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BAHRAIN: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND CALLS FOR INVESTIGATIONS.

Amnesty International urges the Government of Bahrain to investigate grave violations of human rights committed by its forces since December 1994 in response to mass protests calling for the restoration of democratic rights.

In a 50-page report published today, the organization describes mass detention without trial of protesters, convictions after grossly unfair trials, the systematic and routine torture of detainees, killings of unarmed civilians and the forcible exile of Bahraini nationals.

“The brutality with which the protests have been put down plunged the country into a human rights crisis,” Amnesty International said. None of the crimes committed over the past 10 months have been investigated and no one has been brought to justice.

Since December security forces and riot police, using live ammunition, have killed at least 10 unarmed demonstrators. One of the victims was ‘Abd al-Hamid Qassem, a 17-year-old schoolboy. In several incidents tear gas was deliberately used in enclosed places. Ambulances were often prevented by security forces from carrying the wounded to hospital and doctors were threatened with dismissal if they treated the injured.

Widespread protests erupted in Bahrain following the arrest of Shaikh ‘Ali Salman, a prominent and popular religious scholar, in December. His arrest coincided with the circulation of a petition signed by some 25,000 people calling on the Amir to allow the National Assembly (dissolved since 1975) to reconvene in accordance with the country’s Constitution.

Two detainees, including 16-year-old Sa’id al-Iskafi, have died in custody and scores of others have been tortured under interrogation. As many as 4,000 people may have been arrested. While hundreds were later released, an unknown number are still in prison. Women and schoolgirls were also targeted for the first time and held incommunicado without charge or trial.

Scores of children, some as young as 10 years old, have been arrested and ill-treated in detention.

“Children under the age of 15 have been charged with offences such as incitement of hatred towards the government. Several were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment,” Amnesty International said.

The Government of Bahrain has denied the scale of violations committed in its name. The authorities tried to justify their strong-arm tactics in quelling the protests by pointing to acts of violence allegedly committed by protesters, including the killing of three police officials, blaming “extremist elements supported by foreign powers”.

The government has also refused to release information on the identities of those arrested or even those released, and where they are being held. The vast majority are held incommunicado and denied access to their families, lawyers and doctors.

“The prisons and police stations became so overcrowded that makeshift detention centres were used to hold people,” Amnesty International said.

About 150 detainees, both adults and children, have so far been convicted on charges connected with the protests and sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging between six months and life. One defendant was sentenced to death for premeditated murder.

At least 80 detainees received grossly unfair trials held in camera before the State Security Court, which convicts on the basis of uncorroborated “confessions” routinely extracted under torture.

All the defendants were denied access to their lawyers until the day of their trial.

“Statements issued by the authorities about the validity of the charges against some defendants before their trials began may have seriously undermined their right to be presumed innocent,” the human rights organization said.

The government has barred Amnesty International from the country. “We have repeatedly tried to send a delegation to Bahrain to investigate reports of human rights violations and to hold talks with officials but without success. Thousands of appeals sent by our members on behalf of victims remain without response,” Amnesty International said.

If you are a UK based journalist and require further information please call the AIUK Press Office on 0171 814 6248 or e-mail

bdooley@ai-uk.gn.apc.org
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If you are reading this page outside of the UK and require further information about Amnesty, please contact your local section or the International Secretariat of Amnesty International.

* 7 September 1995: More than 12 thousands people poured into the streets of Nuweidrat, the home village of the leading pro-democracy leader Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain, who was detained last March, in anticipation of his release today together with 150 people as part of a deal with the jailed leaders of the opposition. People from all over the country gathered peacefully, but the vast number of them caused a huge traffic jam and people had to walk miles for the reception part. The authorities hesitated in it compliance with the agreement and released false news stating that no deal was struck with the leaders of the opposition in an attempt to divert attention.

At 2.15 pm, several leaders who had been released on 16 August as part of the deal were called for a lengthy meeting at the Ministry of the Interior. During the meeting the security authorities expressed their unease at the mass gatherings and reception part for Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain. At the end of the meeting the authorities stated that they will release Mr. Hussain tomorrow, Friday 8 September, at a no specified time and that the 150 people will be released in batches starting Saturday 9 September. Two of the leaders went back to the gatherings at 9.00 pm (seven hours later) and informed about the outcome of the lengthy meeting. The crowds replied with slogans warning the government of the grave consequences if they slide back and refuse to release Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain as scheduled.

* 8 September: Despite the denial of the Bahraini Information Minister that there exists an agreement between the jailed opposition leaders and the government, Mr. Abdul Wahab Hussain has been released today just before 7.00 pm (Bahrain local time). The release is part of the agreement to free 150 people together with Mr. Hussain on 7 September. Crowds started gathering in a much larger number reaching 20 thousands people. The security authorities delayed the release until the evening at around 7.00 pm. However, at around 6.00 pm the security forces attacked parts of the crowds by tear gas and rubber bullets. It later transpired that this attack was a revenge one against the people who defied all government’s threats and proved that the will of the people is stronger than the suppression of the oppressors.

As part of the agreement, around 600 people are scheduled to be released on 30 September together with the leading opposition leader Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-Jamri. * 12 September: Resumption of reconciliation talks. In a meeting yesterday attended by opposition leaders (including the jailed Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-Jamri) and representatives of the government, it was agreed to resume the reconciliation talks and proceed forward with the release of detainees as scheduled. As a result some fifty people were released today to be followed by a hundred more prisoners in the following days. This is in line with the deal that had been agreed previously. Sheikh Abdul Amir Al-Jamri and about 600 people would still be released by the end of September. Amongst the agreed points was the acceptance by both parties that the aim of this initial stage would be to establish stability and security. Thence forward, political dialogue will take place with the Amir, Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, with the ultimate aim of restoring the constitution within the framework of national consensus.

On the other hand the spokesperson for the Bahrain Freedom Movement said that the statements made by the prime minister to the national press on 11 September in which he accused the opposition as being foreign-inspired are not conducive to the spirit of national reconciliation. He added that the political struggle to attain democracy through the reinstatement of the National assembly would continue utilizing all possible peaceful means.

* Inside Bahrain, the freed leaders of the opp