BFHR’s panel on Torture in Bahrain: Torture is Rampant in Light of the Culture of Impunity

The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR) organised a panel on the sidelines of the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council, entitled: "Bahrain on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture".

Hussein Noah, chairman of BFHR’s monitoring unit pointed to the documentation of more than 25 forms of torture that caused permanent disabilities for some prisoners of conscience, followed by deliberate medical negligence and a systematic cover-up in which official authorities were involved, in violation of international and local laws. Noah highlighted the severe torture that Sheikh Abdul Jalil Al-Miqdad was subjected to, as well as what prisoners of conscience were subjected to in Qurain Military Prison. The forum demanded their immediate release and reparations.

In turn, Ibtisam Al-Saegh, on behalf of Salam Organisation for Democracy and Human Rights, emphasized that those involved in torture should not escape punishment, but should be held accountable; the victims, especially human rights activists and political opponents, should be supported.  Al-Saegh drew attention to the systematic patterns of torture documented in BICI’s 2011 report, which have persisted up to day due to the absence of accountability, and despite the Bahraini government’s signing of the Convention against Torture.  Al-Saegh reviewed the suffering of minor A.A., who was subjected during his arrest to heinous forms of torture with the aim of pressuring him to sign fabricated confessions, pointing out that this case will have a psychological and social reflection that accompanies him throughout his life. She added that the official watchdogs -concerned with redressing the victims- are involved in violations against prisoners of conscience, especially minors, who are subjected to threats, extortion, medical neglect and targeting. Besides, she reviewed the cases of prisoners of conscience, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Dr.  Abdul Jalil Al-Singace and other rights defenders and the systematic medical neglect they face.  Al-Saegh added that she, in turn, was subjected to sexual assault and torture, and instead of investigating her case, she was arrested, as the official institutions underestimated her suffering, which confirms the lack of seriousness of their mechanisms. Al-Saegh also noted that political detainees, who are currently held in Jau Prison’s solitary confinement, are subjected to unfair methods of torture because of revealing the violations they are subjected to.  At the end of her intervention, Al-Saegh called on the government of Bahrain to respond to the request of the UN rapporteur on torture to visit the country and observe the state of prisons.  She further called for a retrial of all those whose trials were based on false accusations extracted under torture; redress for victims of torture and reparation; immediate release of all prisoners of conscience, especially the sick and the elderly.

In the same context, Taha Al-Hajji, on behalf of the European-Saudi Organisation for Human Rights, stressed that the reality is very different from what Saudi Arabia claims in international forums.  He said that the organisation documented many cases of torture in which official bodies were involved, as this is accompanied by cases of enforced disappearance that extend for more than 15 years.  Al-Hajji touched on what the recent victims of torture and arbitrary execution, Jaafar and Thamer Sultan, were subjected to as the Saudi judiciary ignored their assertion that their confessions were coerced, and that they were denied legal representation.  He stressed that both were subjected to a systematic system of torture in the absence of supervision and impunity for those involved.  Al-Hajji pointed out that the families of the victims are not spared psychological torture and deliberate methods of recovery in revenge, as they are prevented from bidding farewell to their loved ones and handing over their bodies.

For his part, Ali Muhanna, a victim of torture & father of political detainee, talked about his summoning today for interrogation protesting in solidarity with his son Hussain Muhanna after 321 days (11 months) have passed since he was isolated in prison.  He revealed that the police threatened to transfer his file to the Public Prosecution Office if he continued to do so under the pretext of "igniting security confusion."  Muhanna confirmed that his son was subjected to a documented ill treatment while he is completely isolated from the outside world, in addition to being restrained, under the eyes of official bodies. He added that all the cases on which his son was tried were based on fabricated charges and confessions extracted under severe torture, and they are continuing as the prison administration deliberately provokes him on a permanent basis.  Muhanna pointed out that the procedures of government oversight bodies are futile, while the parliament ignores the cases of political detainees; this pushes him to continue his peaceful movement in support of the grievances of his son and other prisoners of conscience.

Abd al-Ilah bin Abd al-Salam, coordinator of the Moroccan Coalition of Human Rights Organisations, explained that torture and other forms of inhumane treatment are a danger that must be fought and its perpetrators must be held accountable in order to preserve human dignity and uphold international laws.  He added that, in light of the prevalence of acts of torture, this phenomenon must be addressed and tolerated constitutionally and at all levels, so that states would implement on the ground what they had ratified in terms of conventions.  Abdul Salam continued that Bahrain’s detainees are subjected to torture, and unfair sentences are issued against them because of their demand for their freedom. The influential governments are also complicit in protecting the interests of tyrannical regimes, so they resort to handing over opponents, which requires collaboration between human rights organizations.  At the end of his intervention, he recalled the Palestinian detainees in the occupation prisons and the systematic violations they are subjected to.

As for the mother of the prisoner of conscience, Hussein Al-Sahlawi, she confirmed that Hussein was targeted and bitterly persecuted before his arrest and was unfairly prosecuted before the military court, followed by systematic medical neglect that led to serious health repercussions and ill-treatment in solitary confinement.  She added that he had been personally exposed to several health complications because of what her son exposed to, stressing that government monitoring bodies are ignores his current urgent need for an emergency surgery.  She asked, "How long will international organizations remain silent about the suffering of prisoners of conscience in Bahrain and the slow death and liquidation they are subjected to?"

The aunt of the victim of torture and arbitrary execution, Abbas Al-Samea, for her part, recounted the systematic persecution and rights violations that Al-Samea Family has been subjected to - since the 1990s.  She added that Abbas had been arbitrarily prosecuted and executed because of his peaceful and fruitful activism, as the court ignored evidence of his innocence before his execution, and this is the case of Bahraini families whose beloved ones are subjected to collective reprisals just for their peaceful demands for their rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution.