Bahrain Mirror: The European-Bahraini Organization for Human Rights (EBOHR) denounced the verdict issued against the Bahraini citizen Taiba Darwish, sentencing her to 5 years in prison. In a statement issued on Thursday (March 31, 2016), EBOHR said that the "sentence was politically motivated," considering that the "judicial system in Bahrain is unfair, lacks independence and is used to retaliate against activists and citizens who call for rights."

The human rights organization further stated that Darwish was subjected to ill-treatment during interrogation and detention, including insults and brutal treatment that worsened her psychological condition. She was also deprived of family visits and contact with the outside world for long periods of time during detention, added EBOHR.

Taiba Darwish is in her 40s and a mother of three. She single-handedly supports her family due to her husband's illness. Since she receives a low income, she leased part of her home and wasn't aware of the identities of the tenants, according to the organization. She was convicted over charges of "harbouring wanted suspects."

The EBOHR called on the Bahraini authorities to release Mrs. Taiba Darwish and all female prisoners held over politically-motivated cases, including the human rights defender Zainab Al-Khawaja and Rayhana Al-Musawi. It further demanded that all violations practiced by security bodies be put to an end and that perpetrators of these violations against Bahraini women be held accountable.

Arabic Version