During its Session on Bahrain, the Committee Against Torture Expressed Deep Concern over Ongoing Torture and Violations inside Prisons amid the Absence of Effective Accountability.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) convened in Geneva on 18 and 19 November 2025 to examine Bahrain’s fourth periodic report and assess Manama’s compliance with the Convention Against Torture. The sessions focused on evaluating ongoing torture and ill-treatment in Bahraini prisons, including documented cases reported by political prisoners, as well as the extent to which the state upholds human rights standards and ensures accountability for violations.

Bahrain presented its official response, highlighting legislative and regulatory steps it claims to have taken, such as amendments to penal laws aimed at strengthening torture prevention, the creation of internal investigation units, and the enhancement of health services inside prisons.

However, the CAT expressed deep concern over the continued reports of ill-treatment and torture, stressing the urgent need to reinforce accountability and transparency, ensure independent and impartial investigations into violations, and guarantee full protection for political prisoners. The Committee emphasized that several of Bahrain’s stated reforms, despite the announced improvements, still require close and sustained monitoring to verify their effectiveness in preventing abuses and safeguarding prisoners’ rights.

Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) underscores the Committee’s findings: torture and ill-treatment in Bahraini prisons persist, and there remains a pressing need to strengthen accountability and conduct independent investigations to protect the rights of political prisoners.

Torture and Ill-Treatment of Prisoners

Bahrain opened its intervention through the Minister of Justice, asserting that the Constitution, particularly Article 19, guarantees protection from torture and unlawful detention, and that Articles 208 and 232 of the Penal Code impose strict penalties for torture crimes without a statute of limitations. The Ministry of Interior (MOI) likewise affirmed its commitment to the Constitution and international anti-torture standards, claiming that allegations of torture lack credible evidence and that any violations are referred to the competent authorities. It added that the Ministry adheres to international standards, provides surveillance cameras in detention centers, and has introduced several mechanisms, including the establishment of its Human Rights Committee in 2018, the assignment of the Promotions Directorate to handle complaints against police officers, and the creation of the Penitentiary Security Directorate to investigate information related to Ministry personnel.

The Committee’s assessment was as follows:

The Committee acknowledges the legal reforms Bahrain has enacted to align its legislation with the Convention Against Torture but remains concerned by the absence of an explicit prohibition of torture under all circumstances, an omission that may allow its justification in certain cases.

Under Article 4(2) of the Convention, penalties must be proportionate. While Bahraini law criminalizes torture, it provides for life imprisonment only when torture results in death, which may result in disproportionate penalties for other torture crimes.

The Committee also highlights the absence of legal safeguards preventing the extradition or deportation of individuals at risk of torture, requesting information on deportation cases since 2020 and inquiring about any new treaties related to extradition. It further stresses the importance of establishing a transparent non-refoulement mechanism.

Additionally, the Committee seeks clarification on the appeals process available to individuals facing deportation and whether they are informed of their right to seek asylum. It also draws attention to the revocation of nationality of more than 900 people between 2012 and 2019, many of whom remain stateless.

ADHRB emphasizes that, despite Bahrain’s claims during the session of having developed a strong legal and constitutional framework to protect human rights, prevent torture, and ensure judicial independence and fair trial guarantees, specifically through references to Articles 208 and 232 of the Penal Code, the reality contradicts these assertions. Human rights reports and verified testimonies from detainees and their families show the persistent occurrence of serious violations, including torture and ill-treatment in detention centers, with no effective accountability for perpetrators. These ongoing abuses reveal a clear gap between the stated legal framework and its implementation, leaving torture as a continuing practice and victims without genuine judicial protection.

Moreover, the Ministry’s claims of adherence to constitutional and anti-torture obligations, its assertion that torture allegations lack reliability, and its statements regarding compliance with international standards and the use of surveillance cameras in detention facilities are inaccurate. Documented evidence demonstrates widespread violations, recurring abuses, and the absence of cameras in several centers, enabling ill-treatment and concealing what occurs during detainees’ interrogations.

Justice Procedures and Human Rights Oversight Bodies and Their Role

The Minister of Justice stated that Bahrain has strengthened justice procedures by establishing a specialized unit within the Public Prosecution Office (PPO) that employs “the latest scientific methods” in evidence collection. He added that the state has issued humanitarian royal pardons for individuals with serious health conditions and launched rehabilitation, reintegration, and employment support programs for released prisoners.
The government also asserted that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) plays a central role in handling torture allegations “with high professionalism,” claiming a 90% decrease in submitted complaints. Additionally, the PPO has created specialized offices, including the Office for the Protection of Victims and Witnesses and a division tasked with investigating complaints involving children, “in implementation of the new laws.”

While the Committee welcomed releases through royal pardons and alternative sentencing, it asked whether these measures included individuals convicted in connection with the 2011 events and how many such persons had actually benefited from royal pardons. It also inquired whether clear provisions existed for medical examinations capable of detecting acts of torture against detainees, in order to guarantee independent investigations.

The CAT noted that the Code of Criminal Procedure stipulates that investigations cannot be initiated without a written request to the PPO. This requirement is inconsistent with the Convention Against Torture, which obliges prosecutors to open investigations whenever they become aware of torture allegations through any channel of communication, to ensure independence and effectiveness. Consequently, the CAT asked Bahrain whether it intended to amend this legislation.

The Committee further observed that Bahraini oversight bodies, including the Ombudsman and the SIU, do not conduct investigations effectively and lack the authority to submit complaints directly to the judiciary. It also expressed concern over the judiciary’s lack of independence, with judges rejecting torture allegations without initiating investigations.

The Committee asked Bahrain what measures had been taken against perpetrators identified by the SIU, what steps had been implemented to strengthen the Unit, including granting it access to all places of deprivation of liberty, how the government ensures that monitoring bodies’ recommendations are acted upon, and whether Bahrain has any plans to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).

ADHRB stresses that this official narrative does not reflect the actual reality inside detention centers. Independent reports and victim testimonies consistently demonstrate that widespread violations, including torture, ill-treatment, and the absence of meaningful accountability, continue unabated. Moreover, the SIU, which is presented as an independent body, remains administratively subordinate to the PPO, limiting its ability to effectively investigate abuses or hold perpetrators accountable. This structural lack of independence has been repeatedly highlighted in documented cases, including several opinions issued by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) and multiple communications from UN Special Rapporteurs, including the Special Rapporteur on Torture, which shed light on what detainees endure behind closed doors. For instance, in its opinion issued on 30 August 2023 concerning six Bahraini youths, the WGAD detailed the severe forms of torture inflicted on the individuals, including physical beatings, electric shocks, threats of sexual assault and rape, forced nudity in cold conditions, verbal abuse, threats of detaining and torturing family members, and death threats. The Working Group noted that neither the prisoners nor their families received any response from the SIU regarding the complaints they filed about torture and ill-treatment. It reiterated its concern over the SIU’s effectiveness, noting that it “is not independent, has little or no influence,” and that the government’s response concerning the six prisoners offered only minimal information on the SIU’s outcomes.

Similarly, three UN Special Rapporteurs, including the Special Rapporteur on Torture, in a communication sent to the Government of Bahrain on 12 August 2024 regarding the deteriorating conditions of political prisoners in Jau Prison, documented the prisoners’ deprivation of water, electricity, medical care, communication, and family visits, along with other retaliatory measures following protests over the death of prisoner Husain Khalil Ebrahim. The communication noted that families appealed to the concerned authorities for intervention, but these authorities largely ignored them or issued promises that went unfulfilled. Some authorities even attempted to distort the situation by blaming prisoners for the water and electricity cuts, portraying them as responsible rather than as victims.

Regarding the reported decrease in complaints submitted to the SIU, this cannot be regarded as an indicator of improved conditions. Instead, it more often reflects fear of retaliation, lack of confidence in the effectiveness of filing complaints, and the absence of safe, independent reporting mechanisms. Meanwhile, cases involving denial of medical care, excessive use of solitary confinement, and poor detention conditions continue to be documented across various reports. This confirms that the measures presented as reforms remain largely procedural and do not translate into genuine protection for prisoners on the ground.

Alleged Legislative Reforms

Bahrain presented itself as having implemented extensive reforms in the penal and prison system through its “Alternative Penalties” program, which the government claims aims to protect society and uphold human rights. It highlighted Law No. 24 of 2021, allowing the replacement of custodial sentences with alternative measures for the elderly, the sick, and individuals with special circumstances. The government also asserted that it has reformed prisons to meet international standards, developed rehabilitation programs, and released a number of prisoners under this program.

The MOI further maintained that detention procedures comply with the Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Code under judicial supervision, guaranteeing communication with prisoners’ relatives and lawyers, and ensuring that detainees are presented to the PPO within 48 hours. It emphasized regular monitoring of detention centers, the existence of standardized procedures, including examination by a specialized physician, and the presence of surveillance cameras to ensure limits are not exceeded with inmates.

The Committee noted that detainees are entitled to judicial review of their detention, immediate access to a lawyer upon arrest, family notification regarding their place of detention, and the right to a medical or forensic examination at their own expense. However, significant gaps persist, including delays in forensic examinations, and these basic guarantees are often not upheld, particularly in counter-terrorism cases. The Committee also highlighted that residual effects of the state of emergency continue to impact detainees, with civilians still tried under laws that permit military involvement, and reports of interrogations conducted in facilities lacking required recording equipment.

ADHRB stresses that this official narrative sharply contradicts the reality inside Bahraini prisons. The government’s claim that elderly, sick, and vulnerable individuals are benefiting from alternative penalties is clearly disproven by the continued detention of elderly opposition leaders and prominent human rights defenders, such as Mr. Hasan Mushaima and Dr. AbdulJalil AlSingace, who remain held in inadequate conditions and subjected to ongoing medical neglect, despite their multiple chronic illnesses and severe, life-threatening health deterioration.

Furthermore, independent human rights documentation and victim testimonies continue to demonstrate persistent abuses, including torture, ill-treatment, denial of medical care, and excessive use of solitary confinement—none of which are addressed by the government’s formal legislative reforms.

Regarding physical and psychological torture and ill-treatment, detainees have reported being subjected to severe beatings across the body using various methods, including slapping, kicking, punching, and strikes with batons or rubber hoses. Other documented abuses include forced shaving of the head in a humiliating manner, being placed in degrading positions, mockery, prolonged confinement in cold rooms with air-conditioning lowered during winter, being left alone for days, and enduring sectarian-based insults accompanying torture. The “Profiles in Persecution” section documents the persecution and suffering of many Bahraini victims and prisoners, including the case of Husain Abdulla Mohamed, who was tortured after sentencing and transferred to Dry Dock Prison, where officers forced him to strip, beat him with various objects, and placed him in solitary confinement. Similarly, Sheikh Zuhair Jasim Abbas (Ashoor) was subjected to ill-treatment, beatings, deprivation of food, medical care, and even the ability to bathe during his detention in Building 14 of Jau Prison, alongside many other prisoners.

Medical neglect policies have led to multiple deaths in custody. Cases include Husain Khalil Ebrahim, who died on 25 March 2024, and Husain Ali Aman, who died on 5 December 2024, both following denial of medical treatment. Other notable examples include political prisoner Seyed Kadhem Abbas, who died in February 2020 from untreated terminal cancer during his detention between 2015 and 2018, and political prisoner Abbas Malallah, who suffered for years from heart problems, stomach ulcers, and colon issues without proper treatment until his death in April 2021.

With respect to the government’s claims regarding reduced recidivism, ADHRB emphasizes that such metrics are irrelevant for released political prisoners, as they were not criminals to begin with. These individuals were detained solely for their political or human rights activities, confirming that their imprisonment was arbitrary and without any legal basis or justification.

Transitional Justice

Bahrain presented itself as a country that respects the rights and freedoms of prisoners, particularly after their release. It also claimed to offer training, reintegration, and support programs for released prisoners. Bahrain also confirmed, with regard to the application of alternative sanctions, that these sanctions are implemented without imposing any restrictions on those benefiting from them.

In response, the Committee expressed concern over reports of reprisals against human rights defenders, civil society members, journalists, political opponents, and other government critics who have faced post-release retaliation, including intimidation, threats, harassment, travel bans, citizenship revocation, arbitrary re-arrest and detention, and prosecution. It further noted Bahrain’s insufficient efforts to ensure adequate protection for these individuals, to conduct prompt, effective, and impartial investigations, and to hold perpetrators accountable. The Committee urged Bahrain to take the necessary measures to guarantee that these individuals are protected from all forms of intimidation, threats, harassment, travel bans, arbitrary re-arrest and detention, and prosecution that they may face as a result of their activities. It also stressed that all human rights violations committed against them must be thoroughly investigated, that those responsible must be brought to justice, and that victims and their families must be provided with effective remedies.

ADHRB asserts that transitional justice is not being implemented in Bahrain, despite the release of several activists and human rights defenders. ADHRB has documented a systematic pattern showing how Bahraini authorities restrict the freedom of released individuals and strip them of their political rights. Released prisoners are denied basic rights like work, housing, and freedom of movement, and they’re routinely subjected to security summonses and subtle threats, making their freedom conditional and heavily limited.

One of the most prominent cases of prisoners dismissed from government jobs due to their politically motivated arrests is that of activist Najah Yusuf, who was arrested in April 2017 for criticizing Bahrain’s hosting of the Formula 1 race and speaking out against the crackdown on protesters. In June 2018, she was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of attempting to overthrow the regime and promoting terrorism. In September 2019, the WGAD deemed her detention arbitrary and called for her release. She was released by royal pardon in August 2019 after spending more than two years behind bars. However, after her release, she was dismissed from her job and denied the right to work, even though her dismissal stemmed entirely from a case linked to freedom of expression. She filed complaints, but they went unanswered, and because of her financial situation, she was unable to pursue legal action. She remains dismissed and uncompensated to this day.

Another case is Ali AlHajee, who was arrested in May 2013, tortured, and sentenced to 10 years and six months after an unfair trial. He was released in June 2023 under the Alternative Penalties Law, but was re-arrested in November 2023 for demanding his civil rights, including the lifting of his travel ban. His requests were ignored despite the PPO confirming he had completed his sentence. Ali visited the MOI office multiple times to collect the clearance certificate he needed for work, but he never received it. On 13 November 2023, when he asked again about the delay, he was arrested for what authorities described as insulting a public official. The charge was later changed for unclear reasons. AlHajee faces ongoing human rights violations, demonstrating the Bahraini government’s policy of suppressing the rights of released prisoners.

The case of activist Ali Mohsen Muhana, who has been repeatedly arrested for taking part in peaceful gatherings and demonstrations, also stands out. His harassment began in 2016, when he was arrested for participating in an unlicensed gathering, and continued in 2017 during the Duraz protests. After his trial, he was released on bail in January 2018 while the case was still ongoing. He was sentenced to one year in prison in April 2019 and released in August after completing his sentence. Yet even after his release, Muhana faced numerous legal proceedings tied to his activism and his demands for the release of prisoners of conscience. Between April 2021 and January 2022, he was summoned 12 times on various charges. Since early 2023, he has been repeatedly summoned and detained on charges linked to freedom of expression. He is currently detained again pending investigation over accusations related to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly. On top of this, he was dismissed from his job as an Arabic language teacher after his 2017 arrest, leaving him with a suspended salary, lost financial benefits, and a deepening financial crisis.

These testimonies make it clear that the Bahraini government’s claims are empty and unfounded. Its narrative about training, reintegration, and support programs for released prisoners simply does not reflect reality.

As for the application of alternative sentences, those released under the Alternative Sentencing Law face a list of restrictions that violate their basic rights. A key example is the electronic ankle bracelet, which severely limits the released prisoner’s foot mobility and can even put their safety at risk. People under alternative sentences are also barred from traveling, joining public gatherings, speaking to the media, and are placed under electronic surveillance. There’s even pressure to record videos thanking the King, as happened with Kameel Juma Hasan, a minor political prisoner released under alternative punishments and the son of activist Najah Yusuf. When he refused to record the video, his sentence was extended. Kameel now feels isolated because of these restrictions and the stigma tied to the tracking bracelet. Bahrain must release all prisoners of conscience without restrictions and bring an end to these practices once and for all.

Criminalization and Repression of Freedom of Expression, and Amendments to the Penal Code

Bahrain announced new legal amendments in 2025, including changes to the Press and Publications Law, where some offenses are now punishable by fines instead of prison time.
Bahrain also claims to have expanded the scope of reconciliation in certain cases and introduced new mechanisms to prevent abuses of legal provisions, such as Article 53 of the Penal Code, which previously allowed a rapist to escape punishment by marrying his victim.

The Committee raised serious concerns about the persistent pattern of reprisals targeting human rights defenders, civil society actors, journalists, political opposition figures, and other government critics. These reprisals reportedly include threats, harassment, travel bans, citizenship revocation, excessive force, restrictions on family contact, arbitrary detention and prosecution—including before military courts—as well as torture, enforced disappearance, and extrajudicial killings. The Committee urged Bahrain to take concrete steps to protect at-risk individuals from such abuses, to ensure that all allegations of violations are independently investigated, to hold perpetrators accountable at all levels, and to provide effective redress to victims and their families. The Committee also highlighted the continued imprisonment of prominent opposition figures and human rights defenders, including AbdulHadi AlKhawaja, Hasan Mushaima, and Dr. AbdulJalil AlSingace, whose detentions have been declared arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The Committee reiterated its call for their immediate and unconditional release. Additionally, it called on Bahrain to end the use of citizenship revocation as a punitive measure against activists and critics, and to amend its Citizenship Act, particularly the provisions concerning nationality deprivation, to prevent the creation of statelessness.

Regarding gender-based violence, the Committee acknowledged Bahrain’s steps to strengthen protections for women, including eliminating provisions that previously allowed perpetrators of rape to avoid punishment by marrying their victims. However, it expressed deep concern over the high prevalence of domestic and sexual violence against women and girls, the lack of a comprehensive legislative framework addressing gender-based violence, and the presence of discriminatory provisions in the Criminal Code, particularly article 334, which reduces penalties for so-called “honor crimes.” The Committee also noted that marital rape remains unrecognized as a criminal offense. Furthermore, it pointed to significant barriers to reporting gender-based violence, including stigma, fear of retaliation, and inadequate protections, resulting in low prosecution and conviction rates and disproportionately lenient sentences. The Committee urged Bahrain to fully implement Law No. 17 of 2015 on Protection Against Domestic Violence and to adopt a comprehensive law that criminalizes all forms of gender-based violence. It emphasized the need for thorough investigations into all cases, including those involving state agents, the prosecution, and appropriate sentencing of perpetrators, and full reparations for victims. It further called on Bahrain to repeal or amend article 334 to ensure that so-called “honor crimes” receive no mitigating treatment, to explicitly criminalize marital rape, and to intensify public awareness campaigns challenging societal acceptance of gender-based violence. Finally, the Committee stressed the importance of specialized training for judges, prosecutors, police, and other law enforcement personnel, and urged Bahrain to ensure that victims have access to protection mechanisms, medical and psychosocial services, legal assistance, and adequately funded shelters across the country.

ADHRB notes that in just the first half of 2025, the Bahrain Press Association documented 37 violations of freedom of expression committed by the government. Press Law No. 47 of 2002 remains a core tool of repression, routinely used to silence dissent. Its provisions criminalize criticism of the monarchy and are used to shut down media outlets accused of publishing “offensive” content. On 8 May 2025, the Bahraini parliament approved amendments that expand government control over the media.

Although the government claims these changes are progressive, fines of up to 50,000 Bahraini Dinars still stand, along with the possibility of imprisonment under other laws. The amendments add new licensing requirements for the press, allowing authorities to arbitrarily shut down websites, and broaden the law to include “electronic media,” which must now obtain licenses as well. This expands the crackdown on online expression, especially significant given that Bahrain shut down its last independent newspaper in 2017.

The Press Law and its amendments contradict international human rights standards, and only deep, comprehensive reforms would meaningfully improve freedom of expression in Bahrain. Adjusting a few laws, like the Press and Publications Law, does nothing to address the wider repression, particularly as human rights defenders, journalists, and dissidents continue to be prosecuted. Daily arrests over simple tweets show just how aggressively the state violates freedom of expression. Likewise, widening the scope of reconciliation or settlements does nothing to confront the broader issue: the lack of accountability for past and ongoing violations, and the absence of guarantees for victims’ rights to truth and justice. These so-called reforms aren’t progress; they’re a step backward, tightening restrictions on opinion, expression, the press, and publication, despite the government’s attempts to present them as improvements.

The most striking example of this restriction and suppression is the case of opposition leader Ebrahim Sharif, who was recently arrested after expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and rejecting normalization and the war on Gaza. He now faces charges of “spreading false news” and “making offensive remarks against sister Arab states”—charges widely viewed as politically motivated and intended to silence dissent. His arrest has drawn broad condemnation from human rights organizations, which see his detention as a blatant violation of his right to peaceful expression. Sharif is currently being held in harsh conditions at the Dry Dock Detention Center, a reminder of the harsh reality many dissidents face in Bahrain. Therefore, the reforms the state continues to promote remain superficial and insufficient. They do nothing to curb ongoing violations inside detention centers, nor do they reflect any genuine intention to implement the standards of the Convention against Torture in practice.

The alleged role of the Ministry of Interior and the Reform and Rehabilitation Administration

The Kingdom of Bahrain claimed that the Bahraini Ministry of Interior (MOI) continues to promote human rights through various measures, including enforcing an employee Code of Conduct, expanding human rights training programs, allowing field visits to reform and rehabilitation centers, and improving standards related to hygiene, healthcare, administration, and discipline inside these facilities.

However, the Committee noted that interrogations were still being carried out in rooms unequipped with audio-visual recording systems. It asked what steps were being taken to ensure that interrogations were always conducted in properly equipped rooms, and what consequences were imposed on those who violated this requirement, even in cases where violations were officially documented. The Committee also reported receiving information that the effects of the state of emergency persisted long after it officially ended, with civilians still being tried under laws allowing military involvement in security operations. In some instances, civilians were detained in Qurain Military Prison, where they were deprived of basic legal safeguards against torture, increasing the risk of ill-treatment. Furthermore, while the Committee stated that the SIU had not received complaints of torture specifically aimed at extracting confessions at Jau Prison, it had received multiple complaints of physical and verbal abuse. It questioned the criteria Bahrain uses to define what constitutes torture, noting that complaints from Jau Prison clearly involved physical or verbal mistreatment, even if no “formal” torture complaint was recorded.

The Committee emphasized that detainees are legally entitled to several protections, including judicial review of their detention, access to legal counsel, prompt notification to their families, and access to medical or forensic examinations. Although some safeguards exist on paper, their practical implementation remains weak, especially in counter-terrorism cases. The Committee reiterated concerns about the lingering effects of the 2011 state of emergency, which granted the military broad powers that continue to affect detainees’ fundamental rights, such as through civilian trials under military-enabled laws and continued detentions at Qurain Military Prison, where the risk of torture and ill-treatment is heightened.

In response, the Bahraini government told the Committee that the MOI is training staff in reform and rehabilitation centers to ensure humane treatment and inmate safety. It added that the Ministry is committed to enforcing laws that protect inmates’ rights, including access to education, healthcare, and freedom of religious practice. Amendments passed in 2024 were described as strengthening the rights of inmates and individuals held in pretrial detention. The Ministry claims it respects inmates’ rights regardless of their crimes or nationalities and ensures social rights such as communication with their families. It also says it works to reintegrate inmates into society by providing news, sports, and educational opportunities, including efforts to secure access to university programs. According to the government, meals are provided by a specialized company, with dietary accommodations available for medical needs.

ADHRB asserts that despite the positive image the Bahraini MOI attempts to project through training programs, codes of conduct, and orchestrated international visits, these measures are largely superficial and do not reflect reality inside detention centers. Independent human rights organizations, UN reports, and testimonies from victims document ongoing violations such as torture, ill-treatment, medical neglect, and prolonged solitary confinement—practices that directly contradict the standards Bahrain claims to uphold. It is also important to note that independent organizations are routinely denied access to prisons and detention centers, effectively shielding the true conditions inside from scrutiny.

Moreover, international accreditations and selective visits are not proof of meaningful improvement, especially when independent bodies are denied full and unrestricted access and when no transparent accountability mechanisms exist. Complaints of torture and ill-treatment rarely lead to real consequences, exposing a wide gap between official rhetoric and the actual enforcement of human rights. The government’s claims about respecting prisoners’ rights, such as their right to education and freedom of religious practice, are contradicted by documented cases. One example is political prisoner Ali Dawood AlAradi, who was insulted, verbally abused, and physically assaulted after attempting to defend his religious beliefs and practices.

Medical Care Claims

Bahrain claims that it guarantees comprehensive, free healthcare for inmates in reform and rehabilitation centers. In September 2022, healthcare services in these facilities were placed under the supervision of government hospitals operating within the Supreme Council of Health. According to the state, these hospitals are independently managed, follow high standards, and receive a dedicated budget to ensure that inmates receive medical services comparable to those available to citizens.

However, the Committee raised serious concerns about the reality of medical care inside these facilities. It noted that prisoners in some centers suffer from inadequate healthcare, poor sanitation, and frequent power and water outages, along with food shortages. Reports also point to torture and ill-treatment, including prolonged solitary confinement and restrictions on family visits. Overcrowding remains a major issue: cells designed for six people often hold 12 to 15, leaving some prisoners to sleep on the floor. Under international standards, solitary confinement lasting more than 15 days is considered a form of torture, and the State was urged to improve detention conditions accordingly.

The Bahraini government responded to the issue of prison overcrowding by insisting that it remains committed to continually developing the reform and rehabilitation system in line with its international obligations. It stated that it is taking steps to improve healthcare for inmates and reduce overcrowding through the construction of new facilities, as well as through pardons and alternative sentencing programs. The government added that the Ministry of Health oversees compliance with health standards in detention centers by conducting regular water-quality tests, carrying out periodic inspections, providing laundry services, monitoring inmates’ personal hygiene, and preparing follow-up reports in coordination with security authorities. It also emphasized that it monitors the preparedness and equipment of medical clinics inside the facilities. Regarding emergency situations, the government said that procedures for deaths or critical injuries include providing immediate medical care within the centers, transferring severe cases to government hospitals, and thoroughly documenting all related steps. On mental health, it stated that the psychiatric hospital has been transferred to the administration of government hospitals, is subject to inspection by the National Health Regulatory Authority, has received official licensing, and has achieved platinum accreditation under the national accreditation system.

ADHRB asserts that the reality is far different from the image Bahrain presents to the international community. Medical neglect remains one of the most severe and systematic violations inside Bahraini prisons, used as an additional form of pressure against political prisoners, particularly those serving life sentences or long terms. Documented cases show that this neglect has not only caused severe health deterioration but has also led to tragic deaths inside prison cells. Political prisoner Sayed Kadhem Abbas died in February 2020 after developing terminal cancer linked to years of being denied proper medical care during his detention between 2015 and 2018. Similarly, Abbas Malallah died in April 2021 after suffering for two years from chronic heart problems, stomach ulcers, and colitis without receiving the treatment he desperately needed. The same policy of medical neglect continues to affect prisoners sentenced to death or life imprisonment: Mohamed Ramadan, who faces a death sentence, suffers from extreme pain caused by a tumor in his neck that later spread to his face, yet the prison administration continues to delay essential medical examinations and imaging.

Between 2011 and 2024, approximately 19 political prisoners died as a result of medical negligence and systematic torture, most recently Husain Ali Aman on 5 December 2024. In none of these cases were serious investigations conducted, nor were those responsible held accountable. Instead, the authorities routinely attributed the deaths to “natural causes,” while the real perpetrators remained protected.

In addition to violations during arrest and interrogation, arbitrary measures against prisoners continue after sentencing. These include torture, beatings, humiliation, denial of medical treatment, medical neglect, and severe shortages in healthcare and personal hygiene. Numerous cases have been documented of inmates being denied medical examinations or hospital transfers despite life-threatening conditions. Others have been deprived of showers for days or weeks, and in some cases even denied access to toilets. Following the Dry Dock Prison fire on 17 August 2025, minors were transferred to Building 16, where they were beaten, crucified, stripped naked, and prevented from showering or using the toilet. Adult prisoners were transferred to Jau Prison Building 2, Ward 5, eight days later, without replacement clothing or hygiene items, and were denied showers for two weeks.

Other recurring violations include prolonged solitary confinement for months, shackling detainees for hours or days, forcing prisoners to sleep on the floor without mattresses, restraining them during prayer, pepper-spraying them, placing them in extremely cold rooms, subjecting them to severe beatings, confiscating their personal belongings, and preventing them from making phone calls or receiving family visits. Prisoners are also placed with criminal inmates or foreigners who do not share their religion or language, and riot police routinely carry out violent raids. Cells are overcrowded to the point where detainees have no space to sleep. Documented cases, including those of Mahmood Saeed Abdulla, Salah AlHammar, Mohamed Ramadan, and Sayed Alawi AlWadaei, demonstrate that these are not isolated incidents, but part of a systematic policy of physically and psychologically torturing political prisoners before, during, and after their trials.

ADHRB asserts that claims regarding mental health services in detention centers are inaccurate. Transferring the psychiatric hospital from the Ministry of Health to the State Hospitals Administration and placing it under the supervision of the National Health Regulatory Authority does not guarantee high-quality treatment or genuine concern for inmates’ mental well-being. When even basic physical healthcare is gravely inadequate, it is impossible to trust that mental health services meet acceptable standards. The reality reflects a significant gap between official statements and actual practice.

Furthermore, ADHRB has documented extensive psychological torture inflicted on Bahraini prisoners. Detainees of all ages suffer from deliberate practices aimed at breaking their spirits, demoralizing them, and extinguishing any sense of hope. These violations include continuous bullying, verbal abuse, defamation, insults targeting their family members, threats of physical assault, and the spreading of degrading rumors, especially those aimed at female relatives. Psychological torture also includes insults targeting their religious identity, religious and political figures, symbols, and beliefs. Prisoners are further subjected to prolonged solitary confinement or enforced disappearance, isolating them completely from the outside world for extended periods. This includes the denial of phone or video calls, family visits, and the right to attend the funerals of loved ones.

Hunger Strikes

Regarding hunger strikes, Bahrain claimed it implements a defined medical policy in government hospitals, developed in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). According to the authorities, this policy includes daily monitoring of hunger strikers’ vital signs, regular laboratory testing, adjusting medications based on each prisoner’s condition, administering intravenous nutrition when necessary, and providing psychological support by specialists to safeguard inmates’ physical and mental well-being.

The Committee, however, voiced concern over reports describing harsh treatment of prisoners, including violence by prison staff and forms of collective punishment against political detainees that amount to ill-treatment and torture. These abuses reportedly included poor living conditions, excessive use of force, denial of basic rights — including medical care — and prolonged solitary confinement far beyond the legal limit of seven consecutive days, all in retaliation against prisoners protesting their conditions, including through hunger strikes. The Committee urged Bahrain to ensure that detainees’ basic needs are met, particularly regarding access to water, sanitation, food, ventilation, and natural light, and to increase the number of trained and qualified prison personnel, including medical staff, to guarantee proper healthcare in accordance with rules 24–35 of the Nelson Mandela Rules. It further called on Bahrain to ensure that detainees’ fundamental rights are respected at all times and that no reprisals or collective punishments are imposed on prisoners for protesting their conditions of detention.

ADHRB stresses that in practice, Bahrain often exploits hunger strikes as a pretext to further punish inmates rather than provide the necessary medical care. Instead of addressing the underlying grievances or ensuring proper health monitoring, authorities routinely subject hunger-striking prisoners to retaliatory measures, including withholding medical treatment. For example, when political prisoners in Jau Prison began a hunger strike on 6 October 2025 to protest the administration’s repeated failure to uphold promises related to alternative sentencing and improved detention conditions, prison officials responded with punitive actions. These included denying medical care to inmates experiencing severe health complications, cancelling scheduled medical appointments, and imposing additional restrictions such as cutting off family video calls, prohibiting visits with other prisoners, blocking access to outdoor time, and limiting canteen purchases. Hunger-striking political prisoner Jasim Mohamed AlEskafi reported to ADHRB on 3 October 2025 that he and several other inmates repeatedly fainted as their blood sugar levels dropped to dangerously low levels (around 3 or below), yet the prison administration continued to withhold medical treatment. This strike coincided with the continuous, daily arrival of ambulances at Jau Prison as the health of detainees deteriorated due to the administration’s persistent denial of necessary medical care. Numerous prisoners, including Ali Husain AlOraibi, Nizar AbdulJalil, and Hasan Maayoof, were transferred to hospitals after experiencing severe exhaustion and dangerously low blood sugar and blood pressure levels. This case reflects a broader pattern in which hunger strikes are met not with proper healthcare and attention, but with punitive measures aimed at forcing prisoners into submission through life-risking medical neglect rather than addressing the causes of their protest.

Recommendations

The Committee Against Torture (CAT) concluded its session by outlining several key recommendations to Bahrain. Among these were the need to uphold all procedural guarantees for prisoners, limit solitary confinement to a maximum of 15 days, and improve detention conditions by ensuring adequate healthcare, nutrition, ventilation, and sanitation. The Committee also emphasized the importance of effective accountability and appropriate reparations for victims of torture, including non-financial remedies and safeguards to prevent recurrence. Additionally, it called for stronger protection against refoulement, transparent extradition and deportation procedures, measures to address overcrowding in detention facilities, and reinforced rights and protections for children in custody.

ADHRB affirms that while the Committee’s recommendations offer an essential roadmap for protecting prisoner rights in Bahrain, they cannot be meaningfully realized without deep, independent, and practical reform. ADHRB stresses that violations inside Bahraini prisons remain widespread, including torture, ill-treatment, medical neglect, and the routine overuse of solitary confinement, despite the government’s repeated claims of reforms, new laws, and supposed alignment with international standards.

ADHRB underscores that Bahrain’s pattern of announcing legal reforms without implementing them in practice mirrors the findings of its previous submissions to the CAT, most notably its July 2025 report, “Eight Years of Unfulfilled Promises”. That report detailed the persistence of serious violations, the stark disconnect between official legislation and daily reality, and Bahrain’s failure to act on the Committee’s 2017 recommendations. The report also confirmed the continued use of military courts to prosecute civilians, the repression of political activists, reliance on torture-induced confessions, and the absence of real accountability for perpetrators.

In light of this, ADHRB emphasizes that the Committee’s recommendations must translate into tangible, enforceable steps that go beyond revising laws on paper. These steps must include:

Ending impunity: Conducting immediate and independent investigations into all cases of torture and ill-treatment, and ensuring accountability for all perpetrators, including state and security personnel.
Establishing preventive systems, not only punitive ones: Implementing comprehensive, mandatory training programs for law enforcement officers, investigators, and prison officials on how to conduct arrests, investigations, and detention in full compliance with human rights standards.
Safeguarding freedom of expression: Ending the criminalization of peaceful expression and stopping arbitrary prosecutions targeting activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.
Advancing transitional justice for former prisoners: Providing released prisoners with compensation, addressing the psychological and physical impact of past violations, and supporting their reintegration into society.
Enhancing transparency and oversight: Establishing independent mechanisms to receive complaints and monitor reform implementation, while guaranteeing full access for international human rights organizations to detention facilities.
Improving detention conditions: Reducing overcrowding and ensuring that all facilities meet basic standards for healthcare, nutrition, ventilation, sanitation, and operational monitoring systems.

ADHRB maintains that neither legislative reforms nor technical reforms are meaningful unless accompanied by actual implementation, structural enforcement, and preventive measures that equip government agents with the knowledge and tools to respect human rights. For reforms to have genuine impact, Bahrain must pair accountability with proactive training, operational guidance, and a commitment to ending the entrenched culture of abuse. ADHRB further underscores the need for sustained international oversight to ensure the full implementation of the Committee’s recommendations, the end of persistent violations, and the advancement of genuine justice and accountability for all detainees.

The post During its Session on Bahrain, the Committee Against Torture Expressed Deep Concern over Ongoing Torture and Violations inside Prisons amid the Absence of Effective Accountability. appeared first on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

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