Pair ‘sharing jail with Aids patients’
By Mohammed Aslam
Published: 15 January 2007
TWO BAHRAINIS arrested for allegedly distributing subversive literature are being forced to share a cell with hardened and diseased prisoners, they claimed in court yesterday.
“We have been placed in a cell with drug addicts, criminals and prisoners who are sick and are suffering from dangerous diseases like Aids, hepatitis and other communicable diseases,” said one of the defendants, a 35-year-old dentist.
“We request the court to shift us from this cell to another cell.”
Lower Criminal Court judge Ahmed Abdulkhaliq rejected the plea, saying it was not the court’s responsibility.
Pair ‘sharing jail with Aids patients’
By Mohammed Aslam
Published: 15 January 2007
TWO BAHRAINIS arrested for allegedly distributing subversive literature are being forced to share a cell with hardened and diseased prisoners, they claimed in court yesterday.
“We have been placed in a cell with drug addicts, criminals and prisoners who are sick and are suffering from dangerous diseases like Aids, hepatitis and other communicable diseases,” said one of the defendants, a 35-year-old dentist.
“We request the court to shift us from this cell to another cell.”
Lower Criminal Court judge Ahmed Abdulkhaliq rejected the plea, saying it was not the court’s responsibility.
“Your lawyer could write a letter to the prison authorities or Public Prosecution and request them to make different arrangements for you,” said the judge.
“It is not the responsibility of the court to do that.”
The judge adjourned the case until January 31,when he said he would issue a verdict.
The dentist and his co-defendant, a 32-year-old insurance sales executive, were further remanded in custody until then.
They were arrested on November 16 and have been in custody throughout.
The men are also charged with encouraging people to seek changes to the political system through illegitimate means.
Both defendants were in court, as their lawyer Mr Mohammed Ahmed submitted defence papers.
The 35-year-old defendant told the court that he and his colleague were simply exercising their freedom of expression.
He cited several verses from the Holy Quran, which he said were clearly in support of freedom of expression.
Several parliament members from Al Wefaq National Islamic Society attended the court hearing, to show their solidarity with the defendants.
They included Mohammed Jameel Al Jamri, Abdulhussain Al Mutaqawi, Jalal Fairoz, Abdulla Al A’ali and Jassim Hussain.
Dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights president Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and vice-president Nabeel Rajab were also there. The Al Haq Movement of Liberties and Democracy has appealed to the United Nations to intervene in the case.
© Gulf Daily News