Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Annex B — Summary of Torture Allegations
CASE NO. 11
(Examined by forensic team)
Date of statement: 3 August 2011
Statement: At approximately 01:50 on 17 March 2011, a group of masked
men surrounded the witness’s home. Accompanying the men were a
number of armed policemen and a national security officer who was
unarmed and dressed in civilian clothing. They did not have an arrest
warrant. They handcuffed and blindfolded the detainee and placed him in a
civilian car. They took him to an unknown location where he was
photographed and examined by a doctor. He was then transferred to Dry
Dock Detention Centre and was verbally abused on the way.
At 05:00 the detainee arrived at Dry Dock Detention Centre. He was made
to stand while he was insulted and he heard sectarian insults directed at the
Shia detainees around him. He was told that he was at a location outside
Bahrain. He was told to renounce his political views and “put his hands in
the King’s hands”. The detainee told the officers that he would do that but
without renouncing his demands for constitutional reform. He was then
taken back to his cell. Cold water was poured on his mattress, pillows and
blanket while the air conditioner was running. Sleep was impossible in the
cold and dampness. Later, a group of masked men entered his cell and took
turns slapping, punching and kicking him. They insulted him and told him
to praise the King and the Prime Minister. They also made the detainee
insult himself and at one point he felt someone place a finger in his anus. He
was frequently forced to stand for long periods with his hands in the air.
The same cycle of torture continued for a week, during which time they beat
him two or three times per day, often with a hose, and poured cold water on
him and his mattress. He was interrogated while blindfolded and was told to
write down everything he knew about the 14 February movement.
On the 13 th day of his detention, officers at the Military Prosecution wanted
to conduct his investigation without a lawyer present but the detainee
refused. He was appointed a lawyer and submitted his statements, informing
the military prosecutor that he had been beaten the previous day. The
Prosecutor assured him that no more beatings would occur but the beatings
continued nonetheless. His torturers at the prison told him that he would be
beaten further if he complained again about the treatment. On 10 June, the
detainee was moved from solitary confinement to a wing where he was
permitted to interact with other detainees.
CASE NO. 12
(Examined by forensic team)
Date of statement: 28 August 2011
Statement: The detainee was arrested at his home in the El Makaba area on
1 April 2011. A number of masked individuals broke down his door and
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