The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its grave concern regarding the Bahraini authorities holding of two detainees in incommunicado detention at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), placing them at serious risk of torture and ill-treatment.
On 27 December 2014, masked security forces raided a house where two wanted men were arrested. Salman Isa (31 years-old) was one of the arrested individuals; he has previously been sentenced to sixty-five years in prison, and had his citizenship revoked by a court order in November 2014. Ali Makki (26 years-old) was also arrested; he has been sentenced to seventy years in prison. Both detainees were charged in multiple cases with terrorism charges including “conducting bombing operations, murder and violent attacks on policemen in East Ekar village”. They were taken to an open area in al-Eker village and videotaped by security forces; witnesses stated that security forces beat Isa and Makki until they fell unconscious. Security forces were also heard threatening them with death and torture. Several houses or apartments were raided after Isa and Makki’s arrest, including an apartment used as headquarter for a Shia religious society which organizes peaceful religious events and processions. The apartment was also used to store equipment used in these events, such as audio devices, speakers, flags and cameras which were all confiscated by security forces. The security forces then raided the home of Shaker Abdulrasool, the President of the society, and arrested him.
On the morning of the next day, 28 December 2014, the families of the detainees received a call from Makki, Isa and Abdulrasool, informing them that they are currently being held at the CID before the line was cut. On the same day, the MOI published the pictures of Makki and Isa stating that they were fugitives who were convicted in absentia. The Ministry claimed that they had weapons which they used during arrest; however, witnesses denied that either of the detainees had any weapons during arrest and stated that they had seen members of the security forces placing weapons in the detainees’ car. The reason for arresting Shaker Abdulrasool remains unknown.
It has been more than a week since their arrest, and the authorities continue to deny the detainees contact with their families, or legal counsel. Makki and Isa’s families visited the CID in an attempt to gather more information, but they were shouted at by officers and told to leave the building without being provided with any information. Similarly, Shaker’s family asked at the CID for his whereabouts and attempted to give his diabetes medicine to the guards. However, officials at the CID refused to take the medicines, and did not provide any information about whether he was at their custody.
The BCHR reiterates the UN Commission on Human Rights’ view that “prolonged incommunicado detention may facilitate the perpetration of torture and can in itself constitute a form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture.” Concerns over Salman and Ali’s wellbeing become increasingly acute the longer that they are detained incommunicado at the CID. In 2011, the BICI documented the cases of more than one detainee tortured to death at the CID. In addition, BCHR has documented dozens of torture and ill-treatment cases carried out by security forces at the CID.
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights calls on the international community and the governments of the US, UK and other close allies of Bahrain to put pressure on the Government of Bahrain to immediately:
- Allow Salman Isa, Ali Makki and Shaker Abdulrasool immediate access to their families and lawyers and update them on the status of their detention and general well-being;
- Vacate Isa’s, Makki’s sentences and to unconditionally release all political prisoners;
- Put an end the practice of incommunicado detention;
- Urge the Government of Bahrain to replace its anti-terrorism laws with legislation that does not encroach upon citizens’ rights.