Tensions have re-ignited in Bahrain’s Jau Central Prison following the death of another political prisoner due to medical neglect and the prison administration’s failure to provide routine and emergency healthcare for political prisoners. This incident sparked renewed protests among prisoners, demanding a thorough investigation into the cause of death and an end to ongoing human rights violations. However, instead of addressing these concerns, the prison administration persists in violating international conventions on prisoners’ rights, intensifying repressive measures such as severing communications and isolating inmates from the outside world.
On the evening of Friday 6 November 2024, political prisoner Husain Aman collapsed in the prison yard of Building 11. Eyewitness accounts describe fellow inmates rushing to his aid and calling for emergency medical assistance. Although the prison reportedly has an emergency clinic, the medical team arrived ten minutes late. Hospital statements report that Aman collapsed in the outdoor area and was transferred to the facility’s clinic, where first aid and CPR were administered before he passed away en route to the hospital. However, eyewitnesses dispute this account, asserting that Aman was already unconscious during the transfer and that those present in the clinic were cleared out once his death became apparent.
This incident has once again highlighted the systemic failure to protect the lives of prisoners and hold accountable those responsible for negligence in providing medical care and emergency response. This marks the second such case this year, following the death of political prisoner Husain Khalil Ebrahim in March under similar circumstances of medical neglect. Despite the recurrence of these incidents, the prison administration and the Ministry of Interior (MOI) continue to disregard calls for investigations into the repeated deaths, addressing the shortcomings, and holding responsible officials accountable. This approach to the treatment of political prisoners has become part of a systematic policy that has claimed the lives of approximately 20 political prisoners between 2011 and 2024.
Husain Aman lost his life just two days after being temporarily released under the open prisons program. Aman, who was serving a life sentence on politically motivated charges, did not even get the chance to benefit from conditional freedom, as he died due to the authorities’ negligence. Throughout his imprisonment, he endured retaliatory measures, including deliberate medical neglect. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) highlighted aspects of the medical neglect he faced following the loss of communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, as his health deteriorated after contracting the virus and he was denied proper medical treatment.
Following the news of Aman’s death, prisoners erupted in protest, staging sit-ins in buildings 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 to denounce the “slow death” policies imposed by authorities. Instead of launching an urgent investigation and holding those responsible accountable, the prison administration resorted to excessive force to suppress the protests, resulting in violent clashes and multiple injuries among inmates.
The Jau Prison administration deployed military reinforcements, including riot police, to confront the inmates. This security escalation coincided with a heavy military presence around the prison, fearing escalation. Several prison buildings were stormed using tear gas, and electricity was cut off in those buildings, while protesters were beaten. As a result of these assaults, several inmates sustained injuries, some of which required medical treatment, with a few needing hospitalization. One prisoner suffered a severe head injury after being brutally beaten with batons. Families reported that inmates from buildings 8, 9, and 10 were transferred to buildings 3 and 5. Additionally, some parents mentioned that their sons in building 10 were directly pepper-sprayed without any confrontations taking place. Alongside the heightened security measures, raids, and assaults on prisoners, the prison administration also deprived inmates of their meals! The following details summarize the situation in each building and the conditions faced by inmates:
Building 6: Security forces stormed the building to forcibly end the sit-in, injuring three prisoners, one of whom sustained a head injury. Since the raid, all communication with inmates has been cut off, leaving no updates on the condition of the injured or whether they received proper medical treatment.
Building 10: Security forces raided the building, deploying tear gas and stun grenades. Prisoners were pepper-sprayed in the face and subjected to excessive force, resulting in multiple injuries. A day before the raid, the prison administration cut off electricity and water and halted meal distribution.
Buildings 7 and 9: Both buildings were stormed using the same violent manner. In Building 7, the sit-in persists amid fears of another violent crackdown. Prisoners in both buildings are reportedly enduring inhumane conditions, with ongoing deprivation of water, electricity, and meals.
Reports indicate that negotiations were held with inmates in buildings 8 and 6, offering guarantees of no physical harm if they left voluntarily. Protesters were then transferred to Buildings 3 and 5 while handcuffed. Only three prisoners were allowed to contact their families under strict surveillance, accompanied by threats not to disclose the events inside the prison. One inmate reported being permanently restrained, denied personal hygiene items, and deprived of any means to pass the time, such as books or television.
Building 1: Death row inmates face the harshest conditions. Communication has been entirely severed with eight of them since 23 October, while four others have been placed in solitary confinement as punishment. Despite continuous efforts by families to advocate for their rights, the situation remains dire and unresolved.
These alarming developments have sparked public protests condemning the crackdown on political prisoners. Families of inmates staged a sit-in outside a police station in Sitra, demanding information about their sons, particularly those in Building 7, with whom contact has been completely severed.
Following the violent crackdown, the Jau Prison administration severed all external communications, leaving families of prisoners in fear for the safety of their loved ones. Unable to obtain information about their sons after the assaults, many families turned to official human rights institutions for help. They submitted formal letters to the Ombudsman and the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), demanding answers about their son’s fate and assurances of their safety amidst the ongoing communication blackout. In their letters, the families issued an urgent appeal for an immediate investigation into allegations of excessive force against political prisoners protesting in five prison buildings. They also called for unrestricted and immediate communication between inmates and their families, as well as proper medical treatment and care for all injured prisoners.
The Jau Prison administration and the Bahraini MOI continue to respond to political prisoners’ demands with systematic repression and retaliation, a practice condemned by UN experts. On 12 August 2024, three UN Special Rapporteurs sent an allegation letter to the Government of Bahrain, addressing the deteriorating conditions faced by political prisoners in Jau Prison. The letter was prompted by incidents occurring between 26 March and 29 July 2024, following widespread protests sparked by the death of political prisoner Husain Khalil Ebrahim. The protests included an open sit-in across buildings 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, demanding basic human rights and protesting the medical neglect that has caused multiple inmate deaths. The UN letter highlighted the retaliatory and inhumane measures imposed by the prison administration, such as cutting off electricity, water, and food supplies. It also addressed severe restrictions on movement for legal and medical appointments, where inmates were isolated upon return and placed with foreign criminal inmates. Further measures included suspending weekly phone calls and depriving prisoners of basic necessities like hygiene products, clothing, and essential supplies from the prison canteen.
Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) expresses grave concern over the ongoing retaliatory measures in Jau Prison. ADHRB asserts that a culture of impunity has fostered an environment where perpetrators of human rights violations are shielded from accountability. It holds the Bahraini MOI and official human rights bodies, including the NIHR and the Ombudsman, accountable for the deteriorating conditions in the prison. ADHRB calls for urgent action to address these violations, beginning with a thorough investigation into the abuses against prisoners. It demands an immediate end to retaliatory practices, adherence to the Nelson Mandela Rules for the treatment of prisoners, and full respect for prisoners’ rights. Ultimately, ADHRB emphasizes the need for the release of all individuals detained on political grounds.
