Bahrain Mirror: The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) called on the Government of Bahrain to immediately and unconditionally release 16-year-old Abbas Oun, demanding it to put an end to the practice of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearance in the country.

In an appeal published on their website, the BCHR said that the child, Abbas Oun, has been subjected to enforced disappearance since his arrest six days ago.

They noted that on February 14, 2017, at around 8pm, Abbas Ali Oun was arrested a few meters away from his home. His family told BCHR that he was beaten on the head at the time of arrest, and when his mother tried to talk to the officer, a security man pushed her then beat her with a gun on her shoulder. "Oun's sister was slapped in the face, beaten with a gun on her shoulder and sprayed in the face with pepper spray."

After his interrogation session on February 16 at the public prosecution, he was charged with "illegal gathering, possession of a molotov cocktail and damage of a police vehicle." Oun; however, denied all charges raised against him.

The 16-year-old told the prosecutor that he was subject to beating immediately after his arrest by police officer Nawaf Al-Buaineen, added the HR group, further stating that he was interrogated at the Samaheej police station, where he was threatened with torture to force him into making confessions.

BCHR also stressed that Oun was not allowed to talk to his lawyer prior to the interrogation, noting that the prosecutor has ordered Oun to be kept in detention for another 15 days pending investigation, "which puts him at risk of being subject to further ill treatment at the police station."

The human rights organization highlighted that Oun's family were not able to have any direct contact with him, expressing fear for his safety, given that he is a sickle cell patient.

BCHR concluded its statement by calling on the government of Bahrain to immediately and unconditionally release Abbas Oun, and guarantee his safety from further ill-treatment in detention; allow him to have direct and immediate contact with his family and lawyer; put a stop to the practice of arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance and torture; and as a signatory to the International Convention for the Rights of the Child, respect, uphold and implement the conditions of the international treaty.

Abbas is the latest victim of the practice of arbitrary arrests, torture, and excessive force. Three of his brothers are already held in detention over similar circumstances.