On 27 July the Kingdom of Bahrain executed three individuals convicted in two separate cases, according to a statement issued by the Public Prosecutor who did not identify them. Human rights groups have identified two of the individuals as Ali Al Arab and Ahmed Al Malali who were both sentenced to death in a mass trial on 31 January 2018 on terrorism-related charges. Mr. Al Malali was sentenced in absentia. The identity of the third individual is currently unknown.
The executions took place despite reported concerns that the convictions were based on confessions extracted under torture.
The death penalty is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.
No compelling evidence exists showing that the death penalty has a deterrent effect on crime or terrorism and any miscarriages of justice are irreversible.
The European Union is unequivocally opposed to the use of capital punishment in all circumstances and calls on the Kingdom of Bahrain to introduce a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolition.
— — Gaelle Dusepulchre Permanent representative to the EU FIDH / International Federation for Human Rights Rue de la Linière 15 – 1060 Bruxelles Tel : + 32 2 609 44 21 / GSM: + 32 479 49 19 59 www.fidh.org Follow FIDH/EU on Twitter