23 February 2007
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights is extremely concerned to learn that since the beginning of this year four migrant workers have committed suicide in Bahrain.
The BCHR urges that serious and decisive measures are taken to investigate the causes behind such actions, and that steps are taken to work towards preventing such incidents from happening again.
On January 3 an Indian man’s body was discovered after he hung himself from the ceiling fan in his Hoora apartment.
23 February 2007
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights is extremely concerned to learn that since the beginning of this year four migrant workers have committed suicide in Bahrain.
The BCHR urges that serious and decisive measures are taken to investigate the causes behind such actions, and that steps are taken to work towards preventing such incidents from happening again.
On January 3 an Indian man’s body was discovered after he hung himself from the ceiling fan in his Hoora apartment.
On January 20 a 47-year-old Indian man died after throwing himself off the pedestrian bridge.
In the third incident, on January 21, a man’s body was discovered after he hung himself at the Commerce Towers in Manama.
A 49-year-old Bangladeshi man has also been reported as having committed suicide this month. “Suicide attempts are recognized as a cry for help,” BCHR vice president Nabeel Rajab said.
“These tragic events should be heard as an alarm going off in Bahrain and the reasons which led to these men taking their own lives should be investigated.
“Bahrain needs to examine the terrible conditions that migrant workers live in here.
“It is often the case that financial difficulties compounded with loneliness, alienation and miserable living conditions have a very negative psychological effect on migrant workers.
“Both local stakeholders and embassy officials need to take responsibility for protecting the rights of these workers, the most fundamental of which is the right to live – in dignity and health.”
The BCHR calls for an investigation into the situations surrounding the recent multiple suicides.
Based on the investigation’s results, measures should be taken – and implemented – to try and prevent such incidents from recurring.