UN experts urge Bahrain to investigate reports of torture
and ill-treatment of rights defender Ebtisam Alsaegh
GENEVA (18 July 2017) – A group of United Nations
experts* has expressed deep concern at the alleged arbitrary detention of
Bahraini human rights defender Ebtisam Alsaegh amid reports she has been
tortured and sexually abused and is now on hunger strike.
“Ms. Alsaegh has been denied her fundamental right to due
process from the very moment of her arrest to this day,” the experts said. “We
are very worried at information that her health has dramatically deteriorated
in the last few days.”
According to reports received by the experts, Ms. Alsaegh
was detained on 4 July when Bahraini security forces raided her home. She is
reportedly being held in solitary confinement at Isa Town women’s prison, and
is being transported daily to an unknown location where she is interrogated for
up to 14 hours without access to a lawyer.
Previous to her detention, on 26 May, Ms. Alsaegh was
subjected to a seven-hour interrogation by officers of the National Security
Agency, during which she was kept blindfolded and forced to stand up, while
reportedly being beaten all over her body and sexually assaulted.
“We express the gravest concern at these allegations of
torture and ill-treatment suffered by Ms. Alsaegh and we fear that she may be
currently subjected to further acts of torture,” the experts said.
“The use or incitement of torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is absolutely prohibited, under
all circumstances.”
The experts called upon the Government of Bahrain to
strictly abide by its obligations under international human rights law.
“The Bahraini authorities have a duty to investigate all
allegations of human rights violations committed against Ms. Alsaegh, including
torture by security forces during interrogations, and to prevent their
re-occurrence,” they emphasized.
Ms. Alsaegh’s alleged treatment comes amid an ongoing
campaign of attacks and reprisals against human rights defenders and political
activists in Bahrain.
“We reiterate our serious concerns regarding the wider context
of a general crackdown and mounting pressure exerted on civil society and
dissidents in Bahrain, the ongoing prosecution and punishment of human rights
defenders, and especially intimidation and reprisals against people who have
cooperated with UN human rights mechanisms,” the experts underscored.
The experts are in contact with the Government of Bahrain
about Ms. Alsaegh’s situation.
(*) The experts: Mr. Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur ontorture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Mrs.
Dubravka Šimonović, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes
and consequences; Mr. Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights defenders; and Mr. José Antonio Guevara Bermúdez, current
Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
ENDS
Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups are part of what
is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special
Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights
system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and
monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human
rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific
country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not
UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in
their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
UN Human Rights, country page: Bahrain
For inquiries and media requests, please contact Alia El
Khatib (+41 22 917 9209 / aelkhatib@ohchr.org)
For media inquiries related to other UN independent
experts:
Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 /
xcelaya@ohchr.org)
You can access this press release online
Concerned about the world we live in? Then STAND UP for
someone’s rights today.
#Standup4humanrights and visit the web page at
http://www.standup4humanrights.org
Udruženje novinara Roma
Nema komentara:
Objavi komentar