The BCHR appeals to the international organizations to pursue the torturers
Torture victim Sheikh AlMahroos handcuffed in a hospital bed
4 Oct 2010
Despite the implemented gag order on the news of the detainees and their conditions, there have been more reports about injuries inflicted on them while in the custody of the National Security Apparatus. The new reports are of many injuries which the detainees, who are political activists, human rights defenders and religious leaders, are suffering from. The head of the human rights office in Haq, Dr. AbdulJalil Alsingace, has been seriously injured because of continuous beating to his head, causing ear drum damage which requires emergency surgery. However, the National Security is not only preventing medical attention, but also still detaining Dr. AlSingace in solitary confinement and depriving him of his wheelchair and crutches, which he depends on for his movement. The dentist, and member of Bahrain Center for Human Rights , Dr. Mohammed Saeed, has complained of hearing loss as well, resulting from blows to his ears. He also complained of sharp pains in his ribcage, which could be the result of fractures in his ribs because of the beatings he received on his chest. Sheikh Mirza AlMahroos has been admitted to ward 21 in the military hospital, under special guards, after he had an urgent colonoscopy surgery. Sheikh Mirza had been beaten and kicked in the stomach during torture, which resulted in severe bleeding in the colon which he had been suffering from. Sheikh AlMahroos has been tortured severely, as revenge for his complaint to the public prosecution that his first confession was incorrect, that it was the result of torture and being forced to admit to things that never happened.
The BCHR appeals to the international organizations to pursue the torturers
Torture victim Sheikh AlMahroos handcuffed in a hospital bed
4 Oct 2010
Despite the implemented gag order on the news of the detainees and their conditions, there have been more reports about injuries inflicted on them while in the custody of the National Security Apparatus. The new reports are of many injuries which the detainees, who are political activists, human rights defenders and religious leaders, are suffering from. The head of the human rights office in Haq, Dr. AbdulJalil Alsingace, has been seriously injured because of continuous beating to his head, causing ear drum damage which requires emergency surgery. However, the National Security is not only preventing medical attention, but also still detaining Dr. AlSingace in solitary confinement and depriving him of his wheelchair and crutches, which he depends on for his movement. The dentist, and member of Bahrain Center for Human Rights , Dr. Mohammed Saeed, has complained of hearing loss as well, resulting from blows to his ears. He also complained of sharp pains in his ribcage, which could be the result of fractures in his ribs because of the beatings he received on his chest. Sheikh Mirza AlMahroos has been admitted to ward 21 in the military hospital, under special guards, after he had an urgent colonoscopy surgery. Sheikh Mirza had been beaten and kicked in the stomach during torture, which resulted in severe bleeding in the colon which he had been suffering from. Sheikh AlMahroos has been tortured severely, as revenge for his complaint to the public prosecution that his first confession was incorrect, that it was the result of torture and being forced to admit to things that never happened.
After a phone call made by the British foreign secretary to the crown prince of Bahrain, the consul at the British Embassy was allowed to visit the activist Jaffar Hesabi, who holds both Bahraini and British citizenships. However, the British embassy has not made any statements so far about the allegations of torture or whether Hesabis arrest and detention procedures have been compatible with legal and international standards. The BCHR believes that exposing the crimes of torture is a moral responsibility, it is therefore unacceptable to hide or be silent about it. The BCHR also appeals that this crime, which is considered a crime against humanity, not be covered up for the sake of the UK economic interests. Hesabi has complained of being hung from his arms, which lead to the swelling of his legs and caused the severe flaying of the skin on his arms, and almost loosing the sense of touch because of the disruption caused to the nerves and tissues of his hands after beatings and torture. He has been blindfolded and handcuffed throughout the whole period of detention and torture. He was also prevented from sleeping for days and was beaten on his head, back, and legs with a hard plastic rod.
It must be noted that article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Visible signs of torture on Hesabis wrist, after more than a month had passed
Since the end of 2006 systematic torture against political detainees and human rights defenders has been used again, however since August 2010 it has reached new unprecedented levels especially after the security file has been handed over to the National Security Apparatus or other unknown groups.
The BCHR believes that one of the reasons for the return of torture is the failure of the victims and human rights organizations to hold any of the violators of human rights from the previous era accountable. This failure stems from the governments decision to protect the perpetrators of torture, and give them immunity with the so called Decree 56 of the year 2002. This puts the perpetrators under the impression that they are safe from legal prosecution and therefore fear no consequences.
Detainee visitation rights
After more than a month and a half since their arrest, the Bahraini authorities represented by the National Security Apparatus, are still preventing detainees from meeting their lawyers. Some families have been allowed to visit their detained sons but only after difficult procedures and conditions. Some of these conditions are that the family must not speak to the detainees of what is happening outside their prison cell, including what is being published about them and the details of their detention, and the course of the investigation. They have also been warned not to ask the detainees about the conditions of the prison and the treatment they are receiving, or if they have been subjected to torture. They have also been prevented from making any attempts to detect signs of torture on the body of the detainee. The same information was delivered to the detainees, which was very clear from their answers stating that they have been threatened with torture if they do not abide by the instructions given to them before the meeting, on what they are allowed and not allowed to say on these visits. It has been observed that all of them repeated the same statements using the same wording and order, making it very clear that they are “eating well, clothed well, treated well and need nothing” except their appearance said otherwise. Censorship was very tight during these visits, especially with the presence of five to ten intelligence officers sitting on the same table, for the entire visit, with every detainee and his family, and two officers standing directly behind the detainee to direct (and remind) him of what is allowed or forbidden to be said. The two families of AlMuqdad and AlMkhoudar were forced to leave in the first few minutes because they had told the detainee that his lawyer sends his regards or asked about the date of his trial. The general impression of all the visiting families is the detainees state of panic and physical condition, difficulty hearing and walking were visible on most detainees.
The BCHR appeals to all local, regional and international institutions for technical, legal and material assistance to stop the crimes of torture in Bahrain, through prosecution and bringing those responsible and perpetrators of crimes of torture to International tribunals or the courts in some European countries whose jurisdiction includes crimes that occur outside its borders, especially since some of those responsible for torture have later become ambassadors in some these European countries.
The Center calls upon the international community, especially the governments who are friendly with the government of Bahrain, such as the United States and the United Kingdom and the rest of the European countries, to use their relations to urge the Bahraini authorities to stop the violations of human rights, especially the crimes of torture.