By REBECCA TORR
Published: 8th August 2007
AUTHORITIES were yesterday urged to look into reports that detainees are being mistreated at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) in Adliya.
Bahrain Human Rights Society said family members of detainees had complained of an allegedly hungerstrike that had been staged because of the bad conditions.
It had also been told that the detainees had been given a collective punishment because authorities suspected drug smuggling.
“We received complaints from a detention centre in Adliya that they were on hunger strike and some were sick,” society assistant secretary-general Dr Abdulla Al Durazi told the GDN.
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 8th August 2007
AUTHORITIES were yesterday urged to look into reports that detainees are being mistreated at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) in Adliya.
Bahrain Human Rights Society said family members of detainees had complained of an allegedly hungerstrike that had been staged because of the bad conditions.
It had also been told that the detainees had been given a collective punishment because authorities suspected drug smuggling.
“We received complaints from a detention centre in Adliya that they were on hunger strike and some were sick,” society assistant secretary-general Dr Abdulla Al Durazi told the GDN.
“They were on hungerstrike because of the bad conditions and treatment and delay of sentencing.
“We had complaints from the families of detainees that they are not allowed to visit them and can’t give them toothpaste and cleaning items.
“We were told they had to drink water by their hands from a cooler because no glasses were allowed.
“They had a collective punishment because they thought they were smuggling drugs, which is not fair.”
Dr Al Durazi said the society wrote to the Public Prosecution office on Sunday demanding an urgent visit to the detention centre but had not heard back.
He said the society had also been told by family members that a hungerstrike had been staged at Jaw Prison and some prisoners had been transferred to hospital.
“We expected something like this might happen,” explained Dr Al Durazi.
“Last year we did a report about the conditions in Jaw, but nothing was done. We highlighted the standards of cleanliness were poor and the punishment was excessive.
“There are 18 officers working there who are repeatedly mentioned by detainees that they abuse them physically and mentally and put them in isolation.
“One high ranking official of Arab nationality was also accused of verbal and physical atrocities against a group of people on hungerstrike.”
The human rights activist said the society kept the 18 names out of the report and passed them to the Interior Minister.
However, he said, he didn’t think any action had been taken.
“We urge them to look into the recommendations and implement them because this gives Bahrain a very bad reputation on an international level,” he said. The GDN contacted the Interior Ministry yesterday, but it did not comment. becky@gdn.com.bh
© Gulf Daily News
