Bahrain Police “terrorise” families of children 13 years old and younger holding them hostage in adult prisons

Third week of Bahraini child in detention under “terrorism law”
24 December, 2012 – ABNA

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – The Bahrain Center for Human Rights is gravely concerned about the continuous violations against children’s rights in Bahrain. The authorities’ arrest, detention and ill treatment of children is on-going, with children as young as 13 getting arrested.

In a recent case, security forces held children aged 6 to 16 on a school bus. While the Bahraini authorities’ actions are a clear violation of the Convention of the Right of the Child, Bahrain was awarded a seat in the United Nations committee of the Right of the Child.

On 7 Dec 2012, Hussain Ali Al Saqqai (13 years old), Mohammed Abdulghani Al Shawaikh (13 years old) and Hussain Abduljalil Alhawaj (15 years old) were arrested from Manama following clashes between protesters and police, although to-date no evidence has been presented of them being part of it. According to information received by the BCHR, the children reportedly beaten and kicked in the head at the time of arrest. They were accused of attacking a police patrol and were taken to the public prosecution office. Mohammed Al Shawaikh and Hussain Al Saqqai were taken to the Juvenile prison in Isa Town while Hussain was detained for fifteen days at the Dry Dock prison with adults. Mohammed Al Shawaikh and Hussain Al Saqqai’s detention was extended twice to this day, as they are to be held in detention until December 27, 2012.

Ebrahim Al Muqdad, 15 years old, and Jehad Sadeq, 16 years old, were arrested on 23 July, 2012. The two young boys were subjected to ill treatment and their families did not know anything about their whereabouts for 24 hours. They have been in detention for more than four months to this day. Their last court hearing was yet again postponed to December 25 because of the absence of the Ministry of Interior’s witnesses, prolonging the process while they unlawfully remain in detention. The two boys are detained in an adult prison while being tried under Bahrain’s terrorism law. This law is condemned by many international groups including UN experts, as the definition of “terrorism” is very vague, and punishment under it is very harsh.

Qasim Juma Al Kuwait, 15 years old, was arrested on 12 December 2012, reportedly during a house raid. According to his family he was taken to the public prosecution and interrogated without the presence of a lawyer. He is currently held in Dry Dock prison.

Bahraini authorities continue to spread terror amongst children, as seen in the case which occurred on the on the 18th of December. Security forces stopped a school bus when it passed by Sitra police station. Children from Al Yarmook Elementary and Intermediate school (ages 6-16 years old) were forced off the bus and held at the police station. The children were held in the police station until their parents came to sign a pledge, and then were allowed to go. It was reported that one of the children argued with a policewoman and she yelled at him threatening him with imprisonment. The parents were notified that those of them who were “wanted” or had a prior record would be contacted by the police station[1]. …more