House Raids in Bahrain Continue Using Same Methods Described in the BICI Report in 2011
The BCHR is gravely concerned about the practice of home raids that security forces are conducting on a near nightly basis. The BCHR has outlined some cases below as recent examples, but it is important to note that this is just a sample of this large-scale practice.
The specific circumstances of each raid vary, but in general, the raids follow a certain pattern in which a large group of security men in civilian clothing, usually wearing masks, enter a private home between the hours of 1:00 and 5:00 am to conduct arrests and confiscate private property. The arrests are normally made without a warrant. Those detained are sometimes subjected to enforced disappearance for periods that last up to four days, and are at times taken and interrogated at the public prosecution without presence of lawyers.
On 4 June 2013, several homes were raided in Manama and Noaim; at least 8 persons were arrested.
Isa Salem Al-Shammae’s home was one of the homes raided at dawn on 04 June 2013 by masked men, believed to be from the CID (where most are taken after arrest), in civilian clothing who kidnapped him from his room. The men confiscated two laptops, more than ten hard drives, two mobile phones, an iPad and flash memory sticks. Some of his other personal property was damaged. Isa telephoned his family at 10:30pm on the same day of his arrest to say that he was being taken to the Dry Dock prison the following day.
Habib Mukhtar AbdAli Al-Saffar’s home was raided at 01:30am on 04 June 2013 after masked men in civilian clothing accompanied by security forces broke the front door. They also broke the door to Habib’s room and took him away. They reportedly stole BHD 385, and confiscated two mobile phones. Habib’s wife was beaten when she attempted to retrieve her husband from the security forces. The family was threatened not to report any damages.
Upon leaving the home, Habib’s sister followed the men outside and demanded that they release her brother. One of the officers reportedly assaulted her by hitting her on the shoulder with his weapon. The family called many police stations, but was repeatedly told that he is not in their custody. Habib called at 10:30pm the same evening and stated that he was in the CID building, and that he would be taken to the Dry Docks prison the following day.
Mohammed Maher Abdulla Ahmed’s home was raided at dawn on 04 June 2013. Mohammed was at home alone studying for final exam the next morning when masked men in civilian clothing accompanied by security forces broke into his home. His brother reported that when he returned to home, he found the front door was broken, and the contents in their home had been tampered with; his brother gone. Three hundred Bahraini dinars were reportedly stolen from their home, and a jar containing coins was broken and the money was taken. Mohammed telephoned at 10:30pm to state that he was in the CID building and would be taken to the Dry Docks prison the following day.
Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Al-Aali was arrested from his home at dawn on Tuesday 04 June 2013. The front door to the house was broken, and masked men in civilian clothing accompanied by security forces forcefully entered to arrest Ahmed. They confiscated a laptop computer, children’s toys, and a recorder used for religious ceremonies. He was taken to the Noaim detention center. He was released on 6 June 2013.
In Noaim, 5 houses were raided on the same night (4 June 2013) at 3am after midnight. Masked men in civilian clothing accompanied by security forces broke into the home of AlSekri family, entering from the roof, and arrested Abdulla Mahmood (17) who was staying in his grandfather’s house. Masked men in civilian clothing accompanied by security forces also broke the doors of other homes and arrested Abbas Marhoon (18) and Qassim Hamada (22), searched and vandalized the properties of the houses, without presenting any warrant for search and arrest. Women and children were terrorized during the process, as the security forces reportedly used obscene language. Both Abdulla and Abbas are students and were studying for their final exams which started the next morning. When the relatives went to ask about the detainees at Noaim police station the police denied having them and refused to give any information about their whereabouts. It was only after approximately 40 hours that the families received brief calls from their detained sons.
House Raids in BICI Report
The practice and methods of house raids were clearly described during the period of investigation conducted by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry as stated in their report
“1172. Between 21 March and 15 April 2011, Bahrain security forces systematically raided houses in order to arrest individuals, and in so doing terrified the occupants. The security forces intentionally broke down doors, forcibly entered and sometimes ransacked the houses. This practice was often accompanied by sectarian insults and verbal abuse.”
These methods were confirmed as violations to international human rights law and Bahrain law:
“1178. In conclusion, the Commission finds that a substantial number of the arrests made pursuant to the pattern described above violated international human rights law and Bahrain law. In particular, security forces carried out the arrests without presenting an arrest or search warrant. The Commission finds that in many cases, the manner in which the arrest was performed involved unnecessary excessive force, accompanied by terror-inspiring behaviour on the part of the security forces in addition to unnecessary damage to property. All of these factors reveal a failure to follow the appropriate procedures identified by the MoI and NSA. In regard to the seizure of items in connection to arrest, the agencies involved did not provide any records of the seized items. The Commission investigators were also not informed of any investigation commenced by the respective agencies on the basis of complaints by the persons arrested or members of their families. This evidences a pattern of disregard for violations of any procedures that may have existed as well as disregard for Bahrain law and international human rights law pertaining to fairness and due process in connection with arrests.”
The BICI concluded that:
“1179. Furthermore, the very fact that a systematic pattern of behaviour existed indicates that this is how these security forces were trained and how they were expected to act. This could not have happened without the knowledge of higher echelons of the command structure of the MoI and NSA.
1180. The failure to investigate these practices effectively, and the failure to take adequate measures to prevent violations by security forces, could constitute the basis for superior responsibility.”
The continued practice of violations confirmed and documented by BICI and acknowledged by the government of Bahrain shows the continued disregard and failure of the Government of Bahrain in applying the least forms of reform, even in regards to international standards for methods of arrest. This is in large due to the culture of impunity practiced at the highest levels in Bahrain; and the culture of impunity Bahrain enjoys internationally despite their on-going human rights violations.
It is important to note that torture and ill treatment usually take place during periods of enforced disappearance, and the BCHR, along with the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, have previously written about how the Central Information Department has taken over the role of the National Security Apparatus and is known to practice torture. (Read: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5739)
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights demands that:
- The authorities immediately cease the illegal practice of arresting individuals without warrants during night raids on their homes.
- The Bahraini government to show respect to its own laws in regards to arrests and home search, as well as international laws and standards.
- To immediately put an end to the practice of enforced disappearances of detainees after their arrest and to guarantee right to access to family, lawyer and due procedure after arrest.
- To hold accountable all those, including at the highest levels of authority, who participate in human rights violations and/or allow them to occur their supervision or knowledge.