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HR Groups: Sentence against 57 Detainees Is Punishment of Torture Victims

2016-01-30 - 1:41 am

Bahrain Mirror: Three Bahraini organizations condemned the sentences issued by Bahraini courts on January 25, 2016 to imprison 57 detainees to an additional 15 years over claims of their involvement in Jaw Prison riots that took place in March, 2015.

Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Bahrain Center for Human Rights highlighted in their report entitled "Inside Jau: Government Brutality in Bahrain's Central Prison" the reasons that led to the Jaw Prison incident. The report addressed the "physical torture, degrading treatment and overcrowding which remains the reason behind the systematic failure of the prison system in Bahrain."

The human rights organizations considered that "sentencing 57 persons to a long prison term in spite of the ill-treatment, torture and violations of legal procedures raised doubts not only about the validity and legitimacy of the charges, but also about whether any of the security forces involved in the assault will be prosecuted."

They further explained that the response of the Bahraini government in Jaw Central Prison poses a great concern to the international community, especially the United Nations. In July, the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights declared that the commissioner "is concerned about the harsh treatment of the detainees in Jaw Prison" following the riots, calling on the government to "carry out impartial, effective and quick investigations to ensure that the victims of torture or ill-treatment reach appropriate solutions." In September, the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council expressed its fear regarding "the security forces use of rubber bullets and tear gas which led to the injury of 500 prisoners at least."    

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