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Husband’s arrest sparks protest
By BASMA MOHAMMED
Published: 9th February 2009
RIGHTS activists have accused Bahrain of flouting international laws on the rights of suspected criminals – saying many disappear for days before their families know what has happened to them.
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Husband’s arrest sparks protest
By BASMA MOHAMMED
Published: 9th February 2009
RIGHTS activists have accused Bahrain of flouting international laws on the rights of suspected criminals – saying many disappear for days before their families know what has happened to them.
The allegation has been made by the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS), which claims prisoners are not allowed to make phone calls, are not informed of the allegations against them and are not granted access to a lawyer.
It made the criticism after a Bahraini family searched for a relative for four days, only discovering yesterday that he had been arrested on suspicion of arson.
BHRS general secretary Dr Abdulla Al Deerazi claimed Bahrain had contravened the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which it signed in 2006 and states: “Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him”.
“There are recent examples of compulsory disappearances which have not been explained,” Dr Al Deerazi told the GDN.
He said families have to launch their own investigation to track down relatives who have been arrested. “They visit police stations, the Public Prosecution and so on until they find him,” he said. “They should be informed straight away of his location and the accusations against him.”
He claimed the police were violating their own rules, which are displayed at police stations around the country. “When you enter a police station, you usually find a poster stating the rights of an arrested person – they themselves don’t follow it,” he claimed.
Dr Al Deerazi said a suspect’s family should be told where they are being held in custody and a warrant from the Public Prosecution should be presented to each suspect before their arrest.
“The detainee has the right to be informed why is he being arrested and what is the accusation,” he said.
“He also has the right to make a phone call to inform his family and the right to have an attorney to represent him.”
Dr Al Deerazi made his comments after it took a Bahraini woman four days to track down her missing husband. She claimed he answered a knock at their door, in Demistan, on Wednesday morning, but never came back.
The family only learnt yesterday that he had been arrested and was being detained by the Public Prosecution.
“At around 3am we heard a strong knock on the house’s door,” said the woman, who asked only to be identified as Umm Hood.
“My husband went to check who it was and I ran to get my Abaya and followed him, but when I reached the door he was gone. I just heard a car leaving.” She claimed she was worried about his health because he suffered chest pains and said their children, aged eight and 10, were constantly asking where he was.
“I had to tell them the truth – his car is parked outside,” she said. “They know he should be here and if he’s at work he’ll drive his car.
“When I told them somebody took your father they stood still – not believing it – and then cried. I felt hopeless.”
She said she contacted several police stations in an effort to locate her husband, but was told that his name had not been entered into the system.
“If he’s not at home and not in police custody, where is he?” she asked.
However, her brother visited the Public Prosecution yesterday where he was told he had been arrested for setting fire to a shack.
No further information was available yesterday and police declined to comment, saying this case had already been forwarded to the Public Prosecution.
basma@gdn.com.bh
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http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/story.asp?Article=242522&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31326
