Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
Statement: The detainee was arrested at approximately 17:00 on 17 May
2011 in front of his house. He was overpowered by a number of people
wearing masks and blue police uniforms. There was no arrest warrant. The
detainee suffered physical and verbal abuse in detention. They beat him
with fists, slapped him in the face, kicked him and hit him forcefully around
the ears (telefono). They also hit him with rifle butts. In particular, he was
beaten on the following areas of his body: front and back of the head; front
and back of the body (especially chest and abdomen); buttocks; ears; arms;
legs; and sides of the body. He has a mild scar and callus from a lacerated
cut on the outer part of his right ear as a result of the beatings. He also
suffered sexual abuse and humiliation. They denigrated his religious belief
and threatened him and his family. He was also denied access to a toilet and
subjected to unhygienic conditions in his cell. The detainee believed that his
interrogators were Syrians serving in the police force, because of their
accents.
The detainee was transferred by ambulance to the BDF Hospital where he
remained for two days. He was subsequently transferred to Al Wusta police
station and then to the MoI Hospital. Throughout the whole period of his
detention, he was blindfolded and his hands were tied behind his back with
plastic handcuffs. He was forced to sign a false confession and then was
brought before a trial court. His captors threatened to beat him again if he
changed his confession in front of the judge. On 29 June, the conditions of
his detention started to improve. The physical abuse stopped, the food
improved and his family was allowed to supply him with clothes. He was
also allowed one telephone call to his family every week.
CASE NO. 49
(Examined by forensic team)
Date of statement: 24 August 2011
Statement: The detainee was arrested on 14 July 2011 in front of his
relatives’ house. He attempted to flee when he saw police officers scattered
around the house, but he was overpowered by a large group of police
officers. They pulled him by his clothes and pushed him to the ground.
There was no arrest warrant. They beat him with their fists, slapped him in
the face and ears, kicked him and tore his clothes. He was transferred to a
garage where he was beaten for about half an hour. The areas on which he
was beaten included the following: front and back of the head; front and
back of the trunk; limbs; ears; and nose. He was taken to a jeep and
videotaped. He was then blindfolded and his hands were tied firmly behind
his back using plastic handcuffs.
The detainee was taken to Al Wusta police station, where the beatings
continued. He was then taken by ambulance to the military hospital where
X-rays were taken of his head, face and body. There were contusions on his
face below his eyes, above his left eyebrow and on the right side of his body.
He remained in the hospital for one day and was then transferred back to Al
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