29 March 2021

Bahrain Forum and SALAM DHR Update: Prisoners Complain of Hunger and Infected Cases exceed 50

Per the last report, the Bahrain Forum for Human Rights and SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights note in their update on the condition of prisoners infected with COVID-19 an increase in numbers. At the time of writing, it has been confirmed on March 29 that the number of the total infected cases has reached 56. One of the infected cases is the former representative of the Al-Wefaq parliamentary bloc, Sheikh Hassan Eissa. The two organizations have also received several complaints from prisoners of conscience regarding not receiving their meals in sufficient proportions or in a timely manner on par with the other detainees.

One of the detainees has also relayed to his family that the number of infected COVID-19 cases has exceeded 100 cases. As of now, however, the two organization have not been able to obtain the names of the remaining infected cases to be tallied into the final count. This comes at a time when there is no transparency enacted by the official authorities in informing the families of the prisoners of their contracting of the virus.

Amidst their calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, the two organizations also call for the allowance of visits to the prisons and inspections by human rights organizations due to a lack of confidence in the data issued by official authorities.

Problems in Food Provisions

According to a voice message recorded by prisoner of conscience, Abdul Ali Muhammed Khair, on the 28^th of March, breakfast was brought to them at 6:30PM followed by lunch at 8:00PM. The number of meals did not match the number of residents: only 75 meals were delivered, leaving a staggering 76 without food. Dinner was served at 12:30AM.

One of the detainees in Building 23 stated that last night, on Sunday, 28 March, they were not given lunch, but only dinner consisting of soup and bread. Breakfast was served at 1:00PM today.
 

In another prisoner’s testimony, after some prisoners were infected with COVID-19, the meals provided by the prison administration were paltry and not sufficient for adults. For example, a meal could simply consist of a piece of brown toast and a bowl of cereal that weighed no more than 10 grams in portion size, or a small amount of pasta. Whoever objected would be left to face hunger. Another prisoner attested that after the COVID-19 infected cases were confirmed, milk and tea were no longer distributed.

Families Protesting the Grievances: You are Prohibited from Peacefully Gathering in Manama

In the early morning of the 28^th of March, a number of the prisoners’ families picketed in front of the Bahraini Ombudsman calling for the immediate release of their relatives. Employees of the Ombudsman recorded from them the numbers and names of the prisoners.

One of the officers present at the picket said to the families yesterday, “We do not know how Jau Central Prison is run and what their different departments and sections are, but what is important to us is that you do not picket in Manama as it is forbidden to demonstrate in the capital.”

Official Authorities’ Lack in Transparency in informing the Families about the Health Status of their Children

Prisoner Yunis Al-Nassri stated in a voice note that he had been on a hunger strike for four days due to the refusal of the Jau Central Prison administration of his request to checking up on his younger brother, detainee Mansour Al-Nassri, who has been infected with COVID-19. He indicated that his family were not made aware of his brother’s condition or infection by the security authorities. On Sunday, March 28, Yunis was told by an officer that the infected prisoners were separated into cells that no one could get in or out of.

The families of a number of detainees also reported that whenever they tried to find out the results of the medical examination of their families through the electronic application of the Ministry of Health (conscious society), they could not obtain information, and the following phrase would appear to them: A failed entry attempt.

Several families of a number of detainees also reported that whenever they would try to find out the results of their kins’ medical examinations through the Ministry of Health’s online application, Mujtama’ Wa’i (A Conscious Society), they would be unable to obtain any information. The following phrase would appear to them: A failed entry attempt.