Fadhel Abbas Mohamed is a 22-year-old Bahraini citizen who was warrantlessly arrested by Bahraini authorities and is currently serving his time in Dry Dock Prison. His trial was held on 15 November 2022 with the verdict still pending.
On 22 November 2021 at 6 a.m., Fadhel’s house was raided by officers who climbed the outer walls and opened the garage door, without presenting any arrest warrant. They searched the living room and confiscated his phone. They took Fadhel to his old house in Nuwaidrat where they thoroughly searched the place, destroyed its contents, and scattered the luggage on the floor. His mother also heard that they took him to his uncle’s cafe in Nuwaidrat, but she doesn’t know what they did to him. On Tuesday 23 November 2021, Fadhel called his family informing them that he is in the Central Investigation Directorate (CID). The CID also informed the family that they will be coming to the house. Upon arrival, the CID, officers in civilian clothes, confiscated the family’s only car. Officers scattered all around the house and informed Fadhel’s mother that he was in the car when she asked. However, their boss rejected her request to see him and told her Fadhel was not in the car. They also confiscated his wallet. The next day, officers asked for clothes for Fadhel, but only took one suit and wouldn’t accept to take him any hygiene products.
Fadhel was charged with joining a terrorist cell known as “Al-Ashtar Brigades”, possessing explosive devices, weapons, and ammunition, and receiving and delivering money from the terrorist cell. Since the beginning of his arrest, Fadhelwas forcibly disappeared for 10 days and could only make two phone calls to tell his family he was okay. During his interrogation, he was beaten to the point of death and threatened with rape and electric shocks. He was also forced to sign a pre-prepared interrogation report without reading it under the threat of death. During his trial and investigation, Fadhel was denied any visits, under the pretext of the Covid-19 pandemic. He was also denied access to his attorney and was brought before the Public Prosecution Office without his lawyer’s presence.
Fadhel’s warrantless arrest, torture, and unfair trial are a violation of the Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), both of which Bahrain is a party to. Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (AHDHRB) calls on the Bahraini authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Fadhel, and the impartial investigation of his torture to hold the perpetrators accountable.
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