Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
The detainee was taken to Al-Qalaa where he was brutally tortured. He was
hung upside down and beaten on his stomach and feet until they bled. He
was also blindfolded, handcuffed and deprived of sleep for seven days. He
refused to sign a confession and was beaten until he agreed to do so. This
document was later used during his investigation by the military prosecutor.
The detainee was also exposed to death threats and heard the sounds of other
detainees crying.
One week later, the detainee was transferred to Al Qurain Prison. There, a
group of masked men beat him on a daily basis on his back, head and other
parts of his body. They used a combination of their hands and a black hose
during the beatings. They also placed shoes on his face and in his mouth.
The detainee was placed in solitary confinement in a cell measuring 1m x
1m and was not allowed to use the toilet except for very short periods. He
was also subjected to sexual assault, whereby he was forced to strip naked
and walk in front of the other detainees. He states that there were other
sexual acts which he is too embarrassed to mention. Masked men spat in the
witness’s mouth and forced him to swallow. He also witnessed the torture
of a number of other detainees at the prison. He spent one and a half months
in solitary confinement.
The detainee was examined by a forensic medical expert who concluded that
hose marks are still evident the witness’s right leg. He has lost feeling in
most of his hands as a result of the torture that he sustained during his
detention and he continues to suffer from back pain.
CASE NO. 6
(Examined by forensic team)
Date of statement: 3 August 2011
Statement: On 17 March 2011, a large number of masked men stormed the
witness’ home. They did not have an arrest warrant. Hearing commotion
outside, the detainee opened the door and was immediately beaten in the
back of his neck and threatened with weapons pointed at his head. The
masked men ransacked his home and then took him away in a car. They
beat him in the car and verbally insulted him, his family and his sect. They
also threatened him with torture and electrocution if he did not confess to
their allegations. They threatened to assault his family members and told
him that they had arrested his children and other relatives.
The detainee was taken to Al Qurain Prison and placed in solitary
confinement from 17 March until 10 June. During this time, he was
routinely beaten, kicked in the head, forced to stand for long periods and
insulted about his sect. He also heard sounds of torture from nearby cells.
He was not allowed to shower and was prevented from using his glasses. He
was not given a Quran and was prevented from praying regularly. He was
also denied contact with his family. On 29 June, he was taken to the
Military Prosecution for his trial and he was also beaten at that location.
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