Bahrain: Senior prisoners denied medical care, more electronic spying

A new “Urgent Action” issued by Amnesty International has highlighted the plight of Hassan Mushaima and Dr Abdul Jalil Al Singace , two of the most prominent leaders of Bahrain’s Revolution, calling for their release and demanding that they receive medical treatment. Titled “Jailed activists denied medical treatment” the Urgent Action has been released by the international body which has documented many reports on the serious human rights violations by the Alkhalifa regime in that Bahrain. It said: “Hassan Mshaima’ and Dr ‘Abdel-Jalil al-Singace, two of the 13 jailed prominent Bahraini opposition activists, have been denied urgent medical treatment. They are prisoners of conscience.” It further added: “Since mid-March the prison authorities have insisted that the 13 must wear prison uniform during visits allegedly to humiliate them in front of their families. The 13 have refused to wear the uniform and thus have not been able to see their families. Amnesty International has urged its members to: Urge the Bahraini authorities to provide Hassan Mshaima’ and Dr ‘Abdel-Jalil al-Singace with any medical attention they may require, including access to regular check-ups in specialised hospitals, to release all 13 opposition activists immediately and unconditionally, since they are prisoners of conscience, convicted solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. It urged the Bahraini authorities to allow them immediate access to their families,, lawyers and to any adequate medical treatment they require.

In another development, Bahraini refugees in Germany have protested against allowing Alkhalifa thugs to pursue Bahraini refugees in their place of refuge. The Bahrainis have been protesting against allowing Nasser bin Hamad, the son of Bahrain’s dictator, who was attending horse racing when Bahraini protesters arrived at the race course, started shouting anti-regime slogans and calling for the arrest of the prince. He had been repeatedly accused of ill-treatment of prisoners, torturing detainees and threatening other Bahrainis who had called for a system based on “one-man-one-vote” system. They pursued Nasser but were stopped by his body guards and hitmen. The German police briefly detained one of the protesters, as calls by Bahraini human rights activists have continued for the arrest of Nasser bin Hamad who is accused of administering torture on prisoners. One of the protesters was set upon by members of the Death Squads accompanying Nasser, kicked and bea ten repeatedly under the eyes of the police.

Meanwhile the Bahraini Opposition Grouping in UK has organized a week-long programme of activities to mark the International Day in support of Torture Victims which falls on 26th June every year. The Grouping is holding a Press Conference on Wednesday 26th June at the House of Lords, a seminar by the Gulf Cultural Club in the evening of that day, another seminar (in Arabic) the following day and a protest outside Downing Street on Saturday 29th June. Also, Redress, which works to rehabilitate torture victims is holding a seminar at which families of the leading figures of the Revolution will tell the stories of torture inflicted on these senior figures in the Alkahlifa dungeons, built under the headquarters of the National Security Agency.

Under the headline “Spying software 'used in Bahrain to track activists” the World News website has recently published the following: “Finspy, UK-developed software that spies on computers and how they're used, has allegedly been sold to Bahrain to monitor pro-democracy campaigners. The Arab Spring exposed more than public anger over social issues. It also shed light on the high-tech tools used by repressive regimes to stifle dissent. In many countries the internet was simply shut down, but now we're learning about more sinister moves. A surveillance program called Finspy, produced by a British company, is just one that sits inside your computer, recording everything you say or write. Now evidence is emerging that the government of Bahrain is using the program to track pro-democracy activities.”

Bahrain Freedom Movement
20th June 2013