By our correspondent
14 March 2008
MANAMA -Bahraini human rights activist called upon the Public Persecution to allow doctors to visit detention centres to know the truth behind allegations of physical and sexual tortures against detainees.
Member of Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) Dr Sabika Al Najar said that some detainees, especially those who were arrested recently for riot activities had been complaining during their court hearings of ill-treatments they are receiving at detention centres.
By our correspondent
14 March 2008
MANAMA -Bahraini human rights activist called upon the Public Persecution to allow doctors to visit detention centres to know the truth behind allegations of physical and sexual tortures against detainees.
Member of Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) Dr Sabika Al Najar said that some detainees, especially those who were arrested recently for riot activities had been complaining during their court hearings of ill-treatments they are receiving at detention centres.
“We aren’t accusing the authority of maltreatments but to know the truth doctors should visit complainers at the detention centres to investigate their claims,” she said.
The Public Persecution gave permission to BHRS members to visit the detainees to evaluate their living conditions but they were denied access at the same day they were suppose to go because the society members decided to bring doctors with them.
The Public Persecution said in a statement that the reason for rejecting the visit wasn’t because of the doctors but because the society decided to bring them without seeking approval.
Al Najar said that the torture allegations had been circulated through emails and blogs as well as newspapers, so banning doctors from visiting the detainees could affect the reputation of Bahrain locally and internationally.
“We aren’t taking any side but just what to know the truth as we cannot probe the truth behind such serious allegations without visiting those centres and taking doctors along with us,” she explained.
She said that besides investigating the torture accusations, doctors would evaluate the living conditions at the detention centres and the health services provided to detainees.
