Since 6 December 2024, political prisoners in Jau Prison have faced relentless and systematic abuses following the death of Husain Aman due to medical neglect. The Bahraini authorities responded to prisoner protests with severe retaliation, including the violent suppression of inmates and collective punishment measures. Building 7, housing 68 political prisoners, has been under siege for over 14 consecutive days, with prisoners deprived of food, water, and electricity. Critically ill inmates, including Mohamed AlBaqali and Mohamed Redha Loolooi, remain in dire conditions as their repeated pleas for medical assistance have been ignored. In a desperate attempt, prisoners in Building 7 used loudspeakers to amplify their calls for medical assistance. However, the Jau Prison administration responded by blasting loud music within the prison facilities to drown out their voices, further disregarding their urgent needs. These actions flagrantly violate the Nelson Mandela Rules and other international human rights standards.
The impact of these abuses extends far beyond the prison walls. Families of prisoners have been left in anguish, facing a communication blackout and mounting concerns for their loved ones. One such family, the family of prisoner Sayed Mohamed AlAbbar, has expressed deep fear for his safety after he was hospitalized with injuries sustained during a violent raid on Building 7. Despite this, the prison administration has failed to provide clear updates on his condition, intensifying his family’s distress.
Protests in solidarity with the prisoners have erupted across Bahrain, with daily demonstrations reported in different towns such as Duraz, Bani Jamra, and Abu Saiba. Families have held sit-ins outside Jau Prison, Al-Ma’ared Police Station, and government human rights institutions, including the Ombudsman and the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), demanding justice and immediate action. On 10 December, families gathered outside the prison were promised that inmates would soon be allowed to contact them. However, no action was taken, leaving families feeling betrayed. Moreover, security forces responded to the peaceful protest outside Al-Ma’ared Police Station on 11 December with intimidation, threats, and surveillance, showcasing the government’s unwillingness to address the growing humanitarian crisis. On the same day, families submitted letters to the Ombudsman and the NIHR, urging immediate action to uncover their sons’ conditions, ensure their safety, restore communication, and uphold their basic rights. Despite follow-up sit-ins outside both institutions in the following days, neither has issued an official response to the families’ demands.
The royal pardon issued on 15 December 2024 for Bahrain’s National Day further exemplifies the Bahraini government’s disregard for human rights. While 896 prisoners were released, nearly all political prisoners were deliberately excluded, including prominent opposition leaders Mr. Hasan Mushaima, Dr. AbdulJalil AlSingace, and AbdulHadi AlKhawaja. Most pardoned individuals were criminal offenders, with only a few political prisoners who had already been included in the “Open Prisons” program or previously released under alternative sanctions. Notably, the pardon included just one political prisoner from Jau Prison, Mohamed AlSawla, who was not part of the “Open Prisons” program or alternative sanctions and had only 10 days left in his sentence. This exclusion blatantly violates the August 2024 agreement between Bahraini authorities and inmates at Jau Prison, which promised phased releases of political prisoners. The royal pardon has devastated the families of political prisoners, who had eagerly awaited it in the hope that their loved ones would be included. Instead of fulfilling its commitments, the government has deepened mistrust and exacerbated the suffering of prisoners, particularly given the worsening prison conditions.
The systemic violations in Bahrain’s detention facilities are not limited to Jau Prison. Reports from the Dry Dock Detention Center reveal routine torture, psychological abuse, and severe restrictions on religious practices. Detainees Ali Mohamed Jaafar and Husain Fateel, son of prominent human rights defender and former prisoner of conscience Naji Fateel, have reported in audio recordings restrictions on Shia detainees at the Dry Dock Detention Center, denying them the freedom to practice their religious rituals.
Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) strongly condemns these abuses. ADHRB asserts that the Bahraini government’s actions constitute gross violations of the Convention Against Torture (CAT), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Nelson Mandela Rules.
ADHRB holds the Ministry of Interior (MOI), the NIHR, and the Ombudsman responsible for these violations through their complicity and inaction. The royal pardon, while praised by some as a humanitarian gesture, starkly underscores the government’s disregard for political prisoners, most of whom continue to suffer under inhuman conditions. ADHRB demands the unconditional release of all political prisoners, particularly elderly and critically ill opposition leaders such as Mr. Hasan Mushaima and Dr. AbdulJalil AlSingace. The organization urges an end to all abuses in Bahraini prisons, thorough investigations into violations, accountability for perpetrators, and compensation and reparation for victims.
