Amnesty Int'l: Bahrain: Fifteen-year-old diabetic boy held in Bahrain

Ali_Muslim

URGENT ACTION

Fifteen-year-old diabetic boy held in bahrain

‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim, a 15-year-old Bahraini boy who suffers from diabetes, was arrested at his home in al-Hidd in northern Bahrain on 8 September and was reportedly hit on the head during interrogation. The Public Prosecutor has ordered his detention.

‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim was arrested by police officers at his home in al-Hidd, northern Bahrain, at 2:45 am on 8 September. When his father let them in the house, the officers stated that the boy’s name was on a list of people to be arrested on orders of the Public Prosecution, but they did not show an arrest warrant. He was taken to al-Hidd police station where he was reportedly hit on the head during questioning by the police. ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim was forced to “confess” to “participating in illegal gatherings”, “throwing Molotov cocktails” and “rioting”. He appeared before the Public Prosecutor on 10 September, accompanied by his lawyer, where he recanted his “confessions” stating that he had made them under duress. The Public Prosecutor ordered his detention for 45 days pending investigation and scheduled his next hearing for 25 October. The boy is now held in Bloc 11 at Dry Dock prison for adults in the capital Manama, along with other children.

‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim suffers from diabetes for which he needs insulin injections and a special diet. It is not clear whether he is receiving regular and adequate medical care.

Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:

Urging the Bahraini authorities to ensure that ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim receives the regular and adequate medical care he requires;

Urging the authorities to ensure that ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim is treated in accordance with the international standards of juvenile justice;

Ensuring that ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim is protected from torture or other ill-treatment and that his allegation of ill-treatment is independently investigated, and that anyone found responsible is brought to account. Statements obtained through the use of torture or other ill-treatment are not accepted in any trial proceedings.

 

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 31 OCTOBER 2013 TO:

King

Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa

Office of His Majesty the King

P.O. Box 555

Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain

Fax: +973 1766 4587 (keep trying)

Salutation: Your Majesty

 

Minister of Interior

Shaikh Rashid bin ‘Abdullah Al Khalifa

Ministry of Interior

P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain

Fax: +973 1723 2661

Twitter: @moi_Bahrain

Salutation: Your Excellency

 

And copies to:

Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs

Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Khalifa�Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs �P. O. Box 450, al-Manama, Bahrain �Fax: +973 1753 1284

Email: minister@justice.gov.bh

Twitter: @Khaled_Bin_Ali

Salutation: Your Excellency

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

 

URGENT ACTION

Fifteen-year-old diabetic boy held in bahrain

Additional Information

Two and a half years after the popular uprising in Bahrain, and beneath the fanfare of reform, prisoners of conscience, including some arrested during the protests, remain behind bars and the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly continue to be suppressed. In recent months, not only have prisoners of conscience not been released, but more people have been jailed simply for daring to express their views, whether via Twitter or on peaceful marches. Bahraini courts have appeared more concerned with toeing the government’s line than offering effective remedy to Bahrainis and upholding the rule of law.

Over the past months an increasing number of children have been detained. Those aged between 15 and 18 have been held in adult prisons. Many of these children were arrested during demonstrations and have been accused of “illegal gathering” and rioting. Some of them alleged they were beaten during arrest or during interrogation. In some cases they were forced to sign “confessions”. In other cases, they were formally charged with criminal offences under the Penal Code, tried as adults, convicted and sentenced to prison terms. On 6 August 2013 the King, Shaikh Hamad Bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa, issued two emergency decrees including one amending the 1976 juvenile law which now stipulates that if anyone under 16 years of age takes part in a demonstration, public gathering or sit-in, his or her parents will be warned in writing by the Ministry of Interior. If six months after the warning the juvenile is found in a new demonstration his or her father could face jail, a fine or both.

As of September 2013 there are scores of juveniles in detention in Bahrain some are being tried others held pending investigation.

On 12 September the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Bahrain. Amongst other recommendations, the resolution urges the Bahraini authorities to respect the rights of juveniles, to refrain from detaining them in adult facilities, and to treat juveniles in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Bahrain is a party. Also in mid-September a joint statement by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in Bahrain, signed by 47 countries, expressed concerns about the ongoing human rights violations in Bahrain.

 

Name: ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim

Gender m/f: m

UA: 260/13 Index: MDE 11/043/2013 Issue Date: 20 September 2013

 

http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE11/043/2013/en