10 Feb 2013 The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses concern over the torture allegations and the deprivation of required medical care to the detainee Habeeb Ayoub Al-Mughani who is currently in a wheel chair.

Arrest and Torture

Habeeb Ayoub Al-Mughani (23 years old) was arrested during a 3:00 AM raid on his house on 10 April 2012. Before this incident, the police raided his grandfather's house at Al-Eker Village looking for him and searched the house without presenting a warrant. They forced his uncle to escort them to Habeeb's house. Habeeb was arrested directly from his bed. He was blindfolded from the moment he entered the police jeep and was taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Adliya. According to family, Habeeb was subjected to physiological and physical torture, he was handcuffed at all times.

The security officers asked Habeeb if he suffers from any health conditions, and he informed them that he had surgery on his left knee after he had a "cruciate ligament rupture" in 2009. They then focused on beating him particularly on his left knee, as he has told his family. The BCHR has documented several other similar torture techniques where the victim is beaten in the area of a previous injury, so that the forensic reports written by the official doctor (if any) can clear the torturers from causing any harm and blame all damages on the old injury.

Habeeb was forced to stand for 48 hours on one knee. He was beaten in places that are difficult to be identified in future, such as the head, thighs, and private areas.

For three days after his arrest, he was not allowed any contact with his family or lawyer, and he was deprived from the right of having a lawyer present during his interrogation. He was tortured and forced to sign papers without knowing their content.

Habeeb was blindfolded and taken to the public prosecution where he refused to confess the alleged crime of involvement in the Al-Eker explosions on the 9th April 2012 along with another 17 defendants who were arrested under similar circumstances. He was taken out to the hall where he was beaten and finally made to confess before he was taken back to the public prosecutor Ahmed Bucheeri. On the third day, Habeeb was taken to Al-Eekr village to re-enact the events.

Need for Surgery and Trial

Habeeb was then taken to the Dry Dock Prison. He had severe pain in his knee for which he received no medical treatment. The prison authorities took him to the prison clinic and he was given injections of an unknown substance; afterwards, his lawyer insisted that the authorities take him to the hospital. The doctor at the hospital told Habeeb that he will need an urgent surgery for his knee, but no surgery was scheduled.

On the 20th of November 2012, while in the courtroom where he was on trial, he was asked to stand in front of the judge, Habeeb fell down and started screaming of pain when he stood up, the judge was very upset and postponed the session. After that incident, Habeeb has not taken to attend his trial sessions. The judge in the case requested that Habeeb must be taken to the hospital but the police officers, took him to the prison instead.

On 9th of December 2012, Habeeb was taken to hospital for surgery and he was allowed to stay at Salmaniya hospital till 23rd December because of the severe pain he experienced. The doctor charged with is case requested that Habeeb must receive extensive physical therapy. Since Habeeb was discharged from hospital, he has not been taken to physical therapy despite the doctor’s orders. Habeeb has been in a wheelchair ever since the date of his surgery.

The note reads: "the patient suffered from an injury on his left knee on 2009 which caused his knee to have full Cruciate ligament rupture, and he again had an injury exactly the same place 9 months ago [April 2012], which required immediate surgical procedure and it is advised that he undergoes extensive physical therapy"

Habeeb is having troubles using the toilets in prison cells which are of "Arabic style/squat toilets " and he can't use them since he is on wheelchair and can't stand on his feet. He demanded to use the one used by prison officers, who have sitting toilet. Habeeb complains that many times he is forced to wait for a long time before he is taken to the toilet. Since his surgery, he requires certain diet and the food at prison is not suitable for his recovery.

Habeeb started a hunger strike to protest being deprived from medical care, he fainted on several occasions, and his sugar level dropped to very low levels, the "general inspector" at the prison visited him on 29th Jan and asked him to stop his hunger strike and promised him that he will be taken to the Salmaniya hospital the next day. Yet, he was not taken to the hospital. Habeeb escalated his protest by refusing to call his family and declined visitation until he is taken to the hospital. On the 7th of January, Habeeb was scheduled to have a medical appointment at 10:00 AM, but he was taken late at 12:00; his doctor was already gone.

Habeeb’s family has raised concerns over his mental condition and his health in general since he confined to a wheel chair at all times and is locked in one corner of the cell. They fear that he might get permanent damage and might never be able to walk in future since he was prevented from receiving physical therapy for two months. They are also worried that he is not getting the prescribed medicines ordered by the doctor. The BCHR has previously documented many similar cases of detainees who are in need of medical treatment, but are deprived from it in Bahrain’s prisons, including the political leader Hasan Mushaima, a former cancer patient www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5614 , and Ahmed Al-Mugabi who suffers anal hemorrhage, bleeding hemorrhoids and infection www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5519 and Mohamed Sahwan who is living with 80 birdshots in his head www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5392 .

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights demands the following:

1. Provide Habeeb AlMaghani with the medical treatment required for his case, as well as all other detainees in Bahrain’s prisons who need medical care. 2. Investigate allegations of torture of Habeeb AlMaghani and bring those who are responsible to justice. 3. For the authorities in Bahrain to commit to international conventions which they have ratified, especially the rights of prisoners to receive full medical care. 4. The release of Habeeb AlMaghani and others convicted in the case where the judgment is only based on confessions extracted under torture, which is internationally prohibited.

February 10, 2013

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses concern over the appeal court’s decision on 23 Jan 2013 to uphold the death sentence of Ali Yousef Abdul Wahab Al-Taweel (23 years old) who has been detained since April 2011, for the alleged crime of running over a policeman on 15 Mar 2011. The death sentence was initially ordered by a military court in Sep 2011.

Arrest, Detention and Torture

Ali AlTaweel was subjected to several human rights violations from the first moment of his arrest. On April 19th, 2011, he was staying at his sister’s house when it was attacked in an early morning raid. He was arrested by masked men in military and civilian clothing, and his hands were tied behind his back with a belt. When he asked why he is being arrested, the officer informed him that he would know after being beating and hung in the air. He was dragged and beaten in front of the neighbours. The officers covered his face with his clothes and hit him harshly and continuously during the ride in the car – he was struck repeatedly on his face, abdomen, back and pelvic area. In addition to the physical abuse, he was also verbally insulted.

At the first location where AlTaweel was detained, the Isa Town police station, Ali AlTaweel was reportedly subjected to torture for a continuous 13 hours where, during which time he was forced to confess to running over a policeman. AlTaweel came to know that he was selected for this accusation because another detainee gave his name saying that AlTaweel had a car with a smashed window. He was beaten with a hose on his feet, back and all over his body. He was deprived from sleeping, drinking water, eating food, going to toilet, and praying.

AlTaweel was then moved to the Criminal Investigation Department in Adliya where he was subjected to more torture. AlTaweel says that the official who gave the orders to torture him was Colonel Mubarak Bin Huwail – a person whose name was also mentioned by other torture victims, including tortured doctors. Bin Huwail is currently on trial for torturing medical professionals. See: www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Opinion/We-were-blindfolded-handcuffed-and-tortured-Bahraini-medics

AlTaweel says that Bin Huwail tried to force him to confess to running over the policeman, and to say that he was incited by Shaikh Mohamed Habeeb AlMoqdad. He was beaten all over his body including on his genital area where he had a prior surgery. When he informed them of his previous surgery they increased beaten on that area. Under these conditions, AlTaweel gave many names as “inciters” including Ali AlShamlool who was later selected by the interrogators to be charged for inciting the crime. AlTaweel required a surgery for the damage he suffered due to beaten on his genital area. During his appeal trial in 2012 he attended the sessions in a wheel chair following this surgery.

AlTaweel was forced to sign confessions without being able to read them; AlTaweel stopped attending school in the 4th grade, and is therefore unable to read. He believes that his signature was forged on other statements by officers taking advantage of his illiteracy.

The military prosecutor never interrogated the two defendants. Their signatures were taken on pre-made statements. AlTaweel was then taken to the military prison (AlQurain) where beatings and insults continued, especially when the guards knew about his accusation, he was beaten on his head and back, and the ill-treatment continued until mid-June when the Bahraini commission of Inquiry (BICI) visited the prison.

Military Trial

According to his lawyer, AlTaweel was not allowed access to a lawyer during the first three hearings at the military court. He was also not allowed any family visits before his third hearing session. On 29 Sep 2011, the military court issued its verdict against Ali AlTaweel, and sentenced him to death. The second defendant, Ali Atteyat Allah Mahdi Shamlool, was sentenced to life imprisonment. AlTaweel was accused with “running over police officer Ahmed Ahmed Al-Muraisi on 15 Mar 2011 in Sitra”, while AlShamlool was accused with instigating the crime.

Solitary Confinement

Since AlTaweel was moved to the Jaw prison after receiving the death sentence on 29 Sep 2011, he was placed in solitary confinement. He only leaves his cell during bi-weekly family visits. His lawyer fears that AlTaweel’s mental condition has been severely affected by the extended amount of time he has spent in solitary confinement, and believes that his sanity may be in danger.

Contradictions in the Circumstances Surrounding the Officer’s Death

• The court verdict states that the policeman died in Sitra. • The death certificate issued by Ministry of Health states that the policeman had died in Ma'ameer in a “car accident”. The place of death announcement is “East Riffa Health Centre”. • BICI report states that the policeman was run over by a car in the GCC Roundabout (Manama) [paragraph 885] and also stated that he died in Sitra and his death was confirmed at the Defence Force Hospital [Paragraph 1030]. In addition to the contradicting facts about the death location which cast doubt on the basis of the indictment, the prosecution has not provided any substantial evidence against the defendants. None of the witnesses saw or identified the defendants. The person responsible for torture of AlTaweel, Ben Huwail has testified against him at the military court, but has not appeared for the trial of appeal despite several notifications. This witness is currently undergoing a trial for torture of detained doctors, and his testimony against AlTaweel should therefore not be considered valid. (See: www.alwasatnews.com/3803/news/read/735380/1.html

On 23 Jan 2013 the court of appeal upheld the death sentence against Ali AlTaweel and the life sentence against Ali AlShamlool, ignoring all evidence of torture, including incidents documented by the BICI report. The court’s insistence on issuing a death sentence underlines the fact that this provision is politicized and subject to political considerations rather than the requirements of a fair trial.

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to protect Ali AlTaweel who was sentenced to death in an unfair trial, and appeals to them to:

1. Condemn the application of the death penalty against Ali AlTaweel, especially in the absence of a fair trial. 2. Demand for the Bahraini authorities to drop the politically motivated sentences and to unconditionally release all political prisoners, given the widespread practice of using torture to extract confessions as described by the BICI report. 3. Put an end to the use of torture in detention centres. 4. Call the Bahraini authorities to hold accountable anyone responsible in all torture cases carried out in detention centres in Bahrain, whether in the form of command, supervision, or knowledge of torture practices. 5. Request the Government of Bahrain to adhere to the Convention against Torture and implementing their commitments to the international obligations that it has signed.

Additional Information:

Execution in Bahrain is carried out by a firing squad. The last implementation of the death sentence was in 2010 against the Bangladeshi Jassim Abdulrahman, who was convicted of murder. While two Pakistani and one Ethiopian nationals are waiting for the implementation of their death sentence. In December 2006, three Bangladeshis were executed after a period of ten years without a death sentence being executed. For more general information, see: deathpenaltyworldwide.org

07 FEB 2013

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights is gravely concerned for the health of three activists and political leaders, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, AbdulHadi Al-Mukhoder and AbdulJalil Al-Singace, who have all begun a hunger strike to protest the unlawful restrictions that the prison authorities have placed on the communications for the Bahrain13, and the lack of response to their complaints by the prison administration.

When speaking on the telephone, if any of these prisoners attempts to discuss their health, their treatment in prison, or politics, the phone line is immediately cut. Since the prisoners of conscience had their final appeal denied in January, the restrictions have become much worse.

In addition to the unlawful restrictions that the authorities have placed on family communications, Al-Mukhoder and Al-Singace have both been completely denied access to a lawyer since their final appeal was rejected by the Court of Cassation on January 7th, 2013; Al-Khawaja is still allowed contact with his lawyer as he has a separate ongoing trial. BCHR has documented similar treatment to other activists, most recently on Dec 2012 bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5584.

More than 25 days ago the above mentioned activists and political leaders, as well as the rest of the group of the Bahrain13, who are held on the case of "attempt to overthrow the regime" (More details: bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5272 ) have all sent a letter to the prison administration to express protest to the violations to their right to concurrent and private communication with their family and lawyers. The incident which triggered this protest was when Hassan Mushaima attempted to tell his family about his health situation and the phone line was cut. They have boycotted their right to regular calls with their families as a protest. However no reply has been received from the prison administration to their letter and no improvement was seen on conditions. Thus the three activists have decided to escalate their protest and start a hunger strike to demand their basic rights.

Al-Khawaja began his strike on the 2nd of February, Al-Mukhoder and Al-Singace on the 5th and 7th respectively. Alkhawaja has been previously through a 110 days hunger strike which started in Feb 2012.

Lawyer Mohamed AlJishi has reported that AbdulJalil Alsingace has been taken to clinic to be treated three times since the start of the hunger strike.

The BCHR is seriously concerned that the authorities attempt to block all information relating to the detainees’ health and treatment is an attempt to hide human rights abuses. However, the primary concern of the BCHR remains to be that these men are prisoners of conscience, imprisoned on charges related to freedom of expression, and must be released immediately.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights call for immediate action on behalf of the Bahraini authorities and the international community to: • release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience from prison immediately. • implement sweeping reforms through the prison system to improve transparency and improve general prison conditions, including the recommendations in the BICI report. • abide by the BICI report’s recommendations to investigate torture allegations throughout the judicial system and prosecute those found to be responsible in a fair and transparent court of law.

08 FEB 2013

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses grave concern over the fact that at a time when the government of Bahrain is calling for a dialogue, political prisoners are forced to resort to hunger strikes to protest the bad prison treatment and conditions; attempting to gain international attention towards their conditions.

Hussain AlAali, arrested in connection with the case involving five tons of explosives (see: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5522), informed his family that although he started a hunger strike on the 7th of January to protest the ill treatment and torture they have received while in prison, and in a further act of desperation stopped taking all liquids on the 1st of February, he has forcefully been made to take water this week. According to a family member, AlAali sounded fatigued when they recently spoke on the phone, and the phone call was cut after he said:

“I will continue the hunger strike no matter what, and I know the names of every single one of my torturers and will not forget them.”

The BCHR is seriously concerned about the well being and life of Hussain AlAali especially concerning the content of his last phone call. AlAali is in the hands of those he threatened to expose, and the BCHR holds the Bahraini authorities fully responsible towards anything that happens to him.

During a time when the Government of Bahrain should be taking trust-building steps to attempt to help the political dialogue succeed in establishing a government that respects human rights, political prisoners find that the hunger strikes are the only method they have to protest the ill-treatment they receive.

Several groups of prisoners who are being held together in the Dry Docks Prison have gone on hunger strike, but due to the further mistreatment they received, they were forced to break the hunger strike. They were put on lockdown, and not allowed to leave their cell. In some cases, the prisoners were subjected to beatings or teargas inside prison. Only the group of prisoners in block 3 remains on hunger strike at this time.

Another case is that of the ‘Bahrain 13’. At a time when Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is being nominated for the Noble Peace Prize, he began another hunger strike on Saturday the 2nd of February to protest mistreatment from unresponsive prison authorities. Al-Khawaja towards protest related to phone calls (See: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5639). Along with Al-Khawaja, Abduljalil AlSingace started a hunger strike on Thursday February 7th, and Abdulhadi AlMukhodher started a hunger strike on Tuesday February 5th for the same reasons.

These hunger strikes also come at a time close to the anniversary of the mass protests in Bahrain. The BCHR has received information that the number of check points have increased, and arrests are taking place in anticipation of protests to mark the anniversary of the pro-democracy movement.

It is important to note that while discussing poor conditions within the prison system, the main focus should be on the immediate release of these political detainees, instead of imprisoned in better conditions.

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:

1. Immediately release all political prisoners and drop all fabricated charges against them 2. Immediately stop all forms of mistreatment against prisoners and detainees 3. Hold accountable all those responsible for torture and mistreatment of prisoners and detainees, including those in high positions 4. Offer rehabilitation and medical treatment to all those who require it as a result of the torture and mistreatment 5. Ensure that people are allowed to protest peacefully without fear of retribution or excessive use of force during the February 14th anniversary

6 Feb 2013

Who will fight for free expression and human rights in Bahrain when those speaking out are put behind bars? Sign the petition now!

As the second anniversary of the pro-democracy protests in Bahrain approaches on 14 February, ask the King of Bahrain to free all human rights defenders, journalists and bloggers languishing in jail, some for life, simply for peacefully exercising their right to free expression and assembly.

IFEX member, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), the most vocal independent human rights organisation in Bahrain, has been particularly targeted, with past and present BCHR representatives serving prison sentences, or on trial, including:

Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, founder of BCHR, is serving a life sentence for his role in peaceful demonstrations in February and March 2011.

Nabeel Rajab, current President of BCHR, is serving a two-year prison sentence for calling for peaceful gatherings on Twitter, and participating in demonstrations between January and March 2012.

Said Yousif Al-Muhafdha, BCHR's Acting Vice President, is facing a prison sentence of up to one year for “spreading false information on Twitter,” after tweeting about human rights violations during a protest late last year.

Tell the King of Bahrain to release the BCHR activists, and all those imprisoned for peacefully exercising their right to free expression.

Sign the petition now!

February 6, 2013

[Manama] In July 2012, Bahrain Watch reported that the Government of Bahrain was targeting activists with the FinSpy/FinFisher "lawful interception" computer spyware, programmed by UK company Gamma International. An analysis revealed that the spyware steals passwords and can record screen shots, Skype calls, and audio from a computer's microphone. The spyware sends the data it captures back to a server in Bahrain. The Bahrain Watch report cited a technical analysis by Morgan Marquis-Boire and Bahrain Watch member Bill Marczak published through CitizenLab, and a report by Bloomberg. In response to these reports, Gamma International issued several statements to the press claiming that:

(1) The version of FinSpy used in Bahrain is an old copy that might have been stolen via a flash drive during a product demonstration. [1, 2]

(2) The server in Bahrain is not a FinFisher product, but is a "proxy" that relays the captured data to another server. [1]

(3) The version of FinSpy used in Bahrain has been modified so that it does not communicate with Gamma. If the product did communicate with Gamma, then Gamma could disable it. [1]

(4) Gamma never sold FinSpy to Bahrain. [1]

New evidence, presented in a complaint to the OECD, calls these claims into question.

Read full report on bahrainwatch.org

February 7, 2013

Member organizations and societies of BHRN listed as follows: Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), Bahrain Society for Human Rights (BHRS), Bahrain Rehabilitation and Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO), The European-Bahraini Organization for Human Rights (EBOHR) and Hope Defenders.

Declare that BHRN will work under common vision and goals to enhance democracy and principles of freedom and human rights. The mission of BHRN is to coordinate between the members for the purpose of observing, documenting and monitoring human rights violations, establishing consolidated database and highlighting human rights violations in Bahrain.

In the view of such vision and goals, members of BHRN are setting joint mechanisms in accordance with the international standards in the field of human rights work. BHRN will be responsible for issuing joint statements and reports and establish database on human rights violations.

Members of BHRN do not intend to create a new human rights entity or organization, rather, a joint effort between Bahraini human rights organizations and societies.

BHRN will start working by means of a specific mechanism of observation which will be announced on the coming 14the of February, a day marking the second anniversary of protests outbreak. All human rights violations will be monitored and statements will be issued to highlight the status of human rights.

BHRN has held a number of founding meetings, adopted its bylaws and assigned Hasan Jaber as its coordinator. BHRN will be online through its website and other accounts in social networking websites.

BHRN hopes to find sound cooperation with international organizations and society as well as media in order to achieve its vision and goals to protect and enhance human rights in Bahrain.

Related links

Press conference of foundation statement of Bahrain Human Rights Network BHRN

4 Feb 2013

Privacy International, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Bahrain Watch and Reporters Without Borders filed formal complaints with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) against two surveillance companies on Friday 1st February.

The OECD National Contact Points (NCPs) in the UK and Germany are being asked to investigate Gamma International and Trovicor respectively with regards to both companies’ complicity in serious human rights abuses in Bahrain.

The complainants argue that surveillance products and services provided by Gamma International and Trovicor have facilitated multiple human rights abuses in Bahrain, including arbitrary detention and torture, as well as violations of the right to privacy, freedom of expression and freedom of association. Information gathered from intercepted phone and internet communications has been used to detain and torture political dissidents and activists and to extract confessions from them. The companies are therefore in breach of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, recommendations addressed by governments to companies that set out principles and standards for responsible business conduct. The UK’s NCP is based at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, and the German NCP is based at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. If the NCPs accept the complaints against Gamma and Trovicor, they will then: investigate the extent of the defendants’ complicity in human rights abuses in Bahrain; mediate between complainants and defendants; issue final statements on whether OECD Guidelines have in fact been breached; provide recommendations to the defendants on how to avoid further breaches; and follow up in order to ensure that they comply with those recommendations.

Eric King, Head of Research at Privacy International, said: «The failure of governments to properly control exports of surveillance technology has left companies like Gamma and Trovicor regulated exclusively by their own moral compasses. Unfortunately, these compasses seem to have malfunctioned and directed companies towards some of the most dangerous and repressive regimes in the world. We very much hope the OECD process will persuade Gamma and Trovicor to take a long hard look at their current and future clients, and to think carefully about the role their products play in the targeting and torture of activists and the suppression of pro-democracy voices.»

Christian Mihr, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders Germany, said: «Unregulated trade with surveillance technologies in authoritarian states is one of the biggest threats to press freedom and human rights work on the internet. Exports of such digital arms have to be made subject to the same restrictions as foreign dealings with traditional arms.»

Miriam Saage-Maaß, Vice Legal Director at ECCHR, said: «By maintaining permanent business relations with the state of Bahrain and maintaining their surveillance software, both companies have accepted the risk of abetting torture and other grave human rights violations. This amounts to a violation of the OECD Guidelines.»

rsf.org

Right to Left: Mohammed Al Moghani, Hussain Al Aali, Jaffar Eid, Radhi Ali

05 February 2013

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights is gravely concerned for the health and well being of the four prisoners who have begun a dry hunger strike in Riffa prison to protest the unjust imprisonment and torture they are subjected to at the hands of the prison authorities.

Mohd Almughni, Jaffar Hussain, Hussain Al-Aali and Radhi Ali began a hunger strike on the 7th of January, and are now on their 30th day without food. On the 1st of February, 2013, the BCHR received information that these detainees have stopped taking water as well. The health of these prisoners has already been greatly weakened as a result of the torture they are continually subjected to, the denial of medical attention, and now the hunger strike. The BCHR fears for the lives of these wrongfully imprisoned men, and calls for their immediate release.

According to the families, these prisoners have suffered from severe physical and psychological abuse. They have been severely beaten, forced to eat with their handcuffs on, forced to stand for long periods of time while blindfolded, and the air-conditioning in the prison cell is constantly on, despite the winter conditions. The prisoners are provided with water that is unsuitable for drinking, and are kept in a generally bad environment where they are held at Riffa prison (according to their families). Each of these men is currently being held in a cell measuring only two meters by two meters; some of these cells are shared other prisoners who do not speak a common language, and with whom they are not allowed to attempt to communicate. The prisoners are not allowed more than five minutes outside the cell each day, and they were allowed these five minutes only after four months of detention. They are not allowed more than five minutes of phone calls every two weeks. Starting January 2013, they have been given 1 hours visit every two weeks instead of 30 minutes visit every week. Except for Radhi, they are not allowed to receive any books from their families. They were not allowed to receive any of the medicines which they were taking before their arrest. They are not allowed to receive warm clothes for the cold season in Bahrain.

Due to the poor prison conditions and the torture they were subjected to, the detainees are now suffering from multiple health problems, physical and physiological:

• Jafar Eid started to suffer from problems with his kidney due to the unclean drinking water. He has walking problems as a result of beatings he received on his leg, and the small confines of the cell do not allow for rehabilitation. His vision is poor, and his cellmate has scabies.

• Hussain Al-Aali has tribology, which is escalating due to his inability to move in the small cell. He also suffers from pains in his back as well as poor vision.

• Radhi Ali Radhi is suffering from regular headaches, sinus problems and pain in his back. He was not allowed to receive the medicines he took before he was arrested. In January 2013, he suffered from problems with his kidneys.

Jaffar and Hussain have been forced to take pills which they say caused hallucinations.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights has previously written about the severe torture and poor detention conditions these detainees were subjected to, including the poor conditions in which visitations are conducted. In fact, three of the detainees entered a ‘visitation strike’ in protest against the humiliating treatment they were subject to. (See: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5522)

The detainees in this case are accused with “the making and possession of explosive materials”.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights call for immediate action on behalf of the Bahraini authorities and the international community to:

- To immediately improve the detention conditions and provide the necessary treatment to Mohamed Al-Mughni, Hussain Al Aali, Jaffar Eid, Radhi Ali and all other prisoners in need of medical care in the prisons of Bahrain.

- For the authorities in Bahrain to abide by the international conventions which they have ratified, especially concerning the rights of prisoners to receive full medical care.

- End the practice of torture in the prisons of Bahrian.

- Hold accountable those involved in torture, and bring them to a fair and independent judiciary.

- Ensure that the accused prisoners receive a fair trial, starting with ensuring their protection from torture.

04 FEB 2013

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) express concern over the continued deterioration of prisoner conditions in Bahrain, and the lack of real reform in the prison system apart from superficial changes made during visits from outside observers. The BCHR continues to receive complaints from prisoners and their families that confirm the lack of compliance with the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners.

The BCHR met with families of several detainees at the Dry Dock detention center (a temporary detention facility) and the central prison (Jaw) and present the following findings regarding the condition of the prisons:

The Dry Dock Detention Center:

The prisoners complained about lack of warm bathing warm water in the cold season when the water becomes too cold to be used.

The toilets become blocked and overflow, which causes serious hygienic concerns.

The available drinking water is of very poor quality, and the prisoners need to buy bottled water.

There are restrictions on the religious freedoms, and prisoners were not allowed to hold their religious rituals during Muharram. When prisoners held their ceremonies in spite of these restrictions, they were assaulted by guards inside their prison cell during Muharam.

Medical care

Medical care is lacking, or non-existent. One prisoner, who is twenty years old and wished to have his name withheld, suffers from root canal problems for which he has not been allowed to receive treatment. He has been in detention since July 2012, and has only been offered pain killers.

Ali Ebrahim Al-Saegh (18 years old) who has been in detention since 14 Nov 2012, is not allowed to visit to the prison clinic in order to receive treatment for one of his injuries.

Visitation

Prisoners and their families face trouble and harassment during visits. The family of one prisoner stated that he was humiliated and threatened with physical abuse in front of his family during visitation hours on a number of occasions. Multiple families stated that they are being searched in a humiliating manner before the start of the visit, which has caused some members of the family psychological trauma post each visit.

Another family said that their visit was cancelled simply because their detained son stood across the long brick separating him from his family to hug his mother.

The two brothers Yasser Abdullah Al-Gashra (23 years old) and Sadiq Abdullah Al-Gasra (20 years old) who were detained together since April 2012 were getting only one hour of visitation for both of them instead of two hours (one for each). According to their family they were humiliated in front their family and were receiving punishment when the family protest against the humiliation. In one incident the mother was insulted in front of the imprisoned son, and when he responded, the guards handcuffed him. The two brothers protested by refusing visitation to spare their mother and family the humiliation, they are on "no-visitation strike" since the past 3 weeks. They see their family only during court sessions.

Communication with the lawyer is restricted or not allowed.

One prisoner who is a high school student said that he was not allowed to take his exams.

Jaw Prison

The Prisoners complained about a lack of warm water for bathing during the cold season, when the water becomes too cold to be used. Given the high number of prisoners in Jaw prison (estimated to be over 1,300) the warm water supply is quickly finished, and is not sufficent to accommodate the needs of all prisoners.

The prisoners are not provided with appropriately warm clothing during the winter. When families brought in winter clothing, the prison authorities removed the warm inner lining from the clothing, and rendered it useless for warming.

The prisoners described the food as “not good”. The supplies of bread and sandwiches which they used to buy in order to supplement the standard ration of food are no longer available. The drinking water is not hygienic and not suitable to use. Prisoners need to buy water from the prison canteen, which is only allowed on a weekly basis. There is not a sufficient supply of bottled water for all of the prisoners.

There are restrictions on the books the prisoners are allowed to receive, and even non-political books sent by family members are only allowed into the prison if the on-duty guard approves. Such personal decisions should not be allowed to dictate the content of the books allowed into the prison, as it has been in the case of Mohammed Sahwan, who is serving a 15 years sentence in Jaw prison.

Medical Care Mohammed Sahwan (35 years old) is a victim of serious shotgun injury, and has more than 80 shotgun pellets lodged in his face and head, according to his medical report. Sahwan is still deprived of the proper medical treatment that he requires.

Because of the pellets in his head, Sahwan suffers from severe migraine headaches, which are increasingly painful in the cold weather. His request to be provided with a warm hat was denied first, but it was provided later. He is not allowed to receive the prescribed medications for the pain he suffers.

Doctors at the military hospital declined to perform the surgery that is necessary to improve his condition because they say that represents a serious risk, and might lead to his death. Salmaniya hospital agreed to conduct the operation, which they say will deform his face and head because of the cuts they will need to make in order to remove the pellets. Further plastic surgery would be necessary to hide the many scars this procedure will cause. The family is worried and demands to be able to seek medical treatment outside of Bahrain. (More info on his case: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/5392)

Visits and Communication Families have complained about being humiliated during prison visits. Baby milk is not allowed during visits for the babies who are brought to see their detained fathers, such as in the case of Mohammed Sahwan’s infant daughter.

Visits are subject to cancellation without a prior notification. One family stated that after 22 days without visitation, and after the family confirmed the visit before going to the prison in the morning, they were informed by a police officer after arriving at the prison that the visit had been cancelled. The family protested at the entrance gate and refused to leave without seeing their son, fearing that the sudden cancelation may be a result of the prison authorities’ wish to hide their son’s condition. This happened twice to the family.

In the past, eight family members were allowed to visit a prisoner, but the rule has changed to allow only six members. This restriction deprives some member of larger families from visitation rights.

During prisoners’ calls to their families, the phones are closely monitored and families can hear insults from the guards whenever they speak about the political situation.

Extra Punishment/Solitary Confinement One family stated that their son was beaten by guards in his cell along with another prisoner, and that he was placed in solitary confinement for several days because he was involved in a clash with the guards following an allegation that a guard sexually harassed a young prisoner. The family described the solitary confinement as an old and abandoned toilet, which was plagued with hygienic problems and insects. Confinement in this location caused the prisoner to have an allergic reaction and break out in a rash.

Hundreds of prisoners' sentenced provisions are in Jaw Central Prison, with hundreds others in other prisons, such as the Dry Dock prison. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights has reported previously on the poor conditions in prisons, which show no signs of improvement. For further information, see:

- Report of January 2012 http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/4986

- Report of December 2011 http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/4934

- Report of November 2011 http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/4815

The BCHR draws attention the international conventions concerning the protection of persons subjected to detention and imprisonment, in particular that "all persons under any form of detention or imprisonment shall be treated in a humane manner and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person", the BCHR urges the Bahraini government and all relevant authorities to take prompt action to ensure the rights of detainees and prisoners in Bahrain, including:

1. Regular and sudden inspection of prisons and places of detention by representatives of the competent international organizations in addition to independent local organizations and authorities with qualified inspectors who are both honest and experienced. Also, to reform prisoners’ situation while they are in detention, and to prosecute any administrative official or guard involved in human rights violations.

2. Full compliance with article 31 of "the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners" issued by the United Nations, which stipulates that: "Corporal punishment, punishment by placing in a dark cell, and all cruel, inhuman or degrading punishments shall be completely prohibited as punishments for disciplinary offences."Basic principles for the treatment of prisoners recommends that "efforts addressed to the abolition of solitary confinement as a punishment, or to the restriction of its use, should be undertaken and encouraged. Under "standard minimum rules", it is stipulated in article 29 that "the following shall always be determined by the law or by the regulation of the competent administrative authority: ( a ) Conduct constituting a disciplinary offence; ( b ) The types and duration of punishment which may be inflicted; ( c ) The authority competent to impose such punishment. "Article (30) States that "no prisoner shall be punished unless he has been informed of the offence alleged against him and given a proper opportunity of presenting his defense. The competent authority shall conduct a thorough examination of the case." Where article (33) states that "instruments of restraint, such as handcuffs, chains, irons and strait-jackets, shall never be applied as a punishment."

3. Improve daily living conditions as article (60) of the "standard minimum rules" states that: "The regime of the institution should seek to minimize any differences between prison life and life at liberty which tend to lessen the responsibility of the prisoners or the respect due to their dignity as human beings. Article (10) states that: "all accommodation provided for the use of prisoners and in particular all sleeping accommodation shall meet all requirements of health, and particularly to cubic content of air, minimum floor space, lighting, heating and ventilation."

4. Provide prisoners with bathing equipment in relation with temperature as provided in Article (13): “Adequate bathing and shower installations shall be provided so that every prisoner may be enabled and required to have a bath or shower, at a temperature suitable to the climate, as frequently as necessary for general hygiene according to season and geographical region, but at least once a week in a temperate climate.”

5. Allow prisoners to have clothing adequate to the weather specially during the cold weather as Article (17) provides that: “Every prisoner who is not allowed to wear his own clothing shall be provided with an outfit of clothing suitable for the climate and adequate to keep him in good health. Such clothing shall in no manner be degrading or humiliating.”

6. Improve the food and water provided to prisoners as stated in Article (20): (1) Every prisoner shall be provided by the administration at the usual hours with food of nutritional value adequate for health and strength, of wholesome quality and well prepared and served. (2) Drinking water shall be available to every prisoner whenever he needs it.

7. Allow the prisoners to have at least one hour outdoor work as provided in Article (21): “Every prisoner who is not employed in outdoor work shall have at least one hour of suitable exercise in the open air daily if the weather permits.”

8. Provide ill and injured prisoners with the medical care they need as provided in Article (22) “Sick prisoners who require specialist treatment shall be transferred to specialized institutions or to civil hospitals. Where hospital facilities are provided in an institution, their equipment, furnishings and pharmaceutical supplies shall be proper for the medical care and treatment of sick prisoners, and there shall be a staff of suitable trained officers.”

9. To ensure the rights of prisoner regarding contact with the outside world with respect to access to his family and friends, as stipulated in article (37) of the "standard minimum rules". It must be in accordance with article (39) "Prisoners shall be kept informed regularly of the more important items of news by the reading of newspapers, periodicals or special institutional publications, by hearing wireless transmissions, by lectures or by any similar means as authorized or controlled by the administration.", and with the development of media it’s done through radio and television stations as well.

10. Providing books to prisoners pursuant to article 40 of the "standard minimum rules" states that "Every institution shall have a library for the use of all categories of prisoners, adequately stocked with both recreational and instructional books, and prisoners shall be encouraged to make full use of it" and allow prisoners to bring such books. According to the article (77): "Provision shall be made for the further education of all prisoners capable of profiting thereby, including religious instruction in the countries where this is possible. The education of illiterates and young prisoners shall be compulsory and special attention shall be paid to it by the administration" and article (78): "recreational and cultural activities shall be provided in all institutions for the benefit of the mental and physical health of prisoners."

11. Allow prisoners to practice their religious rituals freely, pursuant to article 42 of the "standard minimum rules" which states that "every prisoner shall be allowed to satisfy the needs of his religious life … and having in his possession the books of religious observance and instruction of his denomination."

12. To ensure that the quality of prison staff, in accordance with article (46) of the "standard minimum rules," "the prison administration shall provide for the careful selection of every grade of the personnel, since it is on their integrity, humanity, professional capacity and personal suitability for the work that the proper administration of the institutions depends.” Article (50) states that "the director of an institution should be adequately qualified for his task by character, administrative ability, suitable training and experience. He shall devote his entire time to his official duties and shall not be appointed on a part-time basis."

13. Bahrain must sign the Optional Protocol against Torture, which involved that there will be a standing committee to visit the prisons and that the visits could be sudden. This would make a practical step forward that would demonstrate the seriousness of the authorities’ intentions to improve prison conditions.

Finally, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights urges the Bahraini authorities to release all prisoners who have been arrested or sentenced for reasons relating to the exercise of their freedoms and fundamental rights.