Bahrain Mirror: The Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (GIDHR) confirmed that Bahraini prisoners held in five prisons are deprived of their most basic rights, including the right to adequate food.

In response to the Interior Ministry who claimed that prison authorities are performing their humanitarian duties, the Gulf Institute said: "The statement of the Bahraini Ministry of Interior (MoI) is inaccurate and The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is urgently demanded to  inspect the conditions of prisons and detainees in Bahrain."

GIDHR further stressed that the MoI statement contradicts the inhuman practices exercised on the detainees in all prisons, in Bahrain.

"Detainees in five prisons are deprived of their most basic rights, such as the right to food, visits, communications, education, medical care and religious practice. In addition to the inhuman and degrading practices, and the spread of hate speech by the prisons administrations," noted GIDHR.

The Institute went on to say that prisons' administrations are tightening restrictions on prisoners and using 21 methods of torture and ill-treatment, as well as imposing new restrictions on communication and family visits.

GIDHR also said that it has received information that on 9 October, the prison administration raided the building where the detained opposition leaders are kept, and searched it in a humiliating manner, for about 3 hours. Moreover, On Monday, 23 October 2017, the family of the detainee Parweez Jawad (70 years old) received a phone call, informing them that he refused to be treated in the hospital because the prison administration had required his hands and legs to be shackled in chains.

The Gulf Institute highlighted as well the ongoing neglect of the conditions of sick prisoners and their need for treatment and medicine, and procrastination of the detainees' treatments. "Detainee Hassan Al-Mushaima has developed cancer, and needs a periodic check, however he is deprived of treatment. Detainee, Elias Faisal Mulla, is developing Colorectal cancer. Ahmed Mirza is suffering from sickle cell disease and needs permanent care, and he is deprived of treatment. Detainee Aqil Hassan Jassim Abdul Nabi suffers from epilepsy and from a very harsh physical and psychological condition."

Concluding its press release, the Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights reaffirmed its urgent appeal to the ICRC to examine the conditions of prisons and detainees in Bahrain, urging the international community to pressure the government to allow the Special Rapporteurs to visit Bahrain.

Arabic Version