By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

Some activists were arrested following protests on December 17.  The activists gathered to remember protesters that were abused by the police abuses in the early 1990’s. These protests escalated after an activist was killed, which led to rioting and the arson of a police vehicle.   The police arrested some rioters to retain the peace.  The detainees were arrested for illegal possession of weapons and theft stemming from the riots.

Those detainees that were arrested in mid-December have complained that they were tortured and even sexually assaulted by their police interrogators.  For example, Maytham Badr al-Shaykh complained to his family on January 16, 2008 that he was sexually assaulted by interrogators.  Maytham told his father, “On New Year’s evening, they ‘celebrated’ with me. They stripped me and gave me shocks and stuck something wooden up inside me,” Al-Shaykh’s father said. “He whispered it to me when the guards allowed me to embrace him.”  Maytham told his brother that “they violated my manhood” by beating him while he was suspended by his hands. (Human Rights Watch)

However, an official from Bahrain has denied the allegations and assured reporters that the allegations have been investigated and that the activists have been examined by a forensic physician and that the physician dismissed found no signs of torture.

Bahrain must protect its citizens and ensure that the imprisoned they are being treated humanely.  “‘Bahrain’s response to allegations of torture against dissidents will show whether it really respects basic human rights,’ said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. ‘Bahrain should launch an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of grave abuses in detention centers.’” (Human Rights Watch)

For more information, please see:

PR-Inside (AP)- Rights watchdog calls Bahrain to look into detainee torture, sexual assault reports- 22 January 2008

Human Rights Watch- Bahrain: Investigate Alleged Torture of Activists- 21 January 2008