Manama: King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa has appointed a veteran human rights activist to head Bahrain's first National Human Rights Organisation.
Salman Ali Kamaluddeen, the former deputy president of Bahrain Human Rights Society who had been imprisoned for his views, will lead a 20-member team that includes women, a Christian and a Jew.
The first deputy president is Eisa Al Khayyat, a former dean at the University of Bahrain and currently the executive director of Bahrain Institute for Political Development. Dr Fadila Al Mahroos, a women's rights activist and member of the Supreme Council for Women, is the second deputy president. She is the wife of independent MP Abdul Aziz Abul.
Other members of the national human rights watchdog include Ibrahim Nonoo, a former member of the upper chamber and representative of the Jewish community and Alice Samaan, currently a member of the upper chamber and representative of the Christian community.
Legal advisor Ahmad Farhan, former head of Bahrain Transparency Society Jasem Al Ajmi, former opposition figure and head of the Human Rights Observatory Hassan Al Shafii, education rights expert Khalid Al Khaja, Bahrain Human Rights Watch member Tariq Al Saffar, former trade union federation head and current upper chamber member Abdul Ghaffar Abdul Husain, head of Bahrain Human Rights Society Abdullah Al Durazi, head of Bahrain Human Rights Watch Faisal Fouladh, head of Democracy Support and Public Freedoms Mohammad Al Ansari and Bahrain Legalists head Yusuf Al Hashemi were also appointed to the national rights organization.
Other members are columnist Aqeel Sewar, Legal consultant Ali Al Aradi, Academician Abdul Rahman Janahi and Abdullah Faisal Al Dossari.
Other women on the national panel are primary health care head Mariam Al Jalahma, lawyer and upper chamber member Rabab Abdul Nabi Salem Al Arayyedh and upper chamber member Aisha Salem Mubarak.
According to the royal order, the nominations are for a four-year term.
In his first statement following the appointment, Salman said that the organization would build bridges with all people and establishments regardless of their backgrounds and stressed the importance of partnerships in addressing human righst issues.
