Bahrain Mirror: Amnesty International issued (March 15, 2018) an urgent action appeal to write to the King of Bahrain, demanding the quash the death sentences against two Bahraini men, convicted of "forming and joining a ‘terrorist' group."

Amnesty urged sending the appeals to Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and Justice Minister Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa.

According to information received by Amnesty International, Ali Mohamed Hakeem Al-Arab was tortured upon transfer to Jaw Prison.

The rights organization called for urging the Bahraini authorities to quash Ali Mohamed Hakeem Al-Arab and Ahmad Al-Malali's conviction and death sentences and to declare a moratorium on all executions, as a first step towards abolition of the death penalty; also urging the authorities to order a full re-trial of Ali Mohamed Hakeem Al-Arab and Ahmad Al-Malali, the proceedings of which must comply with international standards for a fair trial and where no evidence obtained

under torture is used, without resort to the death penalty; and to carry out an independent and impartial investigation into their allegations of torture, and bring those responsible to justice.

Amnesty further called for acknowledging the Bahraini government's responsibility to tackle crime and bring to justice those responsible,but insisting that this should always be done in accordance with international law and Bahrain's international human rights obligations.

This urgent appeal comes days after the UN High Commissioner for human rights website disclosed a letter sent by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to the Bahraini government about the torture of Ali Mohamed Hakeem Al-Arab, who was sentenced to death last January.

According to the information mentioned in the letter, on 9 February 2017, Ali Mohamed Hakeem Al-Arab, a 23-year-old Bahraini student, was arrested in Manama by law enforcement agents and taken to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID). The family of Al-Arab was not notified of his whereabouts until they received a phone call from him on 11 February 2017.

On 9 March 2017, the Ministry of Interior issued a statement identifying Al-Arab as the main suspect in the killing of a police officer on 29 January 2017.

Members of the UN Working Group and the Special Rapporteur expressed grave concern at the alleged torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of Ali Mohamed Hakeem Al-Arab at the Criminal Investigation Directorate and the Dry Dock prison in Bahrain.

A Bahraini court issued in January 2017, death sentences against Ali Al-Arab and others over establishing "terrorist group" and other fabricated charges based on confessions extracted under torture.

Arabic Version