February 3, 2023
Cited article by Al Jazeera
HRRC urges the government of Bahrain to provide psychological services and restitution to former prisoners who are still suffering from the effects of their imprisonment. We further call for the end to the torture of all prisoners under international human rights law. The reported treatment is a violation of the prisoners' basic human rights, and the lasting trauma severely affects the return to normal life.
Article Summary
The non-profit Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) released a report stating that former prisoners in Bahrain suffered from torture and other violations throughout their arrest, interrogations, and imprisonment. The organization conducted interviews and reviewed medical reports stating the released prisoners suffered from “invisible wounds” that are preventing them from returning to normal life years after the alleged violations occurred.
In addition, the ADHRB report states those imprisoned were refused medical services or mental health assistance and experienced “extreme forms of medical negligence”. Also highlighted in the report is that Bahraini men are less likely to seek mental health assistance, and female survivors of rape and sexual assault have significant difficulty forming intimate relationships. ADHRB calls on Bahrain to investigate the allegations and to pay restitutions to the victims, as well as provide psychological support.