The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) is seriously concerned over the health and wellbeing of Ali Hassan Ahmed Issa (45 years old) from Maameer, who is mentally challenged and suffers from epilepsy, and was arrested on the 11th of August 2013. He was at first given detention order for one month pending investigation on charges related to begging, and after a court order of release, Al-Naeem Police Station refused to release him and the judge changed his verdict to two months imprisonment.
On Sunday, August 11, 2013 his family received a call from Al-Naeem Police Station informing them that Ali is there and asking them to bring his identification card stating that he was sentenced in a case. After two days the family headed to the police station to ask about him when they informed them that he is at the psychiatric hospital. When they went to the psychiatric hospital, they denied his presence and informed them that he is at the emergency unit of Salmaniya hospital. When the family went to Salmaniya, they saw him but the security guards prevented them from going near him. The following day, Monday, 12th of August 2013, he was taken to the psychiatric hospital. His sister informed BCHR that his condition is not stable, and after a family visit, he was trying to walk out with the family because he is not aware of what is happening.
The hospital administration has informed them that he will not be taken out of the hospital until they receive an order from the court. His sister stated that they went to the Public Prosecution more than once where they were informed that Ali will stay to serve the two month sentence on charges of begging. They later headed to Al-Wasat headquarter and wrote about the issue, and later the family received a reply from the Public Prosecution stating that he is still not convicted but held on remand awaiting trial . On Wednesday, September 11, he had a verdict session and after the judge ordered his release on bail of one hundred Bahraini Dinars, the administration of AlNaeem Police Station still refused to release him. After the family went to review the court again, the judge changed the sentence to two months imprisonment, and Ali was transferred to Jaw Central Prison to serve the rest of his sentence.
On Wednesday, September 19, 2013, Ali’s family informed BCHR that they received a call from Jaw Prison informing them that Hassan was transferred to the psychiatric hospital, and informed them that visits are banned because he is serving his sentence.
Based on the above, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights demands the following:
- Immediate and unconditional release of Ali Hassan.
- Provide Ali Hassan with the necessary psychological and medical treatment he needs.
- Fair and impartial investigation into the incident of Al-Naeem Police Station refusal of abiding by the judge’s release orders, and the incident of the judge changing the verdict, and to hold all those responsible accountable including senior officials.