Photo: Marks of beatings on one of the minors’ back

Photo: Cigarette burns on victims arm

Photo: Marks of beatings on the arm of one of the victims 

Photo: Marks of beatings on the victim

 

Similar incidents happened this week in AlMuqsha village where a young man was abducted and reportedly severely beaten in the police jeep where he was forced to chant “the king is a crown on my head” and then was dumped in a farm in Karrana. The Bahraini Authorities continue to claim to the local and international human rights organizations that their interrogation rooms are fully equipped with recording cameras to assure that no illegal activities are conducted by the police forces while interrogating. Yet, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights continues receive and document cases of alarming incidents both inside and outside the official premises including farms and stables that have turned into torture centers. In many cases citizens are being abducted, severely beaten sometimes to the extent of torture, then dropped off in different areas without being taken to police stations.

 

It is important to note here that the Ministry of Interior called the BCHR and asked that the victims of abductions report to the MOI for investigation. While the BCHR passes the message to the victims and their families, we understand why victims refuse to report to the MOI due to the continuous culture of impunity, which fails the victims, and at times even turns them into the culprits. The BCHR has previoulsy documented cases in which victims who came forward with complaints then themselves faced targeting, harassment and at times even trials. 

 

Based on the above, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the US, UK, the United Nations and all other allies and international institutions to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to:

 

- Conducting prompt and impartial investigations in the cases of abduction and mistreatment.

 

- Immediately put an end to all forms of torture and verbal assaults.

 

- End the culture of impunity and hold accountable all those accused of conducting, overseeing or enabling torture and mistreatment; including senior government officials who, if not directly supervising the violations, are involved in the protection of the violators.

March 29th, 2013

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses grave concern over the detention and sentencing of 16 Bahraini citizens to 15 years imprisonment without clear evidence of the charges brought against them. The authorities in Bahrain have been arbitrarily arresting, detaining and sentencing citizens from protest areas in sham trials.

The Ministry of Interior claims that in July 2012 a police patrol was attacked in an attempt to kill policemen. A MOI vehicle was burned and no causalities or injuries were announced by the ministry. The event was followed by an arrest campaign in a nearby village and many were taken into custody.

On 21 March 2013, the higher criminal court sentenced 16, some of them minors, to 15 years' imprisonment and BD10,508 fine after charging them with attempted murder of policemen while on duty, arson of a vehicle owned by the MOI, illegal gathering and possession of Molotov cocktails.

The BCHR documentation and monitoring team met with some of the families of the 16 sentenced to document their cases:

Ahmed Yousif is only 16 years old. He was arrested after his house was raided early morning on 15 July 2012. Ahmed was reportedly beaten and tortured during arrest and interrogation in roundabout 17 - Hamad Town police station.

Hussain Mohammed, 17 years old, was kidnapped by a civilian car on 10 July 2012 when he was with his friend in their neighborhood. His family searched for him but did not hear from him until many hours later. According to his family, Hussain was tortured at the police station and in a prison visit he told them not to talk about the political situation because they record the conversations and whoever discusses such topics is then reportedly subjected to beatings and torture.

Mohammed Jaffer, 17 years old, was arrested after his house was raided by masked civilians. He was reportedly severely beaten in front of his mother, then taken to an unknown destination. The public prosecution ordered his release, however, when he was taken to roundabout 17, Hamad town police station, he was charged in this case and taken back to custody. Mohammed was transferred to Jaw prison a day before his verdict session.

Ali Hussain Al Dubaisy, 21 years old, was in hiding for some time. On 23 July 2012, after leaving his family’s house, he was stopped by 3 civilian cars and kidnapped. His family heard about his disappearance from neighbors. His father called him several times and went to the police station asking about Ali but he was told that he is not in their custody. At midnight, the family received a call from Hamad town police station. Ali was reportedly subjected to torture. He underwent a surgical operation in his legs which wasn’t successful and requires another operation. The prison administration refuses to take him to the hospital for his second scheduled surgery.

Mohammed Ali Abdulhussain, 19 years old, was arrested by civilian cars on 10 July 2012. His family learned of his arrest from social media, went to the nearby police station to ask about their son but they denied having him. After 4 days, they were called by the police station to bring Mohammed’s identity card and clothes. He was taken to the public prosecution on the fifth day of his arrest then transferred to the dry dock prison. His house was raided several times and family members threatened.

Ali Mohammed Sultan, 20 years old, was arrested when his house was raided on 15 July 2012 by masked civilians. He was reportedly beaten and then taken to Hamad town – roundabout 17 police station. He was taken to the public prosecution after 2 days without a lawyer. His family says that they did not hear from him until their first visit when he told them that he was reportedly tortured and beaten, including hearing his brother, who was arrested previously then released, being tortured. He was then transferred to Jaw prison.

Ali Salman Laith, 21 years old, was arrested from a checkpoint in Karzakan. He was taken to criminal investigation where he was reportedly beaten and tortured.

Hasan Salman Laith, 29 years old, was arrested while leaving his in-law’s house. After 3 days his family received a call from the police station. According to his family, he was taken to Hamad Town police station where he was blindfolded for 3 days until he was taken to the public prosecution. He was reportedly subjected to physical and psychological torture and threatened to be electrocuted and sexually assaulted. Hasan told his family that officer Sultan A Qatam told him “we know that you are not involved in this case but you have participated in protests. And you have to confess that you participated in the case and sign on the names of the people involved or it will be the last day of your life”.

There have been many cases of a similar nature with charges of attacking police patrols, explosions and possession of explosive materials that the MOI has been announcing since 14 Feb 2011. Most of these cases have no causalities or even injuries reported, and the majority have no witnesses amongst citizens; however, they are followed by arbitrary arrest campaigns and sentencing to years of imprisonment without providing substantial evidence, such as Al Eker case where 17 were sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment last April, as well as the case of the 3 defendants in the case of possession of 5 tons explosive material who are reportedly subjected to severe ill-treatment and torture. (http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5638)

The BCHR believes that the authorities arbitrary arrests, detention and sentencing of citizens in villages where protests take place is part of the suppression of the pro-democracy movement in Bahrain and their policy of collective punishment.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the UN and all other close allies and international institutions to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to immediately release all political prisoners and to drop all fabricated charges against them, provide all defendants with fair and independent trials according to international standards and put an end to targeting of citizens of villages for demanding democracy and human rights.

http://bhmirror.no-ip.org/article.php?id=8408&cid=73&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Bahrain

http://www.alwasatnews.com/3849/news/read/754244/1.html

Photo: Taleb Ali, pictured second from right, with other men charged in his case.

March 28th, 2013

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its deepest concern over the biased judicial system in Bahrain that is used by the authorities as a reprisal tool against dissidents who bring attention to human rights abuses. Taleb Ali has been forbidden from attending future sessions of his own trial because he attempted to draw attention to the torture he has been subjected to by government officials during a court session on March 26th.

In November 2012, an undeclared martial law was imposed on Mahazza village in Sitra. Many checkpoints were established by the security forces and civilian militias; armored vehicles were deployed at the village's main entrances. During the days of siege, the BCHR documented nearly 100 house raids and approximately 25 arrests. (Read more about the Mahazza siege: http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5536)

Taleb Ali was among those kidnapped during the Mahazza siege, on 14 November 2012. His family did not know his whereabouts at the time, and only later they discovered that he was arrested from his car and taken for investigation. Taleb, like hundreds of other political prisoners, was subjected to physical and psychological torture. (Read more about the case here: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5563

In his latest court hearing, on March 26th, Taleb informed the judge that he was tortured in the investigation building and in the public prosecution office, and was forced into signing a confession, which resulted in his transfer to the BDF hospital. Taleb stated that Ahmed Bucheeri, of the public prosecution, threatened to have him killed and threw an ash tray at him when Taleb refused to confess on the false charges. He said that he incident took place in Fahad Al-Buaineen's office on the 7th floor. In his court hearing, Taleb demanded and investigation, and protection from his torturers who told him that no lawyer can help him and that he shouldn't rely on the court as the verdict is determined by the public prosecutors, and not the judge. As a result, the judge in the case held Taleb in contempt of court and forbid him of attending future session.[1]

Both Taleb Ali and Sayed Ahmed Al-Majed stand accused of establishing a terrorist cell, amongst other charges. Seven others are charged with joining the cell. All defendants denied all charges and their lawyers presented evidence and witnesses in support of their innocence. Their next court session is scheduled for April 17th. [2]

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the UN and all other allies and international institutions to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to:

1. Release all political prisoners and drop all trumped up charges against them.

2. Hold all those responsible for torture and ill-treatment of prisoners responsible

3. Reform the judicial system so that it is up to international standards of fair and independent trials.

23rd March 2013

Human rights defender Said Yousif Al-Muhafdha, was arrested in Bahrain on Sat 23 Mar 2013, after he participated in a solidarity stand for detained human rights defender Nabeel Rajab. He was released on a bail of 100 BHD.

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) express it’s grave concern over the continued attacks on human rights defenders with arrest and intimidation, as well as attacks on freedom assembly and expression.

Photo : Solidarity Protest for Nabeel Rajab in France – 23rd March 2013

A global solidarity campaign for Nabeel Rajab entitled Don’t Forget Nabeel started on March 21st, and protests of solidarity took place in several countries including Egypt, the US, the UK and France. However, the solidarity protest scheduled in Bahrain was declined by the Bahraini authorities without cause. In an act of civil disobedience, people peacefully gathered up in Saar village where it was scheduled, aiming to march to Nabeel Rajab’s House in Bani Jamra Village.

Solidarity Protest with HRD Nabeel Rajab infront of Bahrain Embassy - USA

As per the usual practice by the Ministry of Interior, the riot police surrounded the Saar village area armed with teargas canisters, sound bombs and rubber bullets to attack any gathering. Said Yousif Al-Muhafdha, the Acting Vice President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, and the Head of Documentation was standing peacefully along with the members of Rajab's family holding a banner calling for Rajab’s release. They were not were not causing any kind of disruption to the road traffic as they were standing to the side of the road. Al-Muhafdha was arrested after a short discussion with the police. The police fired on the small group and hit the head and ankle of Nabeel Rajab’s wife Sumaya Rajab with 2 rubber bullets.

Photo: Teargasing Saar Area, Near Nabeel Solidarity Protest

Al-Muhafdha was taken to the Budiya police station where he was interrogated about participating in the protest and an order was made to hold him overnight and take him to the public prosecution on Sunday on charges of illegal gathering. He was released on bail, but the charges have not been dropped.

This is not the first time Said Yousif was arrested for peacefully exercising his right to of freedom of expression and assembly, or for simply doing his job as a human rights defender. He has spent several weeks in detention, and he was prosecuted on other occasions, most recently for a tweet.

Photo : Family of HRD Nabeel Rajab, Said Yousif and Activists in Solidarity with Nabeel

The BCHR believes that Said Yousif Al-Muhafdha has been targeted mainly due to his human rights activities in reporting and documenting human rights violations. His arbitrary detention is intended to suspend these legitimate activities, at a time that other leading human rights defenders are also imprisoned, including the co-founder of the BCHR and GCHR Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and the President of the BCHR and Director of GCHR Nabeel Rajab.

The BCHR reiterates its call on the United States, the United Kingdom, the UN and all other close allies and international institutions to put pressure on the Bahraini authorities to:

1. Immediately drop all charges against human rights defender Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdhah. The BCHR believes that these measures have been taken against him solely due to his legitimate and peaceful work in defense of human rights, and freedom of expression in accordance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;


2. Immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience and activists including leading human rights defenders Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Nabeel Rajab and Zainab Al-Khawaja.

3. Immediately stop all actions that restrict freedom of opinion and expression, or prevent the transmission of information online.


4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Bahrain are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

24th March 2013

UPDATE: Both Abdulhadi and his daughter Zainab Al-Khawaja were denied family visits again this weekend, prompting them to start a dry hunger strike today. Zainab Al-Khawaja was told by doctors that she is at risk of organ failure, cardiac arrest or coma at any time. Her blood sugar has dropped to 2 on several occasion in the last two days.

 

"Zainab Al-Khawaja is reportedly having severe hypoglymia with HGT measurements reaching 2. Her family reported that she sounded fatigued, said she was suffering loss of memory and concentration. Having initiated a dry hunger strike now, including no intake of glucose, will put her at high risk of sudden onset arrythmias loss of consciousness and possibly death especially that she is in a detention center were no cardiac monitor or cardiac resucitation service is available" - Dr. Fatima Haji, Internal Medicine Specialist.

 

21 March 2013

 

UPDATE: The BCHR has received information that Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja's health continues to deteriorate. Prison officials refuse to take him to the hospital for treatment because he will not wear the prison uniform. Because Al-Khawaja is a prisoner of conscience, he has thus far not been required to wear the prison uniform, as is standard for criminal prisoners. The BCHR reminds the prison authorities that, as Bahrain is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, they are required to treat all prisoners with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. This includes providing medical attention to persons in need, regardless of whether they are wearing a prison uniform or not. The BCHR holds the prison authorities solely responsible for the health of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, and demands an immediate investigation into the allegations that his health is being held hostage because of his decision to refuse a prison uniform. Zainab Al-Khawaja's hunger strike continues. // 20 March 2013 UPDATE: The BCHR has received information that Zainab Al-Khawaja was taken to the hospital and received glucose in order to bring her blood-sugar levels back to normal. Her hunger strike continues. The BCHR has also received information that Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja has begun to drink water. His hunger strike continues.
// 18 March 2013 UPDATE: The BCHR has received information that Zainab Al-Khawaja's mother received a phone call today from the prison notifying her that Zainab's health had deteriorated, and that she had refused to be taken to the hospital until she is allowed to see her daughter. // The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses urgent concern for the health and well-being for the incarcerated human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and his daughter, activist Zainab Al-Khawaja. Zainab Al-Khawaja began a hunger strike yesterday afternoon after she was denied visitation rights.

Members of her family, including her three year-old daughter, attempted to visit her at the detention center where she is being held, but were denied access. The prison authorities only stated that they were following the orders of Lieutenant Shamma. Zainab has been arrested on several occasions for her peaceful protests, and on this occasion she has been in prison since February 28th, 2013. Yesterday, Zainab was also scheduled to meet with her father, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, but this visit was denied. To protest the cancellation of this visit, Abdulhadi announced the start of a dry hunger strike, which consists of no foods of fluids. The health consequences for such a strike are much more severe, and the BCHR is seriously concerned for his well-being while holding the prison authorities entirely responsible for his health.

Abdulhadi is a member of the 'Bahraini 13'; he was imprisoned in 2011 and is serving a life sentence for charges relating to freedom of expression. He staged several hunger strikes, the last being on the 2nd of February to protest the restrictions that the prison authorities have placed on their communications with the outside world. (See: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5639/ for more information.) Since their arrest, the authorities have not required that the Bahraini 13 prisoners to wear a prison uniform, as is normally enforced upon prisoners with criminal charges, but just before Abdulhadi was scheduled to meet with his daughter the guards demanded that he wear a prison uniform. Enforcing the uniform rule appears to be a new tool used to humiliate prisoners of conscience and identify them as criminal prisoners. As punishment for refusing to wear the uniform, the Bahraini 13 and Zainab Al-Khawaja are being denied family and hospital visits. There has been a large increase in recent months in the number of prisoners who have started a hunger strike in protest of human rights violations in prison. Prisoners report that they feel that they have no other recourse, and that their wrongful imprisonment, and the violations against their rights, go unnoticed. The BCHR calls on the Bahraini authorities to immediately: 1. Release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience from prison and dismiss all trumped-up charges against them. 2. Guarantee visitation rights and medical access for all prisoners. 3. Reform the prison system and hold accountable all officials involved in human rights violations.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its grave concern over the continued arbitrary detention of children in Bahrain. Although Bahrain is a signatory on the convention of the right of the child and has a member in the committee, children are regularly arrested and held in prisons for months with no regard to their age and the effect that the prison will have on them, both psychologically and academically.

Abdulla Hasan, 16 years-old, was arrested from his village Al Naim on 14 March 2013. He was accused of illegal gathering which he denied. Abdulla was taken to the public prosecution and interrogated without the presence of his lawyer and was ordered to 30 days detention. Abdulla is in his last year in high school; he is a high achiever with a GPA of more than 97%. His continuous detention is effecting his academic achievement and his chances to go to university that he’s been working diligently towards. His trial was on 20 March 2013, and his detention was extended to 1 April 2013 for ruling.

The convention on the rights of the child states that “States Parties shall ensure that (b) No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time". However, the authorities in Bahrain continue to detain children for months, such as Ebrahim Al Meqdad, 15 years, and Jehad Sadeq, 16 years, who have been in detention for more than 8 months now and are tried under terrorism law. Their ruling session is on 4 April 2013. (For more information, see: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5581

The BCHR calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the UN and all other allies and international institutions to put pressure of the Government of Bahrain to immediately:

- Release Abdulla Hasan and all other detained children.

- Conduct a prompt and independent investigation in all cases of violations against children including but not limited to: arrest, detention and torture.

- To ensure that children be held in detention separate from adults, and treated according to the juvenile judicial system.

- To pressure the Bahraini government to abide by the laws of the International Convention for the Rights of the Child

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) is gravely concerned about the continuation of denying access to medical treatment for prisoners of conscience in Bahrain.

According to the family of the nurse Haleema Al-Sabagh, the prison authorities have denied her access to proper medical care and medicine for 2 months. She suffers from severe back pain and as stated by the family, an ambulance was brought to her, but prison authorities refused to release her to the hospital reportedly saying that the ambulance can only take her when she is unconscious. When she is taken to the prison clinic she is only given pain killers. At one point, AlSabagh was taken for a single physical therapy session and an x-ray was scheduled for her, but her family were surprised to find out that the x-ray appointment is scheduled in July 2013.

Nurse Haleema Abdulaziz Al-Sabagh was arrested for the first time from her workplace in Salmaniya hospital on January 26, 2012. She was charged with taking first-aid medicine for the treatment of injured protesters, who suffered injuries as a result of the use of excessive force by the authorities, she was later sentenced to 1 year in prison.

The BCHR calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, the European Union and all close allies and international institutions to put pressure on Bahraini authorities to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Haleema Al-Sabagh along with all other political prisoners. 2. Provide Haleema Al-Sabagh and all other prisoners with medical treatment and hospital visits. 3- Immediately release all medical personnel who were detained because of their humanitarian duties in the treatment of wounded protesters. 4- Immediately stop targeting the medics in Bahrain, stop the unfair trials, drop all charges and sentences passed against them, and compensate them and their families for all damages incurred.

16 Oct 2012

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights express concern regarding the arrest of yet another medical staff, Dental Assistant Halima Abdulaziz Al-Sabag on 15 Oct 2012, after attending her trial of appeal against 1 year imprisonment sentence which she received earlier, an action that affirm continuation of targeting of medical staff by the Bahraini authorities.

Dental Assistant Halima Abdulaziz Al-Sabag was arrested for the first time from her workplace in Salmaniya hospital on January 26, 2012. Allegedly she took first-aid medicines for the treatment of injured protesters, who suffered injuries as a result of the suppression of the authorities. She was detained for approximately 3 weeks pending investigation on an alleged charge of exploitation of her job to seize the money of the state, a charge denied by Al-Sabag. (see previous appeal here: bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5006 ). She was put on trial along with the head nurse and sentenced on 18 Sep 2012 to 1-year imprisonment and a fine of 100 Bahraini dinars whilst the other nurse was acquitted.[1] She was then arrested again while attending her trial of appeal on 15 Oct 2012, to execute the sentence. The trial of appeal was postponed until 18 Nov 2012.

The hospitals in Bahrain have been under military control for over 18 months now, protesters are unable to receive proper treatment in the hospitals as they fear arrest if they seek hospital care for their injuries, as hospitals have been ordered to report any injury related to protest to the police. Instead, they are forced to receive inferior treatment at home, or remain untreated. In May there were documented cases of protesters being interrogated and arrested after arriving to hospitals, and before the completion of their medical treatment.[2]

The criminal courts in Bahrain are still considering the cases of 28 health professionals because of their involvement in the treatment of wounded demonstrators. Verdicts are expected to be passed on them on January 2013 . [3] On the 14th of June 2012, an appeals court upheld the convictions of nine doctors, who were sentenced to between one month to five years in prison for their involvement in the treatment of injured protesters during the Feb 2011 uprising, and subsequently 6 of them were arrested[4] . At the same time, some other members of the medical staff are still in prison, including Nurse Hassan Maatoq, sentenced by a military court to three years in prison [5] . All this is happening, although reports by international human rights organizations and Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), confirmed the exposure of medics to mistreatment and torture in order to extract confessions that have been later used in cases against them.

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights call on the governments of US, UK and EU to apply pressure on Bahrain to:

- Immediately release of all medical personnel who were detained because of their humanitarian duties in the treatment of wounded demonstrators. - Immediately stop targeting the medics in Bahrain, stop the unfair trials, drop all charges and sentences passed against them, and compensate them and their families for all damages incurred. - End the security control of the Salmaniya medical hospital and ensure the right of individuals to receive treatment without the risk of detention or torture.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses its grave concern regarding the many reports and cases received concerning the continuous human rights violations and excessive use of force across villages and cities by Bahrain authorities.

The 14th Feb Youth Collation called for civil disobience and multiple protests across Bahrain on the 2nd anniversary of the deployment of the GCC Peninsula Shield which was mainly comprised of Saudi and UAE troops aiming to quash the pro-democracy movement. It is understood that these forces continue to be located in Bahrain as there has been no official statement announcing their withdrawal from the country.

Photo: Educational Institution “Al-Khamees School” Was Extensively Teargased

The call for wide spread protests put the Bahrain authorities on alert and the presence of sedurity forces were allocated across the country. Since early in the morning many crowded villages were collectively punished via using extensive teargas. Places including mosques, schools (Khamis School) and construction sites (Juffair constructions) were also teargased causing suffocation to school children and migrant workers, respectively.

Protesters set up roadblocks of their own to prevent riot police from driving at high speed into the villages. This YouTube video taken yesterday (14th March 2013) is an example of how police armored vehicles are used to run over protesters (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lxCyTXYefs).

Photo: Policeman Trespassing and Raiding a House by Climbing Onto the Roof

Dozens of protestors were arbitrarily arrested, houses were broken into and raided without appropriate warrants, and documented cases of minor and serious injuries particularily on the faces and heads of protestors by using teargas canisters and shotgun. It has become apparent from documentation of injuries that security forces aim at the upper part of the body to cause maximum damage which has resulted in tens of cases of extra-judicial killings. This YouTube video shows a protestor raising the victory sign in front of riot police, and was almost shot at close range with a teargas canister (Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZn1NerRVzI).

Photo: Severe Injuries due to extensive use of force Left: Injury on the calf musle due to C4 Canister Right : Direct shotgun to the face

The hospitals in Bahrain remain militarized since March 2011, and injured protestors and their families fear transferring them to the hospitals, which may lead to severe complications including death, due to delaying treatment and interrogating the injured, sometimes while half unconscious. Yesterday, a young protestor was shot in the head and had to be hospitalized, afterwhich he received a summons from the public prosecution for interrogation.

Photo: Young boy being treated after suffocation of teargas

Photo: Businesses being attacked with teargas

Photo : Teargas Canisters used

Photo: Shotgun Canister which was used

Photo : Protestor being arrested

Photo: Large numbers of riot police attacking a village

The BCHR calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the UN and all other allies and international institutions to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to stop its use of excessive force in response to the continued protests, and to put an end to the culture of impunity by holding people accountable for the omgoing human rights violations, including officials in high positions and members of the ruling family.

The BCHR calls on European Governments and other ally Governments to Bahrain to stop supplying the government of Bahrain with arms that are used against peaceful protesters, which cause severe injuries and deaths.