Bahrain Mirror: Amnesty International called to take an urgent action in case of Mohammad Ramadan Isa Ali Hussein and Hussein Ali Mousa Hussein Mohammad who were sentenced to death in Bahrain.

The organization asked its supporters to writes letters to Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, after the High Criminal Court of Appeal set December 25 as a date to issue its final verdict against both of the men.

On 22 October 2018, Bahrain's Cassation Court overturned their death sentences which it had confirmed in 2015 and returned their cases to the Appeal Court for re-examination, based on new evidence.

Amnesty attached a sample letter its supporters can use. The letter read:

Your Excellency,

On 25 December 2019, the High Criminal Court of Appeal is expected to issue its verdict into the cases of Hussain Ali Moosa Hussain Mohamed and Mohamed Ramadhan Issa Ali Hussain, who both faced death sentences following an unfair trial relying on so-called "confessions" extracted under torture. Their case is currently being reviewed following evidence of the torture they were subjected to.

In December 2014, Hussain Ali Moosa and Mohamed Ramadhan were sentenced to death for the killing of a policeman. During the trial, Hussain Ali Moosa's forced "confession" was used as the main piece of evidence against him and was also used to incriminate Mohamed Ramadhan. On 16 November 2015, the Court of Cassation confirmed the death sentences. In March 2018 the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) brought forth medical reports by doctors affiliated to the Ministry of Interior, indicating that the two men had been tortured; and recommended a review of the trial. On 22 October 2018, the Bahraini Court of Cassation overturned the death sentences pending review by the High Criminal Court of Appeal under a new panel of judges.

We call on the Bahraini authorities to ensure that the verdict in the case of Hussain Ali Moosa Hussain Mohamed and Mohamed Ramadhan Issa Ali Hussain is the fair outcome of a trial that has fully complied with international fair trial standards, that excluded evidence obtained under torture and without recourse to the death penalty. Also, we call on your Excellency to ensure that all those suspected of the torture of the two men are held accountable and to guarantee the two men reparations including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of nonrepetition. We acknowledge the authorities' duty to prevent crime and bring those responsible to justice, but emphasize that this should always be done in accordance with Bahrain's international human rights obligations; and urge Bahrain to commute all death sentences to terms of imprisonment and immediately establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

Yours sincerely,

Security forces arrested Hussain Ali Moosa Hussain Mohamed, a hotel employee, on 21 February 2014, and Mohamed Ramadhan Issa Ali Hussain on 20 March 2014 at Bahrain International Airport where he worked as a member of the security forces. The two men were taken to the Criminal Investigations Department where they were tortured during interrogation. Hussain Ali Moosa said he was coerced to sign a confession which was later used to convict both men. They were sentenced to death for the killing of a policeman, who died in a bomb explosion in Al-Dair. Hussain Ali Moosa and Mohamed Ramadhan are held in Jaw prison in south Manama, Bahrain's capital.

Arabic Version