Bahrain
16.06.00
Urgent Interventions
Bahrain: 5 children detained, and young boy tortured
Bahrain: 5 children detained, and young boy tortured
Case BHR 160600.CC
CHILD CONCERN
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO), a member of the network, of the detention of 5 children and the torture in detention of one child.
According to the information received, on 25 May 2000, during dawn raids, security forces attacked Iskan-Jedhafs and detained Abdulla Saeed Jasim Azbeel, 13, Seyyed Jaffer Seyyed Hussain, 13 and Mahmood Mansoor Al-Asmakh, 13. It is reported that they were taken to Adleya detention centre.
On the same day, it is reported that the security police summoned Ali Makki, 13. Also, earlier, it was noted that Mosa Jaffer Al-Sheikh (child) was also detained and had only been released when his family paid an arbitrary fine.
According to BHRO, Mohammed Jawad Makki, 14, from the same area, had been detained and tortured. He was released and now he is using crutches because of the torture he was subjected to.
The International Secretariat of OMCT recalls that Bahrain is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 37b) which states that "The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time." Furthermore, that "No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Bahrain urging them to:
take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons;
order their immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
guarantee an immediate investigation into these allegations of torture and these alleged arbitrary arrests, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards;
guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
His Highness Hamad Bin Issa 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 Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain. Telex : 9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO BN. FAX: + 973 533033.
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 276765 or 290526 or 754303. Telex : 9572 PSMKT BN OR 8333 ALAMAN BN
Geneva, June 16, 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
Case BHR 160600.CC
CHILD CONCERN
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Bahrain Human Rights Organisation (BHRO), a member of the network, of the detention of 5 children and the torture in detention of one child.
According to the information received, on 25 May 2000, during dawn raids, security forces attacked Iskan-Jedhafs and detained Abdulla Saeed Jasim Azbeel, 13, Seyyed Jaffer Seyyed Hussain, 13 and Mahmood Mansoor Al-Asmakh, 13. It is reported that they were taken to Adleya detention centre.
On the same day, it is reported that the security police summoned Ali Makki, 13. Also, earlier, it was noted that Mosa Jaffer Al-Sheikh (child) was also detained and had only been released when his family paid an arbitrary fine.
According to BHRO, Mohammed Jawad Makki, 14, from the same area, had been detained and tortured. He was released and now he is using crutches because of the torture he was subjected to.
The International Secretariat of OMCT recalls that Bahrain is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 37b) which states that "The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time." Furthermore, that "No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Bahrain urging them to:
take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons;
order their immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
guarantee an immediate investigation into these allegations of torture and these alleged arbitrary arrests, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
put an immediate end to the use of arbitrary detention of people by the police and abrogate 1974 State Security Law and all national laws which are not in compliance with international human rights standards;
guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
His Highness Hamad Bin Issa 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 Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, P.O. Box 1000, al-Manama, Bahrain. Telex : 9336 PROM BN or 7889 PMPO BN. FAX: + 973 533033.
His Excellency Al-Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain. Fax : + 973 276765 or 290526 or 754303. Telex : 9572 PSMKT BN OR 8333 ALAMAN BN
Geneva, June 16, 2000
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.