Bahrain: Waves of Arrests and Beatings include minors

BHR 221297
and
CHILD CONCERN
BHR 221297.CC

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Bahrain. 

Brief description of the situation :

The Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO), member of the network,
has expressed its grave concern over a further wave of arrests. During
the last five months, at least 135 adults were allegedly arrested by
the security forces and are being detained incommunicado, mostly
without valid charges. (A list of persons detained is available from
the International Secretariat.)

According to the information received, some of those arrested were
allegedly rounded up during street demonstrations or gatherings by a
special security force formed mainly of recruits from other countries.
More generally however, the security forces entered villages and
neighbourhoods, often in the aftermath of street demonstrations,
seeking to arrest persons individually or en masse. These arrests
generally took the form of house raids around or just after midnight.

Most of those detained were allegedly severely beaten when they were
arrested : they were punched, kicked, and hit with gun butts while
they were taken handcuffed and blindfolded. In most cases the security
forces ransacked the house, damaged its content and insulted or beat
any resident showing signs of discontent.

The main reason behind these arrests seems be to discourage
anti-regime activities such as participation in demonstrations or
gatherings, painting graffiti and distributing pamphlets.


CHILD CONCERN
BHR 221297.CC

The Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO) has also expressed its
grave concern over the alleged arrest, during the same period and
under the same circumstances, of at least 145 minors. (A list of
children detained is available from the International Secretariat)

The International Secretariat recalls once again that Bahrain is State
Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that
"a child means every human being below the age of 18 years" and
provides that  arrest, detention and imprisonment of a child may not
be used unless it is a measure of last resort and for the briefest
period possible. Moreover; State parties should ensure that no child
shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment.

Action requested :

Please write to the Bahrain authorities, urging them to :

i.	guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all children
detained and order their immediate release if they are detained
without valid charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before a
competent and impartial civil tribunal and guarantee their procedural
rights at all times;

ii.	guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all adults
detained and order their immediate release if they are detained
without valid charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before a
competent and impartial civil tribunal and guarantee their procedural
rights at all times;

iii.	put an end to the arbitrary arrest and detention of people,
especially minors, by the police;

iv.	guarantee an impartial and exhaustive enquiry into the facts
concerning any human rights violations, identify those responsible,
bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative
sanctions provided by legislation;

v.	ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and
international standards.

Addresses:

His Highness Shaikh 'Issa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Office of His
Highness the Amir, P.O. Box 555, The Amiri Court, Rifa'a Palace,
Bahrain. Fax : + 973 668884. Telex : 8666 Qasar BN; 8500 Qasar BN

His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister,
P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain. Telex : 9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO
BN

His Excellency Shaikh Muhammad Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of
Interior, P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 276765 or
290526. Telex : 9572 PSMKT BN OR 8333 ALAMAN BN

Geneva, 22 December 1997

Kindly inform us of any action taken quoting the code of the present
appeal in your apply.

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.