Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
The investigation started the following day. The detainee was taken to the
investigation officer with a bag over his head, which made it difficult for
him to breathe. He was threatened that if he did not answer questions, he
would be kept in prison and the beatings would continue. They also
threatened to bring the dogs again. He was denied access to a lawyer. The
next day, someone came to his cell with a document and told him to sign.
He refused and was threatened. He was told to confess and to give up
information about other persons. He signed the document even though it
was not accurate. The beatings nonetheless continued in the same way.
Two days later, the detainee was taken to the Military Prosecution for his
trial. A bag was placed over his head and he was taken to a car. He had not
consulted a lawyer. Eventually he was permitted to see a lawyer but they
were not given any time alone. The detainee told the Prosecutor that he had
been subjected to beatings but the Prosecutor did not believe him. After
three hours he was returned to the prison and allowed to speak to his family
for one minute by telephone. He was led to believe that he was in Saudi
Arabia. The beatings, cold water and forced standing continued until mid-
June. He was kept in solitary confinement until 20 June and was only let out
occasionally to use the toilet. After two months, he was permitted to see his
family and to walk outside for ten minutes blindfolded. He was then moved
to a larger cell where there were other people he could talk to. His treatment
improved. In July, he was moved to a larger cell with a roommate and
“everything changed”. There was better treatment, the food improved and
there were more opportunities for physical activity and family visits.
Throughout his detention, the detainee asked for medical treatment for his
legs but his request was denied. He was given pain medication but it did not
work. He has severe pain in both legs, particularly his right leg, and he
cannot run. He has urinary incontinence. He has numbness in his feet and
lower leg swelling. He also has an “ear problem”, which was made worse
by the beatings, and has decreased vision. The Commission investigators
met with the detainee during the last week of October 2011 and noted that he
was still complaining of back pain but was receiving treatment at the BDF
Hospital.
CASE NO. 34
(Examined by the forensic team)
Date of statement: 25 August 2011
Statement: On 16 March 2011, the detainee was driving to SMC to visit his
grandfather when demonstrations prevented him from reaching the hospital.
He stopped and got out of his car because he heard what he believed to be
explosions. People were yelling at him to “run”. He then saw police with
shotguns who shot him from approximately 50 metres away. As a result of
this buckshot wound, he sustained injuries to his neck, right hand and lower
right thigh. Onlookers took him to Ibn Al-Nafees Hospital where his
wounds were cleaned. Approximately one hour later, police in uniform
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