On the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, observed annually on 26 June, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) stands in solidarity with survivors of torture and ill-treatment in Bahrain and around the world. This day serves as a reminder that torture is absolutely prohibited under international law and that states have an obligation not only to prevent torture but also to investigate allegations, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide effective remedies to victims. Bahrain: Torture Victim Hussain Khalil Passes Away – BCHR.
More than a decade after the findings of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry documented widespread torture and ill-treatment, serious concerns persist regarding the continued use of torture, coercive interrogations, and impunity for perpetrators. The Commission itself warned that a lack of accountability within the security apparatus had contributed to a culture of impunity. Cosmetic Reforms: Assessing Bahrain’s Implementation of the BICI Recommendations Ten Years Later – BCHR
BCHR remains deeply concerned that torture and ill-treatment continue to be reported in Bahrain, particularly during arrest, interrogation, and detention. International organizations, United Nations mechanisms, and human rights groups have repeatedly documented allegations of physical and psychological abuse, forced confessions, denial of legal safeguards, and failures to conduct independent investigations into complaints.
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Recent reports received and documented by BCHR demonstrate that torture is not merely a historical issue. In March 2026, BCHR documented allegations of torture and ill-treatment against detainees, raising renewed concerns regarding the treatment of individuals in custody and the continued failure to ensure accountability for abuses. BCHR also documented additional allegations of torture and mistreatment in detention facilities earlier this year, reinforcing long-standing concerns that existing oversight mechanisms have failed to provide effective protection for victims or meaningful accountability for perpetrators. These cases highlight the urgent need for independent investigations and access to justice for survivors.
Death in Custody Raises Serious Concerns
BCHR remains deeply concerned by the death of detainee Mohammed Mosawi in March 2026 while in the custody of Bahraini authorities. Call for an Independent Investigation into the Death of Torture Victim “Al-Mousawi,” Disclosure of Enforced Disappearances, and Release of Detainees in Bahrain – BCHR
Notably, Bahraini authorities acknowledged that the death occurred while the detainee was in state custody and announced that investigations had identified acts of abuse by individual police officers allegedly involved in the incident. The authorities indicated that legal proceedings would be initiated against those responsible.
While BCHR welcomes any acknowledgment of wrongdoing and efforts to prosecute those responsible, the organization stresses that accountability must extend beyond individual acts where evidence points to broader institutional failures. Cases involving torture, ill-treatment, or deaths in custody require independent, transparent, and impartial investigations capable of determining not only individual responsibility but also whether systemic shortcomings, failures of supervision, or a culture of impunity contributed to the abuse.
The death has renewed concerns regarding the treatment of detainees, safeguards against torture, access to medical care, and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms within detention facilities. Under international human rights law, the state bears responsibility for protecting the life and physical integrity of every person deprived of liberty.
The persistence of torture allegations is particularly alarming given Bahrain’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Torture, which Bahrain ratified in 1998. The prohibition of torture is absolute and non-derogable, meaning that no exceptional circumstances, including national security concerns, can justify its use.
BCHR’s report, “Torture is the Policy and Impunity is the Norm,” documented patterns of physical and psychological torture, the use of forced confessions, and the failure of accountability mechanisms to provide justice to victims. The report concluded that impunity remains one of the key factors enabling the continuation of abuses.
International human rights bodies continue to raise concerns regarding Bahrain’s record. Recent information presented to the Committee Against Torture indicated that allegations of torture and ill-treatment continue to emerge, affecting political opponents, human rights defenders, and other detainees.
BCHR, stated:
“The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is not only a day of remembrance—it is a call to action. Survivors deserve justice, truth, and reparations. Torture cannot be addressed through denial or public relations campaigns; it requires genuine accountability. As long as perpetrators remain beyond the reach of justice, the risk of torture recurring remains very real.”
“The victims of torture in Bahrain deserve independent investigations, effective remedies, and guarantees that these violations will never happen again. Accountability is not optional; it is a legal and moral obligation.”
On this occasion, BCHR calls on the Bahraini authorities to:
- Conduct prompt, impartial, and independent investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment.
- Hold all perpetrators, regardless of rank or position, accountable in accordance with international standards.
- Exclude from judicial proceedings any evidence or confessions obtained through torture or coercion.
- Ensure that detainees have immediate access to lawyers, family members, and independent medical examinations.
- Strengthen protections for victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers reporting abuses.
- Allow independent international monitoring of detention facilities and places of interrogation.
- Implement the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the Committee Against Torture in full.
BCHR also calls on the international community, including the United Nations and Bahrain’s international partners, to continue monitoring torture allegations in Bahrain and to support efforts aimed at ending impunity and securing justice for victims.
On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, BCHR reaffirms that torture is never justified, under any circumstances. Justice for victims, accountability for perpetrators, and meaningful institutional reform remain essential steps toward ensuring that torture is not repeated and that human dignity is fully protected.