The BCHR is deeply concerned over the news that Taqi Al-Maidan, (twenty-five years old) who is an American citizen – was sentenced today to ten years in prison. Yousif Abdul Redha (twenty-seven years old) and Ali Al-Bana (twenty-six years old), who are both Bahraini, were also sentenced to ten years on the same charges.
The three young men were accused of attacking a police vehicle while attending a memorial. Al-Maidan denies being present at the scene.
Taqi Al-Maidan was arrested without being shown a warrant on October 7th, 2012 from his home during an early morning house raid conducted by masked members of the security forces in civilian clothing. His mother stated that “They didn’t know what he was wanted for.”
He was subjected to enforced disappearance for approximately twenty four hours, according to his family. Al-Maidan was interrogated without the presence of a lawyer, beaten and forced to stand on one leg for four hours, and reportedly threatened with rape and the rape of his mother if he did not sign a confession stating that he participated in the burning of a police vehicle.
“After four hours of interrogation I confessed to everything, I signed papers even though I had no idea what had been written on them,” Maidan told Reuters through his family. “Out of fear of more beatings, I urinated on myself, and they forced me after signing to speak in front of a camera after making me memorize what to say.”
A previous article from the BCHR regarding Al-Maidan’s arrest in 2012 can be found here: http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5538.
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, and all other close allies and relevant international institutions to pressure the Bahraini authorities to:
- immediately release the individuals sentenced in this case and investigate the allegations of torture and mistreatment
- hold responsible any and all perpetrators found to be responsible for torture, and compensate the victims in a manner that befits their suffering
- release all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners
- immediately end the security force’s illegal practice of warrantless house raids and arrest
Also Read:
Reuters Special Report: In Bahrain, a U.S. prisoner’s dilemma
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Taqi Al-Maidan holds dual American/Bahraini citizenship. Al-Maidan’s family informed the BCHR that he does not have Bahraini citizenship, and is only a citizen of the United States.