Torture in Bahrain

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Torture in Bahrain refers to the violation of Bahrain’s obligations as a state party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Convention against Torture) and other international treaties and disregard for the prohibition of torture enshrined in Bahraini law.

Torture was routine practice in Bahrain between 1975 and 1999, during the period when the State Security Act 1974 was in force.[1] In 1999, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa acceded to the throne and declared an era of national reconciliation. The State Security Act was repealed in 2001 but despite efforts to promote respect for the rule of law, there have been continuing allegations of torture and ill-treatment, against opposition activists and human rights defenders in particular. These have increased since April 2011 as the authorities have sought to bring pro-democracy reform protests under control.

Individuals have been tortured after being detained at demonstrations and public gatherings. For example on 17 December 2007 on Martyrs’ Day, commemorating past victims of torture, the Special Security Forces began a wave of arrests targeting more than 60 persons, among them over ten activists. During February 2009, several key human rights defenders in Bahrain were arbitrarily arrested and detained including Abbas Abdul Aziz Al-Umran, Sayed Sharaf Ahmed, Ali Hassan Salman, and Jaafar Kadhim Ebrahim.[2] Some of those arrested alleged that they had been prevented from sleeping, tied up for long periods and denied medical attention. Others said that they had been sexually assaulted whilst in detention.[3]

The issue of immunity for past violations has also been a continuing concern. In 2001, the King pardoned all those involved in the political violence of the 1990s, freeing hundreds of prisoners. In 2002 Royal Decree 56 established the clarification that amnesty was also granted to all state security officers who may have committed human rights abuses prior to 2001. On this basis the Bahrain Public prosecutor has refused to accept any complaints of torture lodged against security officials and no individuals have been charged or tried by the state, despite pleas by international human rights groups. Most of the officers concerned have remained in post and some promoted to senior government positions

In 2005 the United Nations Committee against Torture, expressing concern over the failure to investigate allegations and a pattern of impunity for torturers, referred specifically to the Decree 56 amnesty. Nevertheless the Decree has not been amended.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for urgent and independent investigation into allegations of torture since the end of 2007. Many national and international human rights organisations, in particular the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, have been active in reporting allegations of torture during the period of repression that has followed mass arrests in April 2011.

The royally appointed prime minister, Shaikh Khalifah ibn Sulman al-Khalifah (uncle of the present King), head of government throughout the period when torture has been alleged to have taken place, continues in office to the present day. Among individuals alleged to have committed, or overseen, torture are: Ian Henderson, Adel Flaifel, Khalid Al Wazzan, Abdulla Al Dowsari Sheikh Abdulaziz Ateyatallah Al-Khalifa, Alistair Bain McNutt.

Contents

[edit] The State Security Act era

Torture was particularly endemic in Bahrain between 1974 and 1999, when the State Security Act 1974[fn 1] was in force prior to the accession of King Hamad. The State Security Act, formally scrapped in 2001, contained measures permitting the government to arrest and imprison individuals without trial for up to three years for crimes relating to state security. Other measures associated with the 1974 Act such as the establishment of State Security Courts) added to the conditions conducive to the practice of torture.

Torture appears to have been most prevalent during the 1990s Uprising, between 1994 and 1997 when demands for the return of the liberal Constitution of 1973 and Parliamentary were made in two public petitions to the Emir.[fn 2] Individuals associated with the petitions were deemed to be acting against the regime and detained under the State Security Laws, subjected to torture and in some cases forced into exile.[fn 3] See also: History of Bahrain.

Bahrain’s track record of gross violations of human rights and torture in particular has been raised on numerous occasions in various UN fora. Bahrain was one of the countries subjected to the UNHCHR 1503 procedure[fn 4] and has been the subject of a resolution by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities[fn 5] and urgent appeals from the Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.[fn 6] The Special Rapporteur summed up the practice of torture during this period in his 1997 report to the UN Human Rights Commission:

“most persons arrested for political reasons in Bahrain were held incommunicado, a condition of detention conducive to torture. The Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were alleged frequently to conduct interrogation of such detainees under torture. The practice of torture by these agencies was said to be undertaken with impunity, with no known cases of officials having been prosecuted for acts of torture or other ill-treatment. In cases heard before the State Security Court, defendants were reportedly convicted solely on the basis of uncorroborated confessions made to political or security officials or on the testimony of such officials that confessions had been made. Although defendants often alleged that their "confessions" had been extracted under torture, impartial investigations of such claims were reportedly never ordered by the court. In addition, medical examinations of defendants were rarely ordered by the court, unless the defendant displayed obvious signs of injury. Such outward displays of injury were said to be uncommon, since torture victims were usually brought to trial well after their injuries had healed.

In addition to its use as a means to extract a "confession", torture was also reportedly administered to force detainees to sign statements pledging to renounce their political affiliation, to desist from future anti-government activity, to coerce the victim into reporting on the activities of others, to inflict punishment and to instil fear in political opponents. The methods of torture reported include: falaqa (beatings on the soles of the feet); severe beatings, sometimes with hose-pipes; suspension of the limbs in contorted positions accompanied by blows to the body; enforced prolonged standing; sleep deprivation; preventing victims from relieving themselves; immersion in water to the point of near drowning; burnings with cigarettes; piercing the skin with a drill; sexual assault, including the insertion of objects into the penis or anus; threats of execution or of harm to family members; and placing detainees suffering from sickle cell anaemia (said to be prevalent in the country) in air-conditioned rooms in the winter, which can lead to injury to internal organs.”[fn 7]

[edit] A new ruler and the repeal of the State Security Law

After the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa succeeded his father Sheikh Isa Bin Sulman Al Khalifa in 1999, the use of torture appeared to decline dramatically. Only isolated incidents were reported and conditions of detention improved.[fn 8] This was attributed to the introduction of some crucial reforms.[fn 9] In October 2001, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention visited Bahrain for the first time. Although it confirmed the condemnatory decisions and opinions it had previously made in relation to the state security laws with further investigations, it congratulated Bahrain on “the decisive scale and scope of the reforms that have been undertaken and the accompanying acts of clemency” following the repeal of the State Security laws and the release of political prisoners.[fn 10] It viewed the repeal of the state security laws as amounting to “a major political shift in favour of human rights”.[fn 11] It also noted that “Not all the instruments currently in force are flawed, the problem lies rather in their practical application”.[fn 12] Much depended on the willingness of the authorities to pursue the reform process and ensure that existing safeguards were effectively implemented in practice.

[edit] The "Amnesty Decree", Decree 56 of 2002

The state's obligation to provide an effective remedy and the need for torture survivors to receive compensation and other forms of reparation was stressed by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.[fn 13] The views of civil society have also emphasised the need for effective and enforceable remedies for torture.[fn 14]

Nevertheless, no alleged perpetrator has been tried for torture or ill treatment despite the practice of torture in Bahrain during the 1980s and 1990s being well documented.[fn 15] In one case in 2001 an individual who suffered torture while in police custody was reported to have been personally compensated by the Emir.[fn 15] In November 2002, 8 torture victims lodged complaints relating to their treatment with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions requesting effective investigation[fn 16] and the prosecution of one of the alleged perpetrators, Adel Felaifel, who was already being investigated on relation to fraud and embezzlement charges. There have been numerous demonstrations and calls from the public for such a prosecution to be initiated. Nevertheless no formal investigation of these cases has been reported and calls for the investigation and prosecution of such crimes has been met with stiff opposition from the Government.

Decree 56 of 2002, which purports to grant a blanket amnesty for any case (civil or criminal) lodged by persons accused of or convicted of “offences that endangered or pose a threat to state/national security” which fell within the jurisdiction of the State Security Court, effectively extends Decree 10/2001, the general amnesty of February 2001, to cover human rights violations committed by government and security officials as well as offences by political opponents of the government.[fn 17] It appears to be in direct contravention of the provision of Article 89 of the Penal Code that only allows amnesty laws which do “not affect third party rights,” and contrary to the prohibition of torture by the National Charter, which provides that:

“No person shall in any way be subjected to any kind of physical or moral torture, inhumane, humiliating indignant treatment… Law ensures punishment of those who commit an offence of torture, a physically or psychologically harmful act”.[fn 18]

Despite petitions to the King to repeal Decree No. 56, the Decree remains in force.

[edit] The UN Committee against Torture's observations

At its 34th session in 2005, the UN Committee against Torture noted the failure of Bahrain to investigate allegations and a pattern of impunity for torturers, including the Decree 56 amnesty. In its concluding observations the Committee listed amongst its subjects of concern:

(f) The apparent failure to investigate promptly, impartially and fully the numerous allegations of torture and ill-treatment and to prosecute alleged offenders, and in particular the pattern of impunity for torture and other ill-treatment committed by law enforcement personnel in the past;
(g) The blanket amnesty extended to all alleged perpetrators of torture or other crimes by Decree No. 56 of 2002 and the lack of redress available to victims of torture;
(h) The inadequate availability in practice of civil compensation and rehabilitation for victims of torture prior to 2001.

The Committee recommended, inter alia, that Bahrain:

(d) Consider steps to amend Decree No. 56 of 2002 to ensure that there is no impunity for officials who have perpetrated or acquiesced in torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment;
(e) Ensure that its legal system provides victims of past acts of torture with redress and an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation.

[edit] Revival of the use of torture after 2007

A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, "Torture Redux: The Revival of Physical Coercion during Interrogations in Bahrain", published in February 2010, concluded that although serious and systemic reports of torture and other ill-treatment in detention in Bahrain that were routine between 1975 and 1999 had become rare after 1999 (albeit serious abuse by security forces during arrests continued), reports of the use of torture and ill-treatment increased again after the end of 2007, coinciding with rising political tension and street demonstrations against discrimination against members of the majority Shi'a community.[1] HRW found that government officials appeared to be using a "repertoire" of techniques to cause pain and elicit confessions from security suspects. These included "the use of electro-shock devices, suspension in painful positions, beating the soles of the feet (falaka), and beatings of the head, torso, and limbs", as well as threats to kill detainees or rape them or members of their families, in violation of Bahrain’s obligations as a state party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Convention against Torture) and other international treaties and as the prohibition of torture in Bahraini law.[1]

During opposition street protests in Shi'a neighbourhoods and villages around Manama in December 2007 a protestor was allegedly asphyxiated by tear gas and confrontations, provoking further confrontations with security forces. Following an incident in the village of Jidhafs Bahraini human rights activists reported claims by detainees of severe beatings, electric shock, prolonged suspension in painful positions and other forms of abuse amounting to torture or other illegal treatment. These claims were officially denied.[1]

Detainees arrested in March and April 2008 following clashes in and around the village of Karzakan that had resulted in the death of a National Security Agency (NSA) officer in disputed circumstances also alleged torture and ill-treatment. Detainees arrested in December 2008 who were alleged by the authorities to have been trained in the use of explosives and sabotage techniques or to have been recruited by the opposition Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy to encourage violent unrest also complained of being subjected to torture and ill-treatment. When they were brought to court medical examinations of a number of detainees found evidence of injuries consistent with the detainees’ allegations.[1]

In a letter to Bahrain's Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin ‘Abdullah bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Amnesty International (AI) called for an urgent and independent investigation into allegations that soon after their arrest in December 2008 13 individuals held incommunicado at the headquarters of the National Security Apparatus in Manama were tortured with electric shocks and beatings and by being suspended by the wrists for long periods. The detainees were reported to have been transferred to the "Dry Dock" Prison (the Ministry of Interior’s Short-Term Detention Unit) only after they had made “confessions”. AI called for any officials found responsible for torture or other serious abuses to be brought to justice.[4]

On 11 April 2009, an informal royal "pardon" was granted to 178 detainees whose sentences or trials were suspended. HRW interviewed a number of the released detainees about their treatment in detention and under interrogation (some refused to speak to HRW - human rights and opposition activists claimed that former detainees had been warned against speaking to investigators or the media). Most claimed to have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment at the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Criminal Investigation (CID) headquarters in Adliya, in Manama, at the Ministry of Interior’s "Dry Dock" Short-Term Detention Unit and possibly at the offices of the NSA.[1]

The Ministry of the Interior and the National Security Agency both report to the Supreme Defense Council, headed by the prime minister and all of whose members are members of the royal family.[1]

In a number of cases prosecutors had failed to record complaints, order medical examinations or investigate allegations, and sometimes returned detainees to the security officers allegedly responsible for the ill-treatment.[1]

The Ministry of the Interior and the Public Prosecution Office denied that torture had been used and asserted that the claims had been fabricated. Human Rights Watch found the accounts credible and the medical reports of government doctors and court documents corroborated the allegations. (HRW noted that corroboration of torture and ill-treatment by government doctors marked a major improvement from the pre-1999 era of routine torture when few examinations were carried out and doctors were intimidated to prevent them corroborating abuse.)[1]

HRW wrote to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior asking detailed questions about government policies concerning torture and ill-treatment but received no response. HRW also called on the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, countries with significant security links to Bahrain, to urge the government of Bahrain to take immediate and measurable steps to end the use of torture by its security forces. As France and the United Kingdom provide the NSA and the Ministry of Interior, respectively, with training and assistance they "risk being implicated in prohibited practices and violating their own legal obligations if they cooperate with law enforcement forces they know or should know are employing torture or other ill-treatment".[1]

[edit] Torture claims during 2011 Bahraini Uprising

In the period following the 2011 uprising numerous allegations of government-sponsored torture were reported in the media by human rights groups. The government has also alleged that protestors abducted and tortured members of the security forces,[5] and there is evidence that Asian migrant workers were also subjected to attacks by groups of protestors.[6] The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry is tasked with investigating all allegations of torture and is due to report its findings by the end of October 2011.[7]

Torture claims have been made by:

Nabeel Rajab (president of BCHR)
  • 9 & 10 April: Ali Sager died in prison as a result of torture.[8][9]
  • 11 April: Martyr Zakaria Al Ashiri that we buried today – as you see the marks of torture.[10]
  • 12 April: confirmed news on the torture of some arrested leaders including Hasan Mushaima, Ibrahim Sharif and Dr. Abduljalil Sengace.[11]
  • 13 April: Witnesses confirm signs of torture on Fakhrawi's body.[12]
  • 23 April: Reports that many of detained female & male doctors, nurses & paramedics undergoing systemic severe beating & torture>[13]
  • 26 April: poet Ayat al-Ghermezi subjected to severe torture and was forced to admit things have not committed in front of the camera.[14]
  • 26 April: Dr.Sadik Radi is one of the youngest doctors-arrested two weeks ago – fear that he has been subjected to torture.[15]
  • 8 May: Activist Mohd Hasan Jawad,65 y- was tortured severely, electrocuted and marks of tortured was clear on his body 2day in court (Nabeel Rajab's uncle).[16]
  • 8 May: Some were tortured in order to say they are connected with Iran.[17]
  • 22 May: Cleric Habib Miqdad (Swedish nationality) told judge he was tortured, shows wound allegedly cause by drill.[18]
  • 22 May: Ahmed Abdullah:arrested a month ago w/out news But-unconfirmed news: he might be in military hospital due to Torture.[19]
  • 23 May: 2 journalists tortured in Bahrain yesterday, torture of female journalist lasted 13 hours.[20]
  • 23 May: Journalist Mazen Mahdi is being torture blindfolded & handcuffed during his suspension time.[21]
  • 23 May: Martyr Karim Fakhrawi died due to torture & electrocution to force him to confess he was dealing with Iran & Hizboallah.[22]
  • 24 May: Most of the defendants can't feel their fingers due to torture and some are afraid to complain due to threats they had received.[23]
  • 24 May: With torture signs on their bodies, 15 Bahraini detainees's denied killing an asian & accepted protesting charge.[24]
  • 24 May: 15 accused of murder of an Asian-all defendants deny the charges except the charge of protesting. All defendants were tortured.[25]
  • 25 May: Daily spiting in the mouth of detainees Abdullah Isa Al Mahroos and Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Jawad in the morning.[26]
  • 19 June: Physical and sexual abuses to cleric Merza Al Mahroos and cleric Mohammed Habib Al Meqdad. Other abuses to human rights activist Mohammed Jawad.[27][28]
Physicians for Human Rights
  • 15 March: Security forces took over Salmaniya Medical Center and tortured patients, using plastic wrist ties to constrain them and then beating several violently. One of the victims was a blind teenager. [29]
  • 19 March: Naim police arrested and tortured a young Shi'a man using electric shocks, cold showers, and repeated strikes to the soles of his feet.[30]
  • 21 March: A 24-year-old man was taken to the Adliya Interrogation Center directly upon his release from Salmaniya Medical Center, where he was brutally beaten with fists and batons.[31]
  • 4 April: Authorities alleged that 39-year-old detainee Hassan Jassin Mohammed Makki died of sickle cell anemia. Forensic investigators concluded that it was probably brought on by physical abuse and that Makki died as a result of negligent care. [32]
Los Angeles Times
  • 13 April: BAHRAIN: Fourth person dies in police custody as human rights groups allege torture (about Karim Fakhrawi).[33]
  • 4 May: BAHRAIN: Medical staff face prosecution, alleged torture after aiding anti-government protesters (about Fareeda Dallal and other unnamed doctors).[34]
  • 17 May: BAHRAIN: Report alleges torture, calls for Obama, U.S. leaders to help.[35]
ABC News
  • 22 March: "Bahrain activists arrested and tortured" (about Nabeel Rajab).[36]
  • 14 May: Bahrain denies torture claims.[37]
The Independent
  • 22 April: Bahrain security forces 'tortured patients'.[38]
  • 10 May: Blindfolded, beaten and tortured: grim new testimony reveals fate of Bahrain's persecuted doctors.[39]
  • 13 June: Ayat al-Ghermezi was whipped across the face with electric cable, held for nine days in a tiny cell with the temperature near freezing, and was forced to clean lavatories with her bare hands.[40]
Human Rights First
  • 12 May: “When he was recovering from the operation they tortured him again,” Torture and Unfair Trial of Protesters in Bahrain (about the 21 suspects: Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, Abdulwahab Hussain Ali Ahmed, Ibrahim Sharif Abdulraheem Mossa, Hassan Ali Mushaima, Abduljalil Abdullah Al Singace, Mohammed Habib Al Saffaf, Saeed Mirza Ahmed, Abduljalil Radhi Mansoor Makki (Abduljalil Al Muqdad), Abdulhadi Abdulla Mahdi Hassan, Al Hurr Yousif Mohammed, Abdullah Isa Al Mahroos, Salah Hubail Al Khawaja, Mohammed Hassan Jawad and Mohammed Ali Ismael. Seven more being tried in absentia are: Akeel Ahmed Al Mafoodh, Ali Hassan Abdullah, Abdulghani Ali Khanjar, Saeed Abdulnabi Shehab, Abdulraoof Al Shayeb, Abbas Al Umran and Ali Hassan Mushaima.[41]
Financial Times
  • 23 May: Foreign media allege Bahrain abuse.[42]
Front Line
  • 9 May: Bahrain: Serious concerns about torture and fair trial of former Front Line Protection Coordinator Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja after initial hearing.[43]
Amnesty International
  • 6 May: Bahrain: Further information: Human rights defender tortured in detention (about Abdulhadi Alkhawaja).[44]
Socialist Worker Online
  • 7 May: Bahrainis take torture evidence to UN.[45]
The Guardian
  • 28 April: Bahrain 'torture service' official to attend royal wedding.[46]
Daily Mail
  • 20 May: Cameron blasted for welcoming 'torturer' of Bahrain to No. 10.[47]
The Christian Science Monitor
  • 16 May: Bahrain rights activist's wife details torture, unfair trial (about Abdulhadi Alkhawaja and Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Jawad).[48]
  • 8 June: Bahrain campaign to humiliate Shiites goes beyond politics ("Apart from quashing political dissent, the Sunni-led government appears bent on psychologically humiliating the island’s Shiite majority into silent submission.")[49]
CNN
  • 13 April: Agency: 4th protester to die in Bahrain may have been tortured (about Karim Fakhrawi).[50]
BBC News
  • 11 April: Bahrain unrest: Torture fears as activists die in jail.[51]
World Socialist website
  • 13 April: US-backed Bahrain regime tortures, murders critics (about Ali Saqer).[52]
Nicholas Kristof (columnist for The New York Times)
  • 16 May: Our close ally, Bahrain, has a consistent record of using sexual abuse of male and female detainees as a form of torture.[53]
Kristen Chick (Reporter for The Christian Science Monitor)
  • 16 May: Another defendant, Mohamed Hassan Jawad, tried to show marks of torture on legs during hearing today, was silenced, say witnesses.[54]

[edit] List of individuals killed under torture in Bahrain

The table below shows the names of Bahrainis who are thought to have died under torture of state security officers. The list has been compiled from reports documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Year of death Name Occupation
1976 Saeed Al-Uwainati Journalist
1976 Mohammed Gholoom Medical doctor
1980 Jamil Ali Mohsin Al-Ali
1980 Karim Al-Habshi
1981 Mohammed Hassan Madan
1981 Sheikh Jamal Al-Asfoor Cleric
1986 Radhi Mahdi Ibrahim
1986 Dr Hashim Isma'il al-'Alawi Pediatrician
1994 Haj Mirza Ali
1995 Hamid Qasim Student
1995 Nidal Habib Al-Nashabah Student
1995 Hussain Qambar
1995 Said Abd al-Rasul al-Eskafi Student
1996 al-Sayyid 'Ali al-Sayyid Amin al-'Alawi
1997 'Abd al-Zahra' Ibrahim 'Abdullah
1997 Shaikh 'Ali Mirza al-Nakkas Cleric
1998 Nuh Khalil Abdullah Al Nuh
2011 Hasan Jasem Makki [55]
2011 Ali Isa Al-Saqer [51][56][57][58]
2011 Zakariya Rashid Hassan al-Ashiri [51][56][58][59] Journalist
2011 Kareem Fakhrawi[22][33][60] Businessman and Political activist
2011 Jaber Ebrahim Yousif Mohamed Alawiyat[61](pp245-6)
2011 Yousif Ahmed Muwali (allegedly)

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ This led the government to dissolve the assembly in order to enact the State Security Laws. In essence this was the root cause of human rights violations within Bahrain during the last 20 or so years. US Department of State, Bahrain Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2001 supra, p. 1; Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Foreign Policy: Regional Country Profiles – Bahrain, p. 2; Amnesty International report: “Bahrain Violations of Human Rights” 9 May 1991, p. 4.
  2. ^ Hansard 3 June 1997, Motion concerning Bahrain: question posed by George Gallaway and responded to by Derek Fatchett, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, pp. 1, 3; HRW: ‘Routine Abuse, Routine Denial Civil Rights and the Political Crisis in Bahrain’, p. 29.
  3. ^ US Department of State, Bahrain Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2001; Amnesty International report: “Bahrain Violations of Human Rights” p. 3; US Department of State, Bahrain Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996, p. 3.
  4. ^ From 1991 to 1993, 47th-49th session, see Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, States examined under the 1503 procedure by the Commission on Human Rights (as up to 2003).
  5. ^ Situation of human rights in Bahrain, Sub-commission resolution 1997/2, adopted at the 24th meeting, 21 August 1997, in which the Sub-Commission noted “the information concerning a serious deterioration of the human rights situation in Bahrain, including discrimination against the Shi’a population, extrajudicial killings, persistent use of torture in Bahraini prisons on a large scale as well as the abuse of women and children who are detained, and arbitrary detention without trial or access by detainees to legal advice” and expressed “its deep concern about the alleged gross and systematic violations of human rights in Bahrain.”
  6. ^ See e.g. UN Doc. E/CN.4/1996/35, 9 January 1996, para.33; UN Doc. E/CN.4/1998/38, 24 December 1997, para.24 and Opinion No.15/1997 of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, UN Doc. E/CN.4/1998/44/Add.1, 3 November 1998.
  7. ^ Fifty-third session, Item 8(a) of the provisional agenda UN Doc. E/CN.4/1997/7, 10 January 1997, para 26; see also US Department of State, Bahrain Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2001, p. 1; Amnesty International report: “Bahrain Violations of Human Rights” Summary, p. 2; and Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention – Visit to Bahrain, para 90 according to which prisons are no longer overcrowded and conditions of detention are satisfactory. UN Doc.E/CN.4/2002/77/Add.2.
  8. ^ US Department of State, Bahrain Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2001, and Working group on arbitrary detention, para 90.
  9. ^ The most significant change has been the repeal of the State Security Law. This has included the abolition in February 2001 of the State Security Court which held secret trials with few procedural guarantees. In addition to this, the Emir granted an amnesty to all political prisoners held under the State Security laws other than life-threatening offences pursuant to articles 333 and 336 of the Criminal Code. This resulted in the release of a large number of detainees and the return of many Bahrainis living in exile and the cancellation of international search warrants. For further information on reforms, see, REDRESS. Reparation for Torture: A Survey of Law and Practice in 30 Selected Countries (Bahrain Country Report), May 2003, available at: [1].
  10. ^ See Report of Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, in particular paras. 9 to 13.
  11. ^ Report of Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, para. 18.
  12. ^ Report of Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, para. 56.
  13. ^ Report of Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, para 28.
  14. ^ Report of Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, para 24.
  15. ^ a b US State Department Report 2001.
  16. ^ Open letter to the Ambassador of Bahrain dated 17 December 2002 from REDRESS, OMCT, APT FiACAT and IRCT.
  17. ^ Decree 56 provides that: “No lawsuit related to or result from crimes that were subject to general clemency will be heard in front of any judicial panel irrespective of the plaintiff’s person or position and the accused person, whether he was civilian, a civil employee, or a military officer who was directly involved in the crime or was a partner to the crime that occurred during the period the preceded the issuance of this decree.”
  18. ^ Second – Protection of individual freedoms and equality of Chapter 1 Basic principles of society of the National Charter (para 2).

[edit] See also

[edit] References

 This article uses bare URLs for citations. Please consider adding full citations so that the article remains verifiable. Several templates and the Reflinks tool are available to assist in formatting. (Reflinks documentation) (June 2011)
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Summary, "Torture Redux: The Revival of Physical Coercion during Interrogations in Bahrain", published by Human Rights Watch 8 February 2010, ISBN 1-56432-597-0, accessed 19 June 2011
  2. ^ http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/2779
  3. ^ http://www.redress.org/documents/Bahrain_seminar_presentation_main.pdf
  4. ^ http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE11/001/2009/en/299a4618-eef4-11dd-b1bd-6368f1b61c3f/mde110012009en.html
  5. ^ Andy Sambidge "Bahrain minister says 24 people dead in uprisings", Arabian Business, 29 March 2011
  6. ^ MANDEEP SINGH "34 Asians are injured 34 Asians are injured ", Gulf Daily News, 20 March 2011
  7. ^ Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry "The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI)The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI)", Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
  8. ^ "Torture Marks on the body of Issa Sager who was tortured to death in prison yesterday", Nabeel Rajab, 9 April 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  9. ^ "Torture Marks on the body of Issa Sager", Nabeel Rajab, 10 April 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  10. ^ "Martyr Zakaria Al Ashiri that we buried today – as you see the marks of torture", Nabeel Rajab, 11 April 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  11. ^ "confirmed news on the torture of some arrested leaders including Hasan Mushaima, Ibrahim Sharif and Dr. Abduljalil Sengace" Nabeel Rajab, 12 April 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  12. ^ "Witnesses confirm signs of torture on Fakhrawi's body", Nabeel Rajab, 13 April 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  13. ^ "Reports that many of detained female & male doctors, nurses & paramedics undergoing systemic severe beating & torture" Nabeel Rajan, 23 April 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  14. ^ Nabeel Rajab, 26 April 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  15. ^ Nabeel Rajab, 26 April 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  16. ^ "Activist Mohd Hasan Jawad,65 y- was tortured severely, electrocuted and marks of tortured was clear on his body 2day in court", Nabeel Rajab, 8 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  17. ^ "Some were tortured in order to say they are connected with Iran", Nabeel Rajab, 8 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  18. ^ "Cleric Habib Miqdad (Swedish nationality) told judge he was tortured, shows wound allegedly cause by drill", Nabeel Rajab, 22 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  19. ^ "Ahmed Abdullah:arrested a month ago w/out news But-unconfirmed news: he might be in military hospital due to Torture", Nabeel Rajab, 22 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  20. ^ "2 journalists tortured in Bahrain yesterday, torture of female journalist lasted 13 hours", Nabeel Rajab, 23 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  21. ^ "Journalist Mazen Mahdi is being torture blindfolded & handcuffed during his suspension time", Nabeel Rajab, 23 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  22. ^ a b "Martyr Karim Fakhrawi died due to torture & electrocution to force him to confess he was dealing with Iran & Hizboallah", Nabeel Rajab, 23 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  23. ^ "Most of the defendants can't feel their fingers due to torture and some are afraid to complain due to threats they had received", Nabeel Rajab, 24 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  24. ^ "With torture signs on their bodies, 15 Bahraini detainees's denied killing an asian & accepted protesting charge", Nabeel Rajab, 24 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  25. ^ "15 accused of murder of an Asian-all defendants deny the charges except the charge of protesting. All defendants were tortured", Nabeel Rajab, 24 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  26. ^ "Daily spiting in the mouth of detainees Abdullah Isa Al Mahroos and Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Jawad in the morning", Nabeel Rajab, 25 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
  27. ^ "Cleric Merza Al Mahroos suffering from sexual abuses", Nabeel Rajab facebook page, 19 June 2011, accessed 19 June 2011
  28. ^ "Cleric Merza Al Mahroos suffering from sexual abuses", Nabeel Rajab Twitter page, 19 June 2011, accessed 19 June 2011
  29. ^ Richard Sollom, Do No Harm: A Call for Bahrain to End Systematic Attacks on Doctors and Patients, Physicians for Human Rights, April 2011, http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/reports/bahrain-attacks-on-doctors-2011-04-22.html
  30. ^ Richard Sollom, Do No Harm: A Call for Bahrain to End Systematic Attacks on Doctors and Patients, Physicians for Human Rights, April 2011, http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/reports/bahrain-attacks-on-doctors-2011-04-22.html
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  40. ^ Poet who became symbol of Bahrain resistance is jailed.-The Independent.
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  53. ^ "Our close ally, Bahrain, has a consistent record of using sexual abuse of male and female detainees as a form of torture", Nicholas Kristof, 16 May 2011, accessed 25 May 2011
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Sections of this article have been taken from the Submission Of THE REDRESS TRUST To The House of Lords meeting On Bahrain, Aug 17 2004

[edit] External links

[edit] Documentary videos

[edit] NGO Reports

[edit] UN Documents

  • Report of UN Special Rapporteur on torture: Bahrain (Dec 20, 1996)
  • Report of UN Special Rapporteur on torture: Bahrain (Dec 24, 1997)
  • Report of UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution: Bahrain (Dec 19, 1997)

[edit] Debates in the British Parliament

[edit] News articles

[edit] Miscellaneous

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