The Bahrain Center for Human Rights says Saudi-backed Bahraini troops have detained 120 people during the past week, including 20 children and 2 women.

Bahraini regime arrests 120 people in a week

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – The Center said in a report on Saturday that “Saudi-backed Bahraini troops continued to arrest citizens and breach their homes during April 16-22. Within these days, they have arrested 120 people, 20 of whom children and 2 women.

“The regime’s troops have breached more than 61 homes during the period. At least 48 regions in Bahrain were exposed to public punishment by al-Khalifa troops.

More than 24 trial sessions were held for Bahraini citizens, some of which being extended, and also 35 of the detainees were released,” the report said. …more

The report mentioned that 132 arrests (105 males, 2 females and 24 children) have taken place. While 69 houses were arrested and 27 citizens were injured and 33 cases of torture by the regime forces were reported.

Bahrain regime committed wide violations during 10 days in concurrence with the F1 race
24 April, 2013 – ABNA

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – The Liberties and Human Rights Department (LHRD) in al-Wefaq National Islamic Society issued a report highlighting the wide violations Bahrain military and security authorities committed in concurrence with the Formula 1 race from 13th to 22nd April, 2013.

The report clarified that the violations took place one week before the Formula 1 race started in concurrence with the race’s preparations and continued for 10 days.

The report mentioned that 132 arrests (105 males, 2 females and 24 children) have taken place. While 69 houses were arrested and 27 citizens were injured and 33 cases of torture by the regime forces were reported.

The report also stated that more than 27 areas were subjected to collective punishment by the use of toxic gasses and the forces’ provocative presence in residential areas. In addition to security pursuits in alleys.

First: Arrest cases

132 citizens have been arrested (105 males, 2 females and 24 children), while 40 detainees were released during the same period. The LHRD noticed that the number of arrests increased during the Formula 1 race period between 19thand 21st of the current month. It said 43 were arrested on Friday 19th and 45 were arrested on Sunday 21st from different areas.

The report confirmed that all arrest cases took place without legal arrest warrants or inspection orders in private house raids. A bug number of the detainees were made to stand before the Public Prosecution which then issued orders to keep them in detention for more than one month while most were not given a chance to call lawyers. The detainees told their family members that they were subjected to mistreatment and harassment; some said they were subjected to torture.

Second: Torture and injury cases

Citizens were subjected to the regime forces attacks which left 27 with injuries by the use of fire arms (birdshot guns) and by weaponizing teargas canisters to injure the protesters. The reported injuries varied from moderate to serious, some were to the face and head.

A number of citizens were subjected to torture, 33 cases were documented, as the forces tend to brutally assault protesters during arrest. The forces beat the protesters with batons and guns to retaliate, according to detainees.

Third: House raids and collective punishment

The regime forces raided 69 private houses and buildings in different areas over ten days (between 13th- 22nd April 2013) claiming to be searching for “suspects”. In most of the cases, the LHRD documented vandalism and robbery of private property and belongings as well as breaking doors. In some cases, inhabitants were beaten, pepper-sprayed and insulted. One case of firing live ammunition on three houses by unknown persons was documented in the village of Aali. The firing resulted in material damage in the houses.

More than 27 cases of collective punishment were documented. Residential areas were rained with teargas and a state of insecurity was imposed in those areas.

Fourth: Attachments; video footages

1. The regime forces point bisrdshot guns from house rooftops HERE

2. Intensive firing on houses at night HERE

3. Rescuing a family which’s house was targeted with toxic teargas HERE

4. Brutal arrest of youth HERE

5. Children beated for no reason HERE

6. Regime forces arrest a child HERE

…source

Bahrain: Crackdown Intensifies in Wake of F1 Race
23 April, 2013 -Bahrain Center for Human Rights

As the world’s attention shifts away from Bahrain, the authorities have sharply intensified the crackdown on ordinary citizens. The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights are both seriously concerned for the well being of Nafeesa Al-Asfoor and Rayhana Al-Mosawi who were arrested on April 22nd after peacefully protesting at the F1 race with t-shirts and slogans that support the freedom of imprisoned human rights activist Zainab Al-Khawaja and imprisoned photographer Ahmed Humaidan.

The husband to Rayhana Al-Mosawi was also arrested and interrogated, but has been released. Both women have been charged under the terrorism law for attempting to detonate a bomb at the F1 race, according to the defendants’ lawyers. Both activists stand accused of:

(1) joining an illegal group aimed at disrupting the provisions of the Constitution, terrorism was among the means used to achieve or execute the objectives;

(2) awareness of a terrorist schema without informing the authorities.

The official Ministry of Interior statement about the arrest states that:
“On the second day of the Grand Prix, police assigned to the BIC gate stopped two girls who were acting suspiciously. After searching them it was found that one of them was carrying a pillow stuffed under her dress. The girl told police she was testing the security procedures as part of a recce for a terrorist act. The girls were referred to the Public Prosecutor.”
(Link to the MOI statement: http://www.policemc.gov.bh/news_details.aspx?type=1&articleId=14173

The BCHR and the BYSHR believes that the decision to charge these women as terrorists under such outrageous charges is intended to send a clear message to other peaceful protesters that there will be severe consequences for speaking up for human rights. Their initial detention period will be for sixty days.

The BCHR has received reports that the women were forced to provide names of other individuals, and implicate them in illegal activities. The BCHR has documented a pattern of behavior by the authorities to use torture to extract false confession from human rights activists and pro-democracy protesters.

On the same day that the Bahraini authorities imprisoned these women on trumped-up charges, the U.N. Office of the Special Rapporteur on Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment announced that they would again delay their visit to Bahrain at the request of the Bahraini authorities. The Special Rapporteur, Professor Juan Mendez, was also denied access in March of 2012 when he was last scheduled to visit the country.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights demand that:

1. The immediate release of Nafeesa Al-Asfoor and Rayhana Al-Mosawi, and the dropping of all trumped-up charges against them.

2. The Special Rapportour on Torture be allowed to visit the country and speak with the dozens of prisoners and ordinary citizens who have reportedly been tortured by the authorities.

…source