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Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

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Annex B — Summary <strong>of</strong> Torture Allegations<br />

Dock Detention Centre for approximately two months. During this time, he<br />

went to trial and was beaten on <strong>the</strong> way. He was subsequently taken to Juw<br />

Prison where he was beaten and verbally abused on <strong>the</strong> first day. He was<br />

slapped whenever he had family visits. Conditions improved after <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Commission</strong> commenced its investigations.<br />

CASE NO. 33<br />

(Examined by <strong>the</strong> forensic team)<br />

Date <strong>of</strong> statement: 27 August 2011<br />

Statement: At approximately 02:00 on 17 March 2011, two or three masked<br />

men wearing both civilian and military clo<strong>the</strong>s broke down <strong>the</strong> door <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

witness’s house and pointed guns at him and his 19-year-old son. They<br />

ransacked his house and took computers. They beat <strong>the</strong> detainee with a hose<br />

and <strong>the</strong>n pushed him down <strong>the</strong> stairs and into a car. He was blindfolded and<br />

his hands were cuffed behind his back. He was subjected to verbal abuse,<br />

including being called an “SOB”, his religion was defamed and he was<br />

accused <strong>of</strong> having a temporary marriage. He was beaten <strong>the</strong> entire time in<br />

<strong>the</strong> car (about 45-60 minutes) with hoses and hands. He suffered from pain,<br />

s<strong>of</strong>t tissue redness and swelling on his body. He was initially not told why<br />

he was being arrested. He was later charged with protesting and attempting<br />

to overthrow <strong>the</strong> GoB, and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.<br />

The detainee was taken to a military facility, Safera, for approximately 30<br />

minutes. While still blindfolded and handcuffed, he was beaten with hoses<br />

and subjected to more verbal abuse. He was <strong>the</strong>n pulled into a car and<br />

beaten again along with o<strong>the</strong>r detainees.<br />

He was taken to Al Qurain where he was made to stand in a field with a<br />

group <strong>of</strong> men for several hours. The men were accused <strong>of</strong> not supporting <strong>the</strong><br />

GoB and told that <strong>the</strong>y were not worthy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> King. They were <strong>the</strong>n beaten,<br />

causing more pain in <strong>the</strong> witness’s legs. He was placed in solitary<br />

confinement in a small cell (1.5m x 1.5m), and his blindfold and handcuffs<br />

were removed. In <strong>the</strong> cell, he was forced to stand for prolonged periods<br />

every day. He was not allowed to use <strong>the</strong> toilet or speak to o<strong>the</strong>r detainees.<br />

His legs were in severe pain but he was not allowed to sit down until prayer<br />

time. He slept on a sponge bed. He was beaten severely every night with a<br />

hose or fists. Cold water was poured on him, his bed and his pillows.<br />

Guards verbally abused him and insulted his religious sect, religious leaders<br />

and method <strong>of</strong> prayer. They also spat in his mouth and forced him to<br />

swallow. On one occasion approximately 10 days after his arrest, <strong>the</strong> guards<br />

turned out all lights and brought in “big dogs” to scare <strong>the</strong> detainees.<br />

459

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