Mohammed al-Tajer

{{Infobox person

| name = Mohammed Issa Altajer

| image = Mohammed al-Tajer.JPG

| alt =

| caption = Mohammed Altajer in September 2012

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = Bahraini

| other_names =

| known_for = 2011 arrest

| occupation = Human rights lawyer

}}

Mohammed Issa Altajer ({{langx|ar|محمد عيسى التاجر}}) is a Bahraini human rights lawyer detained in April 2011, apparently for his role in defending Arab Spring protesters.{{cite web |url=http://www.fidh.org/Arrest-of-Mr-Mohamed-Issa-Al-Tajer |title=Arrest of Mr. Mohamed Issa Al Tajer and continued arbitrary detention of Mr. Abdulhadi Al Khawaja - BHR 003 / 0411 / OBS 065 |author= |date=18 April 2011 |work= |publisher=FIDH |accessdate=23 January 2012}}

In early 2011, following the self-immolation of young Tunisian merchant Mohamed Bouazizi, a series of pro-democratic uprisings swept the Middle East, later to be known as the "Arab Spring". Bahraini activists joined the movement with a series of protests beginning on 14 February, which escalated into the Bahraini uprising.{{cite web | author=Press release | author-link=Press release | title = In Fear of Transmitting the Tunisian and Egyptian Demonstrations to Bahrain: Blocking a Facebook Group That Calls People To Go Down the Streets and Demonstrate Against the Authority's Policy | publisher=Bahrain Centre for Human Rights| date=6 February 2011 | url = http://bahrainrights.org/en/node/3721 | accessdate=16 April 2011 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110302202756/http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/3721 | archivedate=2 March 2011 |url-status=live }} In March, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa declared martial law and a three-month state of emergency.{{cite news | title = Bahrain King Declares State of Emergency after Protests | author=Staff writer | author-link=Staff writer | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12745608 |publisher=BBC News | date=15 March 2011 | accessdate=15 April 2011}}

Following the arrests of some protesters, Altajer coordinated a team of 25 defense lawyers to help those activists in incommunicado detention.{{cite web |url=http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/14839 |title=Bahrain: Arrest and detention of human rights lawyer Mr Mohammed Al-Tajir |author= |date=18 April 2011 |work= |publisher=Front Line |accessdate=23 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209233807/http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/14839 |archive-date=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead }} Altajer's wife Huda al-Juffairi, a medical doctor, was also active in providing medical aid to injured protesters.

Altajer was arrested without a warrant on 16 April 2011 at his home in Manama by more than 20 masked security officers,{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa11611.pdf |title=Lawyer released in Bahrain |author= |date=9 August 2011 |work= |publisher=Amnesty International |accessdate=23 January 2012}} in front of his wife and children. The officers also confiscated laptops, mobile phones, and documents, and demanded the keys to Altajer's law office, forcing him to turn them over. His bank account was also frozen. On June 12, 2011, he was brought before a military tribunal; his attorneys were given no notice and were therefore not present. He was charged with inciting hatred for the regime, engaging in illegal protests, and inciting people to harm police, and pleaded not guilty.

On 7 August 2011, Altajer was released from prison, though the charges against him appeared not to have been dropped. As one of the conditions of his release, he signed papers agreeing that he would not participate in "any activity against the country". He stated that he had been abused while in captivity by being beaten and deprived of sleep.

Altajer's arrest led to international outcry, with statements of protest from Human Rights Watch,{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/04/16/bahrain-defense-lawyer-detained-after-night-raid |title=Bahrain: Defense Lawyer Detained After Night Raid |author= |date=16 April 2011 |work= |publisher=Human Rights Watch |accessdate=23 January 2012}} the International Federation for Human Rights, Front Line Defenders, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights,{{cite web |url=http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/4176 |title=The BHRC letter of concern to the Bahraini authorities regarding the case of Mohammed Al-Tajer |author= |date=2 June 2011 |work= |publisher=Bahrain Centre for Human Rights |accessdate=23 January 2012}} and the New York City Bar Association.{{cite web |url=http://www.nycbar.org/44th-street-blog/2011/06/30/city-bar-calls-on-bahraini-government-to-respect-fundamental-rights-and-the-role-of-lawyers-cites-case-of-detained-defense-lawyer-mohammed-al-tajer/ |title=City Bar Calls on Bahraini Government to Respect Fundamental Rights and the Role of Lawyers; Cites Case of Detained Defense Lawyer Mohammed al-Tajer |author= |date=30 June 2011 |work=44th Street Blog |publisher=New York City Bar Association |accessdate=23 January 2012}} Amnesty International also called for the dismissal of charges against him, designating him a prisoner of conscience during his detention.