Report on the Treatment of Political Detainees in Bahrain’s Prisons
21 January, 2012 – BCHR

Prepared by the Bahrain Rehabilitation & Anti-Violence Organisation (BRAVO) and the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Introduction

Since the popular uprising calling for greater political and civil rights started in Bahrain on 14th February 2011, well over 3000 people have been arrested by the authorities and continue to be arrested, according to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI). Many of those who were detained or imprisoned by the government in relation to the events have described substandard conditions at various detention centres around Bahrain, particularly at central prisons whilst systematic torture seems to be continuing in local detention centres where unconvicted prisoners are held. This report attempts to highlight areas where treatment of political detainees at these detention centres falls short of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMRTP) adopted by the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (Geneva 1955). The research methodology adopted is based on extensive interviews conducted with prisoners recently released and incorporates consistent reports that the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) receives from families of prisoners.

Report content:

1. Discrimination against political detainees
2. Separation of prisoner categories
3. Accommodation
4. Clothing and bedding
5. Food
6. Exercise and sport
7. Medical care
8. Discipline and punishment
9. Instruments of restraint
10. Information to and complaints by prisoners
11. Contact with the outside world
12. Books and formal education
13. Religion
14. Notification of death, illness, transfer, etc.
15. Conditions in local detention centres.

Report HERE PDF

Bahrain spirals into escalating violence
22 January 2012 – Trend
Bahrain has spiraled into escalating violence on the streets in recent days, several weeks after an independent commission report into last year’s violence was released in November, dpa reported.

On Saturday police and pro-government supporters clashed with hundreds of mourners in Muharraq, north of the Bahraini capital Manama, as they marched in the funeral of 24-year-old Yousif Muwali, who died in controversial circumstances on January 13th.

Muwali had gone missing on January 11th before his body was found on the sea-shore. Authorities say he died after drowning at sea, while relatives claim that he died in police custody and later had his body dumped by the shore.

The body was released to the family Saturday morning, but the authorities declined to authorize a funeral march. Mourners attempted to march inside the graveyard but clashes broke-out as they tried to head from the graveyard to a near-by street.

The clashes, which initially broke out with pro-government Sunni supporters as they tried to lock the mourners in the graveyard, were an unprecedented escalation in an area with large Sunni and Shiite residential mix, taking place inside the graveyard, a sacred location for Muslims.

The clashes left several injuries and several cars of people taking part in the funeral were damaged. The vice chairman of the opposition grouping Ekha, Ali Yousif Qodrat, was detained by police after they stormed the graveyard firing tear-gas.

The police action was backed-up by pro-government supporters armed with sticks and hurling rocks at mourners from various sides of the graveyard, before police finally stopped their assault but allowed them to remain in the vicinity and behind police lines.

Shortly after the clashes, several Shiite-owned businesses were vandalized by the pro-government supporters, in a repeat of the sectarian targeting seen in February and March of last year when the pro-reform protests broke-out.

Clashes were also reported in several areas across the small Gulf island on Saturday, with tire-burning protests to demand the release of political detainees.

In November a commission set up by Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa found that excessive force had been used against pro-reform protesters in a crack-down that began in mid-March with the introduction of martial law for almost 3 months, before being lifted.

Since the report’s release, some proposed reforms had been pushed forward by the government, but the key demands of the protesters have not been addressed while scores of people remain detained or facing trials, including political and religious leaders, medics, and other professionals.

The death toll from protest-related also continued to mount, surpassing 50 so far since February 14th, with many in the opposition now vowing to re-ignite the large protests by the first anniversary if the demands of political reform are not met. Those include a constitutional monarchy with a fully elected legislature and government.

Hardliners in the opposition and on the street continue to call for bringing down the regime.

The opposition protests in Lulu roundabout, in the heart of the capital, have attracted massive turnout for a month, before the authorities moved in against them taking control of the site.

The protest site remains locked-down and guarded by heavy security with protesters regularly attempting to retake it unsuccessfully. Tight security presence also remains across most parts of the country, with several protests flaring up on an almost daily basis.

Pro-government supporters have also escalated their tone in recent weeks, with some demanding strict implementation of anti-protest laws and vowing to stand-up against opposition groups. …source