Detained Activists Brother Ambushed & Brutally Beaten

Abbas Abdali Attacked by Masked Men and Left Bleeding for Three Hours

Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
Ref: 07070600

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Abbas Abdali Attacked by Masked Men and Left Bleeding for Three Hours

Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
Ref: 07070600

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The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights was greatly concerned upon hearing that Mr. Abbas Abdali, 31 years, Ekr, the brother of the currently detained activist Moosa Abdali (BCHR Ref: 03030300), was brutally beaten by a school near his house at 2 AM on Thursday the 6th of July, 2006. Significantly Mr. Moosa Abdali, the victims brother and active member of the Unemployment Committee, was beaten on the same spot last December by masked men who physically and sexually assaulted him, and who threatened him of assaulting members of his family should he continue in his activities (BCHR Ref: 04020603). Mr. Moosa is currently in prison in relations to what has become known as the “Dana Mall” case.

The incident, as related to the BCHR by the victim, happened while he was on his way home to his home in Ekr from Sitra Village at approximately 2 AM. He was surprised to find a parked Mitsubishi car by a high school fence close to his house, and slowed his car down to check what the problem was due to the fact that its door was open. Just as he was stopping a Range Rover came from behind and blocked his way, making his car skid. A masked man ( wearing mask similar to the one used by the riot police) came out of the car and asked him if he was the brother of Moosa Abdali, when he confirmed, he found himself surrounded by 8-9 cars driven by masked men in the traditional “Thub” clothing. After the question the masked man who enquired gave Mr. Abdali a hit on the head with a wooden stick and dragged him out of the car, where the rest of the group joined in beating him with wooden sticks, and according to Mr. Abdali a sharp object. The beating was directed at his head mostly, and his back and legs. After loosing consciousness resulting from a blow to the neck Mr. Abdali only regained conscience around 5 AM after an Asian worker tried to wake him. He barely made it home in his car, which had been left running all night. He was received by his mother and wife who took him to the hospital where he recieved stitches in more than one place in his head. He currently suffers from back pain, hearing problems, dizziness due to the blows recieved to the head and pain in his legs (Kindly find pictures attached).

The family have filed a case with the police station and enquiries are being made, but the BCHR finds itself concern as to the outcomes of these enquiries due to the fact that similar ones were made after Moosa Abdalis case and nothing came out of it. Mr. Moosa suspended his cooperation with the authorities a while after the assault and stated that the Public Prosecutors Office was “neither a neutral body nor does it have any serious intentions about disclosing the truth of this case”(attached a copy of the statement).

The BCHR calls once again for an urgent intervention to protect activists and their family members in Bahrain. It is regretful that incidents such as these are happening repetitively with no serious enquiries being made nor any individuals charged or held responsible.

Nabeel Rajab
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
+973 39633399

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