Campaign for the missing girl Fatima

The Bahrain Women Society (BWS) has adopted the case of Fatima Tawfeeq Ebrahim, the missing Bahraini missing girl through the Anti Child Abuse and Neglect Project "BeFree". The BWS adopted the case since the beginning of her disappearance and had many campaigns and activities both to find the missing girl and also to help in raising the society awareness about child abuse and neglect issues and that they are not personal or family issues but are the whole societies issue and Fatima is only a sample of children getting abuse and threaten in there home.

Bellow are some of the activities the BWS worked on through the "BeFree" project:

The local press announced at the end of February 2002 that the 11 years old Fatima Tawfeeq Ebrahim has disappeared from her fathers house that was shared with his Asian girl friend and Fatima's little sister Sameera, 7 years old. Police announces that Sameera was taken off her fathers house and placed in her older sister house, Moneera, 23 years old that currently have 5 of her sisters and brothers living with her.

The signs of physical and emotional abuse were obvious on the face and body of Sameera. The "BeFree" group went to the families house (Moneer's house) to get informed about the latest on Fatima's case where Sameera used to talk and tell stories about how there fathers girl friend burn, beat and emotionally abused her and her sister Fatima. The stories she was telling look like horror Hollywood films.

The BWS continued to visit the family to get updated on Fatima's case for 3 weeks and decided to adopt the case after seeing no signs and indications of any other party to adopt the case. The BWS still visits the family and is getting updated frequently.

On the end of Mach 2002, the BWS distributed 1500 appeal for Fatima on yellow A4 papers. They were distributed all over Bahrain. The appeal had Fatima's photo, phone numbers and words to assure her that she will be safe if she returns and the BWS will assure her safety.

On the first of April, the BWS distributed around 1800 leaflets in Arabic, English and Urdu language with Fatima's photo and BWS contact numbers. The leaflets asked any one who saw Fatima or have any information about her to call.

On the 12th of April, the BWS conducted a seminar on child abuse and neglect. In this seminar the case of Fatima was also discussed. In this seminar the BWS distributed leaflets about Fatima.

On May 2002, the BWS wrote articles in the local press questioning the authorities about the case of Fatima and where did it lead to and what are the future plans to find her.

In the 5th of June, the BWS distributed a questionnaire to measure the societies awareness and reactions to Fatima's issue. 1000 copy of the questioners were distributed and only 320 correct and complete copies were received. The BWS published the results and analyses of the questionnaire in the local press.

On 3rd of August 2002, the BWS announced an award of BD1000 that was given by a lady whom did not want for her name to be published. The reward to be given to any one who can find Fatima or provide information that can lead to finding her. The BWS distributed 2000 leaflets in Arabic, English and Urdu with award announcement, the photo of Fatima and the BWS contact phone numbers. In the 14th of August, Mr. Majeed Adeeb from Half moon hotel wanted to add BD1500 to the present award so the total will be BD2500. The BWS distributed 17000 leaflets, cost handled by Mr. Adeeb, with all local news paper. The leaflets had the new amount of the award, Fatima's photo and BWS phone contact numbers.

On 25th of August 2000, the BWS raised and appeal to H.H. the Prime minister to direct authorities to increase the searching for Fatima. H.H. the Prime Minister responded on the 27th of August and the search for Fatima was concentrated by the authorities. After that, the Ministry of Interior published the full story  of Fatima in the local news papers.

After H.H the Prime Minster's involvement, many writers published articles in local news papers about Fatima's case, the reason for her disappearance and lows that need to be enhanced in order to prevent these cases to happen again. Alayam news paper had good coverage in there "Al Osra" attachment.

The BWS participated on the 4th of September 2002, in a press release that was conducted by one of  the Human Rights agencies for publishing the Anti-child torcher report. The BWS reprehensive asked about the ways these agencies can help in Fatima's case.

On the 6th of September 2002 the BWS send an appeal to all Religious leaders, Societies and writers to participate with the BWS in a National Campaign to find Fatima and to help in increasing the societies awareness about Fatima's case and try to present it as national case not private or family case.

The BWS participated in many live morning radio and TV programs which were concentrating on Fatima's case. The programs received many calls from people both having empathy and questions about what happened for Fatima.

The BWS requested the TV authorities to conduct a night live program to discuss Fatima's case. This program was on TV on the 9th of September 2002. One of the issues that the BWS representative concentrated on in this program was the moral and financial support that Fatima's family disparately need now as they are taking care of the other 5 sister and brother of Fatima. The BWS received many calls after this program from people wanted to offer financial support to the family.

On 12th of September, the Al Ayam local news paper published an article about the calls the news paper has been receiving about Fatima and there worries after the TV program.

H. H. the King of Bahrain has met Fatima's family. H.H the King sent an appeal to Fatima to come back  and ordered to increase the search for Fatima.

The BWS is still working hard on the case of Fatima and will continue to work until we all know what has happened to Fatima.