Bahrain: Apprehending activists .. Using excessive force.. Dawn raids of Shiite villages by foreign Special Forces


Amidst security and political tensions, Authorities assert discovering another terrorist cell.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses its deep concerns about the deteriorating local security status due to excessive use of force, mass arrests of activists and demonstrators, and dawn raids to several Shiite villages using heavy armed foreign forces.


Amidst security and political tensions, Authorities assert discovering another terrorist cell.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses its deep concerns about the deteriorating local security status due to excessive use of force, mass arrests of activists and demonstrators, and dawn raids to several Shiite villages using heavy armed foreign forces.

An atmosphere of clashes between demonstrators and security forces consisting of foreign forces prevailed in all villages and areas of Bahrain after the Authority prevented a peaceful demonstration on December 17, called up on by the National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture to commemorate the anniversary of victims of torture in the previous era. This date was chosen to retrieve the public memory about the two young men shot dead by snipers of special security forces during nineties of the last century, while they were participating in a peaceful march in the village of Sanabis calling for political reforms, democracy and restoration of the then dissolved parliament.

The clashes were concentrated in the villages of Duraz ,Sanabis , Jidhafs, Daih, North Sehla, Jabalat Habshi, Sitra, Malikeyya , Bani Jamra and South Sehla .The detainees, all Shiite, aged between twenty and thirty years. BCHR believes that the majority of detainees were targeted for their activities in popular and various human rights committees.

On the other hand, an official statement, released to local and international news agencies by a source in the National Security Bureau, stated that a “terrorist” cell was discovered consisting of a group of Bahrainis was “planning” to carry out a terrorist acts aimed at disrupting public order, terrorize innocent civilians and threaten their lives. The said statement did not disclose the number of persons involved or details of the case, but spoke of the intention of bombings, intimidation and murder of citizens and expats and did not publish any pictures or details of the nature of the explosives to be detonated or the bombing destinations.

The state- security Authorities in Bahrain have been known of fabricating fictitious security incidents or exaggeration what happens in protests or “riots” in the light of the security and political tensions in the country by its policies of discrimination against Shiites as well as other outstanding issues. In the past, the same Authorities had numerously portrayed some protesting activities as terrorist plans and spoke of cells and camps of terrorism, but failed to provide any evidence to support such claims and allegations. In 2006, the security authorities claimed that it had discovered a terrorist plot and a training camp to train terrorists in the village of Bani Jamra. But subsequently, it was found that the said place is an ordinary farm of no connection to security story. Rather, the whole issue became mockery and sarcastic comments in the press and public.

Another issue is the death of Majid Asghar Bakhsh in the village of Karzakan, a Pakistani national member of Special Forces who was on duty in civilian clothes in armed security patrol. The security Authorities initially claimed that his death was a result of fire set in the car by protesters, however, the forensic reports revealed later that his death was due to head injury and not burns, a testimony concurrent with that of lawyers confirming the death cause to be injury to the head. Doubts increased in the case when the lawyers brought up document proving that Bakhsh died on a day different from the alleged date.

According to the statement issued by the security authorities, the defendants in terrorist cell case would be prosecuted according to the internationally condemned Terrorism Code (Law No. 58 of 2006 on the Protection of Society from Terrorist Acts). The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of
human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism had condemned the law and so did many local, regional and international organizations. These would include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights and Frontline Defenders who oppose the law as it violates human rights principles and its international charters.

Until this moment, neither the families have not met with the accused youth as the Public Prosecutions (PP) conducts prolonged interrogations after midnight till early morning. It is believed that the PP is using this time to ensure that the lawyers and families do not meet with the defendants.

Bahrain is in a state of deep tension primarily because of the unsolved issues such as the systematic discrimination against Shiites, the detention and imprisonment of dozens of detainees, political and sectarian naturalization, and the constitutional issue.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls for:

1 – Release of all political and human rights activists from jails
2 – Stop the systematic discrimination against the Shiites in all fields.
3 – Cessation of politically motivated naturalization and stop recruiting foreign mercenaries in Special Forces.
4 – Open a dialogue with the different societal and political groups to reach practical solutions to the outstanding issues.
5- Stop attacks on peaceful marches and demonstrations, which represent signs of the freedom of expression.