Bahraini Human Rights Organizations: We acknowledge the High Commissioner’s Call for the Release of All Prisoners of Conscience

Bahraini human rights organizations have stated that they acknowledge the call made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to urge the Bahraini authorities to release all prisoners of conscience who are at great risk from COVID-19. 

Human rights organizations also stressed the need for the Bahraini authorities to respond to the UNHCR’s call to conduct an impartial and independent investigation into the death of the victim of torture and health neglect Abbas Mal Allah, and to reassess the health conditions in prisons to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, stressing that the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and the UN Special Rapporteur Those concerned with the right to health are two independent experts who can conduct such an independent and impartial investigation.

The human rights organizations have also stressed the need for the Bahraini authorities to heed the call made by the High Commissioner to conduct an impartial and independent investigation into the death of victim Abbas Mal Allah. Health conditions needed to be reassessed, the organizations declared, emphasizing that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health, are the only two bodies capable of conducting such an independent and impartial investigation.

Additionally, the organizations have reiterated their demands on the Bahraini authorities to release all prisoners of conscience unconditionally and to adopt a project to redress the victims and achieve transitional justice. 

The Bahraini human rights organizations that co-sign this statement are the Bahrain Forum on Human Rights, SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights, and the Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights.