The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses its grave concern regarding the deteriorating conditions in Jau Prison, Block No. 7, following alarming reports of denial of medical care, electricity cuts, and suspension of phone calls for detainees. These actions constitute a blatant violation of international human rights standards, particularly the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), which guarantee detainees’ access to medical care, humane living conditions, and the right to maintain contact with their families.
The situation at Jau Prison is indicative of a broader policy of systematic repression against political prisoners and detainees, many of whom have been imprisoned for their role in peaceful protests or their work as human rights defenders. BCHR calls on Bahraini authorities to immediately restore medical care, electricity, and phone access for detainees and ensure that all prisoners are treated in accordance with international human rights law.
Reports from Inside Jau Prison – Block No. 7
BCHR has received credible reports from family members and local sources about the following serious violations occurring at Block No. 7 of Jau Prison:
- Denial of Medical Care
Several prisoners with urgent medical needs have been denied access to doctors and essential medical treatment. Detainees suffering from chronic illnesses and medical emergencies are being left untreated, putting their lives at serious risk. This denial of medical care is a direct violation of the Nelson Mandela Rules (Rule 24), which obligate prison authorities to provide prisoners with the same standard of healthcare available in the community. The lack of access to healthcare is particularly concerning for prisoners with pre-existing medical conditions who are at higher risk of severe health complications.
- Electricity Cuts
Reports indicate that electricity has been cut off in certain areas of Block No. 7, causing additional suffering for detainees. Electricity cuts impact access to light, ventilation, and cooling, which are essential for maintaining prisoners’ well-being, particularly during periods of extreme weather. The Nelson Mandela Rules (Rule 13) require authorities to provide adequate ventilation, natural light, and access to clean and sanitary living spaces. The electricity cuts create inhumane living conditions, heightening prisoners’ sense of isolation and causing mental and physical stress.
- Suspension of Phone Calls
The families of detainees have reported a sudden and unexplained suspension of phone calls from prisoners in Block No. 7. Prisoners’ access to phone calls is essential to maintain contact with their families and legal representatives, as guaranteed by Rule 58 of the Nelson Mandela Rules. The suspension of phone calls is a form of collective punishment, causing severe emotional distress for both detainees and their families. Families have staged public protests to demand the restoration of phone communication, underscoring the significance of this issue for detainees’ well-being and mental health.
Impact on Prisoners and Their Families
The denial of medical care, electricity cuts, and suspension of phone calls have caused severe suffering for detainees and their families. The absence of electricity affects prisoners’ ability to sleep, access clean air, and maintain hygiene, all of which are essential for health and well-being. The suspension of medical care endangers the lives of those with chronic illnesses and urgent health needs. Family members are left in a state of fear and uncertainty, unable to check on the well-being of their loved ones.
For prisoners with mental health issues, the isolation caused by electricity cuts and phone call restrictions can lead to a rapid deterioration in their mental state, especially when coupled with the denial of access to medical support. Such conditions violate Bahrain’s obligations under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), as they amount to inhumane and degrading treatment.
BCHR views the crisis in Jau Prison – Block No. 7 as a deliberate act of collective punishment aimed at suppressing dissent within the prison population. The denial of medical care, electricity cuts, and suspension of phone calls are part of a broader pattern of mistreatment of political prisoners and human rights defenders in Bahrain’s prisons.
Nedal Al Salman, Director of BCHR and FIDH Vice President, stated:
“The ongoing violations at Jau Prison are a deliberate form of collective punishment and amount to cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment. Denying prisoners access to medical care, cutting electricity, and blocking phone calls violates international human rights standards, including the Nelson Mandela Rules. The Bahraini government must immediately restore basic rights to prisoners and ensure they are treated with dignity. We also call for the release of all political prisoners and human rights defenders who should never have been imprisoned in the first place.”
Recommendations:
- Immediately restore medical care for prisoners in Block No. 7 and ensure access to doctors, treatment, and medical facilities for all detainees, especially those with chronic illnesses or urgent medical needs.
- Restore electricity and ensure that prisoners have access to lighting, ventilation, and adequate hygiene facilities in accordance with the Nelson Mandela Rules.
- Restore access to phone calls for prisoners in Block No. 7 and ensure that detainees can communicate regularly with their families, as guaranteed by international human rights standards.
- Cease the policy of collective punishment and ensure that detainees are not subjected to actions that amount to torture or ill-treatment.
- Ensure accountability for prison authorities responsible for implementing or ordering these punitive measures and hold them accountable for their role in the mistreatment of detainees.
- Allow independent monitoring of prison conditions in Bahrain by permitting visits from the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health to assess conditions at Jau Prison.
Call to the International Community
BCHR calls on the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the broader international human rights community to take urgent action. Bahrain’s treatment of prisoners at Jau Prison violates the Nelson Mandela Rules, the Convention Against Torture (CAT), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). BCHR calls on these bodies to:
- Publicly condemn the denial of medical care and other collective punishment measures at Jau Prison.
- Call for the release of political prisoners in Bahrain, many of whom are imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly, or association.
- Demand Bahrain’s compliance with international human rights standards by ensuring full access to medical care, humane living conditions, and communication with families for all detainees.
- Send an international fact-finding mission to investigate the conditions at Jau Prison, in particular Block No. 7, and ensure that prisoners’ human rights are protected.
The current situation in Block No. 7 of Jau Prison is part of Bahrain’s broader strategy to punish dissent and silence political prisoners. The denial of medical care, cuts to electricity, and suspension of phone calls violate multiple provisions of international human rights law. The Bahraini authorities must take immediate action to restore these essential services, end the use of collective punishment, and comply with their obligations under the Nelson Mandela Rules, ICCPR, and CAT.
BCHR will continue to monitor the situation, document violations, and advocate for the release of all political prisoners and for the improvement of prison conditions in Bahrain. As long as the authorities continue to violate human rights with impunity, BCHR will continue its fight for justice, accountability, and the dignity of all prisoners.
Justice for detainees is non-negotiable.
Medical care is a right, not a privilege.
We demand an end to collective punishment and inhumane treatment in Jau Prison.