Bahrain Mirror: Five Bahraini human rights organizations expressed their deep concern at the information they received about the intention of the German authorities to deport Bahraini citizen Ahmad Nawwar from their territories to Bahrain after examining his asylum application and protection.

They said in a statement on Thursday (November 8, 2018) that "the signatory organizations fear that Nawwar will be at risk if he will be deported to Bahrain, especially with increasing number of cases of activists or detainees who been tortured under interrogation or custody."

Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Bahrain Forum for Human Rights, Bahrain German Organization for Human Rights and Democracy and Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights explained that "Nawwar participated in many anti-arbitrary activities in Bahrain during his stay in Germany. He also participated in different media programs, expressed his views on social media, and delivered speeches opposing the Bahraini government's policy. He fears that all these acts will be used against him if he is deported to Bahrain."

The organizations stated in their statement "Nawwar has been living with concern since Germany authorities decision to deport him from the court, the local police may implement the decision at any time."

This is not the first time that Bahraini nationals have been deported from countries where they have applied for asylum or taken refuge in order to escape the influence of the security agency in Bahrain. The Dutch authorities deported Bahraini citizen Ali Shuwaikh, who arrived at Bahrain airport late on Saturday 20th October where he was arrested on arrival and transferred to an unknown destination.

In January 2014, Omani authorities handed over Bahraini citizen Sadiq Jafar Al-Shaabani, 31 years, after being arrested by the Omani intelligence service. According to information obtained by human rights organizations in Bahrain, Al-Shaabani was severely tortured in the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) building.

"Bahrain National Security Agency responsible for the arrests is considered to be the deadliest body in the country. The results of the investigations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry concluded that this Agency practices torture and physical and psychological ill-treatment like what happens to Abdul Kareem Fakhrawi and Ali Issa Saqr," the 5 organizations further stated.

The fact-finding committee recommended freezing the authorities of this Agency in terms of criminal arrest and investigation and limiting its work to research and investigation. However, the government reintroduced the authority of investigation and re-arrest of this agency since January 2017.

The signatories to this joint statement hold the German authorities responsible for the safety of Bahraini citizen Ahmed Nawwar, calling them "to reconsider their decision, especially when they tolerate Nawwar's torture and inhuman treatment once he deport to Bahrain."

Amnesty International issued a report in 2017 entitled "No one can protect you", which contained details of claims and complaints of torture, including the case of woman human rights activist Ibtisam al-Saegh where she been physical tortured and sexual assaulted during interrogation at National Security Agency headquarters in Muharraq.

Arabic Version