Home

torture

International Mission to Bahrain Report: "Justice Denied in Bahrain"posted on: 2012/01/23

The following report documents the findings of a delegation comprised of representatives from six international rights groups (three members and three partners of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, IFEX), which carried out a fact-finding mission between 20-30 November, 2011, in order to gain an understanding of the state of free expression and the status of human rights defenders in Bahrain.

Uzbekistan: Reported torture in detention of human rights defender Mr Azam Farmonovposted on: 2011/11/29

Front Line has learnt from reliable sources that human rights defender Mr Azam Farmonov has been tortured in detention.

"I tried to do my best" Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja

Even though I knew Abdulhadi, our friend and former colleague was tortured, it was truly awful to read about the barbaric treatment he got. The Bahrain Independent Committee (BICI) forensic team included details of his treatment in the report launched yesterday.

Yes we knew he had been beaten so badly that he had to have a 4 hour operation on his face.He had four broken bones.

But what we didn't know, was that in hospital, he had been blindfolded and shackled to the bed for about seven days . When he asked the hospital staff to loosen the cuffs, they refused.The doctor told him that he needed three weeks of care but he was taken to Al Qurain Prison a week later. We didn't know he spent two months in solitary confinement in a small cell measuring approximately 2.5m x 2m.

Eight days after his surgery,the beatings started again. Masked guards cursed him and hit him in his head and hands, causing swelling. . He was also beaten on the soles of his feet (falaka) and on his toes. He was sexually abused and threatened with execution.

Tags:
View all blogs

Front Line Coordinates Protest for Abdulhadi Al Khawaja - Bahrainposted on: 2011/11/07

September 15, 2011. As part of the Dublin Platform, Front Line organised a protest in support of Abdulhadi Al Khawaja before the Saudi Embassy in Dublin.

Bahrain: Cautious welcome for announcement of new trial for medical professionals before a civilian courtposted on: 2011/10/06

Following the international outcry over the sentencing of 20 medical professionals to sentences ranging from 5 to 15 years the Attorney General of Bahrain has announced that the medics will now have a new trial before a civilian court.

Further Information

Front Line Defenders welcomes this positive news while treating it with due caution given the failure of the Bahraini Government to honour previous commitments to transfer all outstanding cases to civilian courts and to reinstate those people who had been dismissed from their jobs because of their alleged participation in the pro-democracy demonstrations.

This announcement does nothing to address the fact that human rights defenders, political activists, health professionals and trade unionists have been subjected to summary justice, arrested on trumped up charges, held incommunicado, tortured and denied access to their lawyers and families. To date 208 people have been sentenced to prison terms – while one person has been sentenced to death.

Bahrain - What kind of people can do a thing like this?

Yesterday evening I went along to meet the first of the human rights defenders arriving for the Dublin Platform - Professor Abdulla Alderazi from Bahrain - he was being interviewed by the Irish Times.

As we chatted after the interview he told me a story - sadly a true story.

During the clampdown one of the people arrested was a young journalist.

He was taken into a room which was set up like a court - where he was "tried" and sentenced to death.

Then they took him into an "execution chamber" and put the noose around his neck.

They asked him what his last words were and he said "Tell my wife I love her" - and then they pushed him over the edge.

It was a sham - the whole thing was a cruel set up - apparently a new torture technique introduced by some of the torturers who previously worked for Saddam Hussein.

Since then this bright intelligent young man - doesn't go out - doesn't talk to people - doesn't want to see anybody. He isn't one of the high profile cases - but he will live with the effects of this torture for years to come.

Tags:
View all blogs

Saudi Arabia: Torture of imprisoned human rights defender Mukhlif Al Shammariposted on: 2011/08/04

On 27 July 2011 human rights defender Mr Mukhlif Al Shammari was severely beaten until he lost consciousness. Whilst unconscious soldiers at the Al Damman General Prison forced a bottle of Dettol disinfectant down his throat.

Mukhlif Al Shammari is a prominent pro-democracy and pro-reform human rights defender and journalist who was imprisoned in June 2010, charged with “annoying others” with his writings. See: path:../node/14951| See previous Front Line Appeal.

On 27 July 2011, at approximately 3.00pm, Mukhlif Al Shammari was informed by soldiers that he was to be transferred from his prison cell at the Al Dammam General Prison, to a nearby hospital where he was to undergo a series of medical tests. Mukhlif Al Shammari was removed from his cell and held in the prison waiting room but was not transferred to a hospital.

After some time, Mukhlif Al Shammari was approached by Lieutenant Majeed Asmari, who was accompanied by seven soldiers. Lieutenant Majeed Asmari began shouting “dog” at Mukhlif Al Shammari and ordered the soldiers to place handcuffs on his wrists and shackles on his feet in order to restrict his movements.

Bahrain/Dublin: Professor Eoin O'Brien writes in todays Irish Examiner on the findings of the recent humanitarian mission to Bahrain posted on: 2011/08/02

Professor Eoin O'Brien writes in todays Irish Examiner on the findings of the recent humanitarian mission to Bahrain to offer support to imprisoned Bahraini doctors and their families.Three of the imprisoned doctors, Dr Ali Al Ekri, Dr Basim Daif and Dr Ghassan Daif studied in the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin.

HIPPOCRATIC OATH

The delegation was led by Professor Damian McCormac, who was also joined by Ms Averil Power TD (member of the Irish Parliament). Ms Marion Harken MEP, Mr David Andrews former Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Front Line representatives Andrew Anderson and Khalid Ibrahim. The full text of the article is published below.

"I went home from my work as usual following a day of work as an oncologist at the Salymaniya Medical Centre. I was awoken from sleep at 3 a.m. when the door of my apartment was kicked open and I was pulled form my bed by two men who then ransacked the flat, shook and searched my four-year old child, packed my personal papers and computer, and then dragged me from my flat to an a van surrounded by police cars. I protested that my child was alone and young and was told she would be looked after.

Bahrain: UPDATE - 46 doctors nurses and other health professionals still in detention or facing trialposted on: 2011/07/26

While Front Line initially welcomed the appointment of the Royal Independent Investigation Committee and the decision to refer all remaining trials to civilian courts the organisation is concerned at the continued detention of 12 doctors, nurses and other health professionals and the situation of a further 34 who still have charges pending despite being released on bail.

Further Information

According to reports received today, 12 doctors, nurses and health professionals remain in detention, 34 have been released on bail but are still facing charges and 12 have been released without charge.