News of more deaths in Bahrain.

The total of deaths in January has now reached 9, making it the highest number in one month since March 2011. The situation in Bahrain is rapidly deteriorating as we reach the one year anniversary of the beginning of the protests on February 14th, 2011.

1 – *Saeed Ali Al-Sukari* (65) , from Aali, death announced early morning on the 25th, family says it’s due to excessive tear gas that was thrown in the area the night before.

2- *Abbas Jaffar AlShaikh* (26) from Daih, death announced at Salmanyia hospital due to cancer. Abbas is a protester who was injured many times since Feb 14, 2011, including injuries caused by birdshots. Speculations are that because he was increasingly subjected to teargas, that may have sped up the cancer. BHRS has stated that Abbas Jaffar Al.Shaikh after being shot in his back with sound bomb from a close distance caused him blood clotting. Picture HERE He was admitted to hospital on 27 Dec 2011. Some background about him HERE

For the first two cases, because of the difficulty of verifying the cause of death, the BCHR demands an independent forensic examination of the deceased.

3- *Muntadher Saeed Fakhar *(37), from Sanabis, Photo: HERE died under torture in Hoora police station within 24 hours from time of arrest. A witness has told BCHR that the police hit the car of Muntadhar, after which they beat him in the street near Jidhafs graveyard at around 1am , Jan 25 then arrested him. They also confiscated his car. BCHR has confirmed the marks of beating on the body of the victim before his burial – This Photo HERE shows what looks like marks of a shoe on the head of the victim, other photos HERE and HERE and a photo showing Muntadhar bleeding and handcuffed while sitting in police car at time of arrest HERE .

4- *Mohamed Ebrahim Yaqoob* (19) from Sitra , Photo HERE , was a victim of run over attempt by police in the afternoon- video HERE then was arrested, few hours later the ministry of interior announced his death over twitter without giving details of cause of death. HERE His Uncle has told BCHR that a police officer told them Mohamed had sickle cell, when the uncle replied that they have a video which proves the run over attempt the officer threatened him with accusation of illegal gathering. Lawyer Zahra Masood said today that the public prosecution refused to assign an independent forensic doctor to examine the body of the deceased. They also refused to allow the lawyer to examine the body.

Two funerals were held today in Noaim and Daih for three of the listed above , both were attacked with tear gas [noaim] HERE , the house of Abbas AlShaikh was also attacked after the funeral HERE .

Confirmed undisclosed Source

Bahrain confirms teen died in police custody
26 January, 2012 – AlJazeera

Bahrain authorities say a detainee has died after being taken into custody during clashes between security forces and protesters.

The government on Thursday issued a statement saying that public prosecutors are investigating the death.

The brief statement gave no further details on the death, but said the detainee was hospitalised and accused of “vandalism” during widespread demonstrations on Wednesday.

“He died in hospital and the public prosecution has been notified,” it said.

Leading opposition figure Matar Matar told the AFP news agency that Mohammed Yaaqub, 18, was chased by police vehicles and that his body “was stuck between two [police] cars that were following him”.

“Instead of receiving the necessary medical treatment, the police took him to the yard opposite Sitra police station where he was tortured,” said Matar, a former MP.

The interior ministry said 41 officers were injured in “orchestrated attacks on police” on Tuesday, as tensions rise almost a year after the eruption of Shia-led democracy protests that were crushed last March.

Ebahim told the Lebanese al-Akhbar newspaper that, “the new policy is trying to minimise torture inside prisons, but the alternative is that they torture in other places, such as construction sites”. …source

Monday Offers Bahrain Regime Chance to Free Targeted Medics
26 January, 2012 – Human Rights First

Washington, DC –The group of 20 Bahraini medics convicted by the dictatorship’s military court in September have had their next appeal hearing date suddenly moved-up to Monday, Jan. 30. This hearing gives the Bahrain regime a golden opportunity to show the world it is serious about human rights reform, said Human Rights First.

The regime targeted the medics for their treatment of pro-democracy protestors in February and March of 2011 and for telling the international media the truth about attacks on the demonstrators. They were informed earlier this week that their next appeal hearing, initially scheduled for March 19, would instead take place to Jan 30.

One of those detained and tortured into making a false confession is Dr. Nada Dhaif. She was sentenced to 15 years by the military court in a trial that fell well below recognizable legal standards. She told Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley, “We were totally surprised when they brought the hearing forward. I think this was done so that no international observers would be there to witness the sham trial – they’ve been shut out until March. It’s hard to know what will happen and, with all the disappointments we’ve had this last year, it’s hard to be optimistic. But we’ll keep on struggling and praying.”

February promises to be a vitally important month for the regime. The anniversary of Bahrain’s Arab Spring falls on the 14th and major protests are expected around that time.

Last week, Dooley was denied entry to Bahrain. He notes, “The fear is that the Bahraini government wants to keep observers out during this sensitive period. The dictatorship has some serious decisions to make – will it react with widespread violence like last year or will it show the world it has changed by allowing peaceful protests? Dropping the charges against the doctors would be a useful first step in showing it’s not going to be the same old repression as usual.”

Dooley also noted that Human Rights First is calling on the Bahraini government to immediately launch an investigation into who tortured the medics while they were in custody.

In recent weeks protestors have been attacked the police using tear gas, resulting in several deaths. There have also been fresh reports of torture in custody. The Bahrain regime admitted today that another man has died in custody in recent days. It did not elaborate or give further details about that incident.

“A month from now, we’ll know if the Bahrain regime’s claims to have changed are real or bogus,” concluded Dooley. “Monday is a key indicator. If the medics aren’t freed and the charges dropped the world can expect the violent crackdown to continue.” …source

Court rules Bahrain king’s emergency call was legal
Agence France-Presse – 25 January, 2012 – The National

A Bahraini court yesterday ruled that the king acted lawfully when he declared a quasi state of emergency in March ahead of a crackdown on Shiite-led protests.

The constitutional court “rejected the appeal into the constitutionality” of the state of National Safety, the state news agency reported.

National Safety is the first of two categories of exceptional measures that the king can resort to in times of emergency. The second is a full state of Martial Law.

An independent commission that King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had tasked with investigating the crackdown on a month-long protest in mid-March had recommended that the constitutional court review the royal declaration of a three-month state of National Safety.

The commission found 35 people were killed in the purge on protests, including five security personnel and five detainees who were tortured to death in custody. Hundreds more were hurt.

The defence teams of scores of the predominantly Shiite defendants who appeared before the National Safety Court had questioned the legality of the royal decree.

“This decree violated the laws of Bahrain. Many laws were suspended due to the decree,” said Matar Matar, a leading figure in Al Wefaq, the main Shiite opposition group.

Tensions have remained high in Bahrain since the crackdown last spring.

Sporadic violence has risen in recent weeks as the first anniversary approaches of the launch of the protests against the government. On Tuesday, Bahraini police dispersed anti-government protesters who blocked roads in several villages, a government statement said yesterday.

The public security chief, Major General Tariq Al Hassan, said that “vandals blocked roads” and threw petrol bombs during clashes on Tuesday night.

Gen Al Hassan added that security forces made “several arrests” in Shiite villages, but did not give the exact location of the clashes or if there were any injuries.

On Monday, the US said it was relocating embassy staff and their families to new neighbourhoods in Manama as part of safety precautions amid anti-government unrest.

Bahrain’s Shiite community, a majority in the kingdom ruled by the Sunni Al Khalifa dynasty, has complained of marginalisation. …source