SALAM Addresses UN Commissioner and Special Rapporteurs Regarding the Targeting of Prisoners in Jaw Prison

Bahrain SALAM for Human Rights addresses the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Special Rapporteurs on Torture and Religion or Belief specifically regarding the actions of the Bahraini authorities of torturing and prejudicing the rights of the prisoners in Jaw prison.

SALAM has communicated the assaults and violations occurring continuously in Jaw prison, where prisoners are regularly subjected to physical torture and inhuman and degrading treatments, while also having their beliefs and affiliations verbally abused. SALAM can confirm after communicating with a number families of some of the prisoners, that a prisoner’s were assaulted and subjected to abuse to their beliefs.

SALAM has articulated in the letters sent the demands of prisoners as the following:

1-For a complaint to be filed with the Public Prosecutor in regards to the harsh treatment.

2- Request a visit to the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

3- For the formation of a neutral and private investigatory committee to look into the cases of assault and abuse of prisoners.

4- To allow the prisoners’ lawyers to visit Jaw prison to see their clients’ current state and relay their requests.

Moreover, the lawyer of one of the prisoners of Jaw reported that his client on 27th of April was ordered out of the court by the judge after he started communicating to him the extremely harsh treatments he has been subjected to in the prison. Further, the judge barred him from listing such violations.

With such, SALAM urges for an investigation to be set up swiftly by the UN Commissioner and such an investigation be considered of top priority, with approximately 400 prisoners effected who are currently detained in Jaw prison.

Bahrain SALAM for Human Rights

27th April 2013