The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its deep concern over the ongoing violations of children’s rights in Bahrain, particularly the detention of minors who are being subjected to inhumane conditions in violation of international laws and conventions. Despite being a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Bahrain continues to hold children behind bars, depriving them of basic rights such as education, outdoor activities, and regular contact with their families.
The case of Ali Omran and his fellow detainees—Hussein Al-Buri, Mohammed Khatam, Ali Salman, and others—highlights the severity of this issue. Reports reveal that these children, detained in the Dry Dock Prison, are subjected to harsh punishments, including being denied family contact for a full week and restricted access to outdoor areas and essential facilities like the canteen, merely for communicating with one another from their cells.
Ali Omran’s mother voiced her anguish, stating:
“Why such harshness toward our children? Where is restorative justice? Where is humanity? Our children are suffering in cells without educational programs, entertainment, or regard for their age and innocence. Their rightful place is with their families, not behind bars.”
These recent cases are part of a troubling pattern. Over the years, Bahraini authorities have detained numerous children on political charges, some receiving harsh sentences that keep them behind bars for years. BCHR Published few statements demanding for the immediate release of all detained minors
Many of these children have been held under conditions that violate both national laws, such as the Reformative Justice Law for Children and Their Protection from Ill-treatment, and international human rights standards. Such actions erode trust in Bahrain’s justice system and starkly contradict the government’s public commitments to uphold the rights of children.
Nedal Al-Salman, Director of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Vice President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), called on the Bahraini government to release all detained children immediately:
“Children represent the future of Bahrain. By imprisoning them under such harsh and unjust conditions, the government is not only violating their rights but also undermining the nation’s future. It is time for the Bahraini authorities to prioritize justice, humanity, and the well-being of their youngest citizens by releasing these children and ensuring they are provided with the care, education, and opportunities they deserve.”
The BCHR calls upon the Bahraini authorities, particularly the Ministry of Interior and the administration of the Dry Dock Prison, to:
- Immediately end the unjust treatment of child detainees and release those who have been detained for prolonged periods without trial or due process.
- Ensure all detained children are treated in accordance with international human rights standards, guaranteeing their dignity and protection from inhumane or degrading treatment.
- Provide access to education, psychological support, and rehabilitation programs for all child detainees, fostering their reintegration into society.
- Uphold the principles of the Reformative Justice Law for Children and commit to meaningful reforms that safeguard children from political reprisals and unjust detention.
The Bahraini government must recognize that children belong in safe, nurturing environments with their families, not in prison cells where their rights and futures are at risk. This inhumane treatment must end. It is the duty of the state to protect, nurture, and empower its youth—not punish and oppress them.
No to violence against children. No to the violation of their fundamental rights.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights stands in solidarity with the families of detained children and urges the international community to pressure Bahrain to fulfill its obligations under the CRC and other human rights treaties. These children deserve hope, dignity, and a chance to contribute to Bahrain’s future—not a life marked by injustice and oppression