…from beneath the crooked bough, witness 230 years of brutal tyranny by the al Khalifas come to an end
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Khalil Al Madhoon: A Tortured Artist in the Prisons of the Capital of Culture 2012 – Bahrain

by Courtesy

Khalil Al Madhoon: A Tortured Artist in the Prisons of the Capital of Culture 2012 – Bahrain
by BCHR

Khalil Ebrahim AlMadhoon

Age: 25 years
Marital Status: Married
Degree: Bachelor of Art Education 2010, Helwan University (Egypt) – GPA: Very good
Job: Director of decoration at a construction company
Art field: Calligrapher and wood art
Awards: Several local and international. List of Awards included at the bottom of the page.

Detention: Detained since 23 March 2011
Sentenced by martial court: 15 years in prison

Khalil AlMadhoon is a Bahraini artist who is one of very few artists in Bahrain who use wood as a medium in their artwork. He also uses Arabic calligraphy in his pieces and has mastered the art of murals. Nowadays however, Khalil is a political detainee who has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by military court for daring to dream of democracy and freedom and manifesting these dreams in his artwork.
Revolution’s dream: an artwork of “I’m a sacrifice for my country”

After 15 March 2011, following the entry of Saudi troops into Bahrain and the fierce attack on Pearl Roundabout, Khalil had one goal. His goal was to complete a piece of artwork which he had drawn in his imagination for weeks and finally had time to work on. He spent several nights working on what he believed represented the dream of every Bahraini. This painting has a background of the revolution’s icon of freedom, the demolished “Lulu Monument” (pearl roundabout) with a man holding the Bahraini flag and Arabic calligraphy stating “Ana Fida Watani – I’m a sacrifice for my country”.

Arrest and torture

Every pro-democracy protester expected to be arrested following the entry of Saudi troops after the declaration of a state of emergency. Many people were being targeted for their political beliefs of opposition to the government. Khalil knew he would most probably get arrested at some point. He slept every night with worries and concerns, but not for long. On the dawn of 23rd March, his house was raided. He was arrested alongside three of his brothers: Hamid (27 years old), Taher (18 years old) and Jihad (15 years old) and several of his cousins. They were all beaten before being taken away. Khalil was first taken to the detention center of Al Qala’ah (Ministry of Interior HQ) next to Al Noaim police station, then to Qudhaibiya police station and finally to the Dry Dock detention center in ward 8 which falls under control of the National Security Apparatus. Khalil was subjected to torture and ill-treatment at every detention center he was sent to. He was admitted to the military hospital in March for about a week, to be then moved to the military prison, Al Qurain prison. Marks of torture are still visible on his nose, chin and hands.