Today, on the World Day Against the Death Penalty, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the universal abolition of the death penalty. The death penalty remains one of the most serious violations of human rights, particularly the right to life, as enshrined in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite global efforts, many countries, including Bahrain, continue to retain and implement this inhumane form of punishment.
Over the past decade, Bahrain has witnessed a troubling increase in death sentences, especially against individuals convicted in politically motivated trials that often lack transparency and fairness. In numerous cases, detainees have reported confessions extracted under torture, denied proper legal representation, and faced trials that violate international standards of justice. Such practices perpetuate a system of injustice that targets marginalised groups, including political dissidents and human rights defenders, under the guise of national security.
In January 2017, the Bahraini government executed three torture victims—Abbas al-Sameea, Sami Mushaima, and Ali Alsingace—marking a grim moment in the country’s human rights record. These individuals were convicted in politically charged trials marred by allegations of torture and coerced confessions. To this day, the shadow of the death penalty continues to loom large over Bahrain, with several individuals still on death row.
Among those at immediate risk are Mohammed Ramadan and Husain Moosa, both convicted following confessions reportedly extracted under torture. The list also includes Maher al-Khabaz and others, all of whom face execution under similarly flawed and unfair trials. These cases highlight the ongoing violations of due process and the grave injustices within Bahrain’s judicial system.
Nedal Al Salman, Director of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), emphasizes the urgency of abolishing the death penalty:
“The death penalty is a cruel, inhuman punishment that has no place in a just society. We call on Bahrain and all nations to abolish this irreversible and degrading practice. Human life is sacred, and justice should never involve the taking of life.”
On this day, we stand in solidarity with victims of the death penalty and their families in Bahrain and around the world. We join the global human rights community in demanding an end to this irreversible and cruel form of punishment. The death penalty has no place in a just society, and we will continue to advocate for its abolition in Bahrain and across the globe.
Together, let us work for a world where justice is served not through death, but through respect for human dignity, fairness, and the rule of law.