Country Profile: Bahrain

The state of human rights in Bahrain continues to deteriorate. Authorities have restricted the rights of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly; enacted a draconian new antiterrorism law; and arrested and imprisoned government critics, political opposition leaders, students, and professors. Detainees face torture and other ill-treatment, and courts have handed down hundreds of death and lengthy prison sentences after unfair mass trials. There has been a critical lack of accountability throughout; most human rights violations are committed with impunity. Women and members of religious minorities are subject to discrimination and inadequately protected against violence. People have been arrested and tried on charges of “debauchery” for their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. 

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Though Bahrain released 1,486 prisoners on March 17, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, imprisoned scholars and students—many of whom are older and suffer from underlying medical conditions—were excluded from the decrees, including ABDUL-JALIL AL-SINGACE, 57, former head of the Department of Engineering at the University of Bahrain, who has been subjected to torture and various other forms of mistreatment and repeatedly denied medical attention despite his long-term poliomyelitis, which has left him paralyzed since childhood.
Students JAWAD AL-MAHARY, SHAWQI RADHI, JASSIM AL-HULAINI, JASSIM AL-MUKHODHER, and YOUSIF AHMED remain in prison for their involvement in pro-democracy demonstrations, as does AHMED AUON, who has also been denied medical treatment following the loss of his right eye when he was struck by a metal pellet fired from a police shotgun following the demonstration. 
 

(Last updated: August 30 , 2021)

Please send appeals to the following:

His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
The Amiri Court
PO Box 555
Rifa’a Palace
Al-Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain
Fax: +973 176 64 587 
Website: http://www.mofa.gov.bh/

Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa 
Deputy Prime Minister 
Diplomatic Area 
PO Box # 450
Al-Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain
Fax: +973 175 13 333