The BCHR has recently learnt that Moosa Abd-Ali Mohammed, 26 years, has been granted political asylum in the United Kingdom. AbdAli is a known human rights activist in The Unemployed and Low Income Committee living at Eker village . After organizing several demonstrations demanding rights for the unemployed, Moosa was intimidated, abducted, severely beaten and sexually assaulted by masked men thought to be related to the Special Security Forces. His case is recognized by international human rights organizations and also led to public demonstrations in the country.
Mr. Abdali left Bahrain to the United Kingdom and applied for political asylum after reciving more phone calls, threatening not only his safety but also the safety of his family. Eventually Moosa Abd-Ali left the country in fear for his safety.
Background information and Nature of the alleged violation
• Abduction
• Sever Beating
• Sexual assault
• Intimidation
According to Mr. Abd-Ali, persons affiliated with or acting on behalf of Bahraini security forces abducted him on the night of November 27th 2005. His abductors released him the same night. On November 30 he filed complaints with the police at Isa Town and with the Public Prosecutor’s office in Manama alleging that his abductors beat him severely, assaulted him sexually, and threatened him with further harm unless he ceased his activities on behalf of the Committee of the Unemployed.
Mr. Abd-Ali provided the Bahrain Center for Human Rights with copies of medical examinations, one dated November 28th, from the International Hospital of Bahrain, and the other dated November 29th, from the Accident and Emergency Department of Salmaniyya Medical Center, a facility of the Ministry of Health. The International Hospital report noted contusions on both Abd-Ali’s legs and his upper back consistent with his allegation that he was beaten. The Salmaniyya Medical Center report also noted contusions on Mr. Abd-Ali’s legs, and that the alleged sexual assault did not involve penetration, also consistent with Mr. Abd-Ali’s allegations. The Salmaniyya Medical Center report also contained a notation, “Police to be informed.”
Description of the incident
On Monday November 28th, 2005 early morning at 1:00, five civil automobiles surrounded the house of the activist Moosa Abd-Ali, as he was taking the garbage out. They were all masked, in plainclothes, and armed with batons and personal guns. They introduced themselves as security personnel asking him to go with them. When Moosa asked for an arrest warrant they mocked him with foul language. Detecting their voices and peculiar accents, Moosa was able to realize that they were from the same Special Forces who attacked him and others on June 19th during an unemployment protest. Moosa was severely injured during that protest and underwent medical treatment which has continued until today.
When Moosa tried to escape the perpetrators started shooting in the air. He was then handcuffed and driven to an isolated remote spot of Sitra Island Industrial Area, where he first was brutally beaten using batons, then two of the offenders stripped him of his clothes and got on the top of his back one after the other in direct sexual attempt. Due to his resistance they were not able penetrate, but Moosa was left polluted with sperms over his body. Before leaving, they threatened to assault his family members, and told him to carry this message to the other members of the Committee for Unemployed if they still insist on the protest that was to take place the next day. At around 2:30am, they left the scene, leaving Moosa behind worn out on the ground.
On December 4th, Lt. Gen. Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah al-Khalifa , the Minister of Interior, met with Mr. Abd-Ali, his father, and Nabeel Rajab, vice-president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, to discuss the attack against Mr. Abd-Ali. This meeting followed several days of disturbances in Manama in which police clashed with demonstrators who were protesting about Mr. Abd-Ali’s treatment. At this meeting Sheikh Rashid affirmed that the security services under his authority would fully cooperate with an investigation into the matter that was being conducted by the Public Prosecutor.
Several national and international human rights organizations including Human Rights watch , Front line and BCHR urge the government to conduct a thorough, impartial, and speedy investigation into Mr. Abd-Ali’s allegations, to make the results public, and to hold accountable any security officials or other persons found to be responsible for this attack.
Mr. AbdAli suspended his cooperation with the authorities in December 13th, 2005.
After some time Moosa reported more phone calls, threatening not only his safety but also the safety of his family. Eventually Moosa Abd-Ali left the country in fear for his safety.
