No abuse in Bahrain prisons: NIHR
Manama : The Kingdom’s top human rights commissioners yesterday said that prison inmates in the country were not subjected to torture and mistreatment.
“There is no systemic maltreatment of any kind in Bahrain’s prisons, correctional and detention centres,” said Saeed Al Faihani, Chairman of National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR).
Addressing a press conference here yesterday to announce the findings of the first unannounced visits to correctional facilities in the history of Bahrain, Al Faihani said that NIHR’s new board recently issued a detailed report on the results of the visits in light of the complaints and allegations received by the human rights body of mistreatment and requests for intervention and assistance submitted by the relatives of the inmates, in addition to what was stated in the social media and a number of websites.
“This was a historical and unprecedented move to conduct unannounced visits to correctional facilities and detention centres in Bahrain,” Al Faihani said.
Al Faihani said that the visits came in the wake of allegations that have been repeated over the mistreatment of inmates inside Bahrain prisons and detention centres.
He said the NIHR officials tvisited the Reform and Rehabilitation Centre for Women, the Precautionary Detention Center for Women, the Juveniles Care Centre and the Shelter Centres for both genders.
Al Faihani also emphasised that the institution will continue such unannounced visits to all reformation facilities in the Kingdom, to be reassured about the situations inside these facilities, monitor them and to verify maltreatment allegations.
“Some of the cases require follow-up, but there were no systematic mistreatment cases at all as alleged by some organizations and individuals. Prisons are not five-star hotels, but conditions at Bahrain prisons are excellent and far better than the ones in other states,” Al Faihani said during the conference.NIHR Deputy Chairman Dr. Abdulla Al Durazi affirmed that the visits were conducted without prior coordination with the administration of these facilities.
“The visits will take place between August and December this year. But the visited centres were only informed an hour ahead of the visits, in accordance with the international standards followed in such procedures,” Dr. Al Durazi clarified.
“NIHR is concerned about monitoring places of detention and we have witnessed noticeable improvement of inmates’ treatment and enhancement of their situations. This improvement s seen in the construction of newer buildings and enrollment of Interior Ministry personnel in human rights and treatment courses,” he added.
28 female inmates met
Complaint, Monitoring and Follow-up Committee Head Deena Alladhi revealed that NIHR delegation met 28 female inmates out of the 191 detained at the reformation and rehabilitation, and precautionary detention centres.
Alladhi, who’s also the head of the delegation, said that NIHR met each inmate separately and listened to their needs and demands, adding that no complaints of maltreatment were received during the interviews with the imamates and that all notes were related to extending visiting hours or reducing their jail terms. The official also said that the delegation met with the administration of the centres and were briefed about the services and programmes provided to inmates.
“We have agreed to increase the coordination with administration of the centre,” Alladhi said.
“NIHR prioritised special categories of inmates which included women, people with disabilities, children and minorities”, she told DT News on the sidelines of the conference clarifying that “these categories of inmates require special treatment considering their position in the society and that’s why their centres were visited first”.
Results to be reviewed
Al Faihani confirmed that the visits add to the achievements attained by the Kingdom in the field of human rights.
“The results will be reviewed with the international community during the 36th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC),” he told DT News.
The session will be held in Geneva, Switzerland today and the annual report of human rights situations in Bahrain will be reviewed. The meetings of the council will continue to September 29.
“NIHR delegation would be present for three to four days at the HRC meetings. The results of the recent visits would be presented and reviewed during the sessions,” Al Faihani said.
Commenting on the allegations that Bahrain has denied international human rights inspectors from entering, Al Faihani said, “Allowing any person to enter the Kingdom comes within the jurisdictions of the Executive Authority (Government) represented by Foreign Affairs Ministry and other bodies.”
He clarified further on the institution’s work saying, “Our role is to clarify the image about human rights situations in the Kingdom. We are working on the field here and we know the facts. NIHR doesn’t blindly support the stances of the government as rumoured. We take all news related to human rights situations in Bahrain seriously. It is our duty to verify such news, even if they were rumours. We are an independent body and we have the jurisdiction to enter and inspect any police station or detention centre in Bahrain.”
Amnesty report a fallacy
In regards to the recent report issued by Amnesty International on the human rights situations in Bahrain and contained fallacies as affirmed by independent Bahraini human rights activists, the chairman said, “We have earlier conveyed our readiness to coordinate with all local and international rights organisations, including Amnesty International. But they avoided us in their latest report, which depended on information provided by third parties who gave the organisation exaggerated allegations about the situations here. There are absolutely no mistreatment cases inside the correctional centres in Bahrain.”
Commenting further on this point was NIHR Acting Secretary General Dr. Khalifa Al Fadhel, who said, “We welcome any cooperation with all Non Governmental Organisations. Amnesty didn’t cooperate with the institution before issuing its report. The chairman had met with the officials of the organisation in London earlier this year and they didn’t raise any human rights related complaints such as the ones mentioned in their latest report.”
As for Dr. Al Durazi, he insisted that “systematic maltreatment claims should be supported by solid evidence, which the organisation’s report lacked”.
As reported on Saturday, Amnesty International issued a report on the human rights situations in Bahrain.
The report included a series of accusations against the authorities of the Kingdom, such as torture and mistreatment of prisoners.
The report was faced by a wave of condemnation from Bahraini activists, who said it contained fallacies and considered it incredible and biased.
Office opened
It was also announced during the conference that a new office has been launched inside the National Anti-Human Trafficking Committee headquarters in Sehla recently to serve expats who may have any complaints related to human rights.
Dr. Al Fadhel said, “The office was launched in cooperation with the National Committee for Anti-Human Trafficking to monitor any violations that expats may have been subjected to. The office will permanently operate and will receive all human rights complaints from any expat living in the Kingdom.”
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