain may amount to intimidating and thus discriminating against the entire Shi\u2019a Muslim community in the country because of its religious beliefs,\u201d the expert stated in a\u00a0news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n From a statement issued yesterday on the website of Bahrain\u2019s Ministry of Interior, it appears, the news release said, that the decision revoking Mr. Najati\u2019s Bahraini citizenship and the orders to expel him from the country may have been made due to his position as a senior and influential religious authority among Shi\u2019a believers, who make up the majority of the country\u2019s population.<\/p>\n \u201cI have expressed to the Government of Bahrain my grave concerns at what appears to be an act of religiously motivated discrimination, which would seem to impose unjustified restrictions on Mr. Najati\u2019s fundamental human rights, including his right to practice and profess peacefully his religious beliefs,\u201d Mr. Bielefeldt stressed, warning that the case may have far-reaching implications for the Shi\u2019a Muslim community in the country.<\/p>\n Mr. Najati is one of 31 individuals whose Bahraini citizenship was revoked by the Ministry in November 2012, a decision that rendered him stateless. The Special Rapporteur urged the Government to reverse its decision, which he said appears to be arbitrary, and to facilitate Mr. Najati\u2019s return from Lebanon.<\/p>\n \u201cInternational law, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, prohibits arbitrary deprivation of nationality, including on religious grounds,\u201d he noted. \u201cDiscrimination on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand that Mr. Najati has consistently refrained from engaging into politics, and has maintained his position and activities strictly in the realm of his religion,\u201d Mr. Bielefeldt stated.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is not known to have advocated violence or its use, or to have committed acts that would undermine national security or public order, nor has he been charged or sentenced for committing such acts.\u201d<\/p>\n Independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.<\/p>\n