Bahrain: Child released on bail

13-year-old Salman Mahdi Salman, a Bahraini child, was released on 10 September 2013 following a month long detention where he was allegedly beaten and threats made against his parents.

Following his release from a juvenile detention centre after his first hearing before a juvenile court, on the same day, an interview was published on 13 September 2013 in the independent daily newspaper, the Bahrain Mirror.  In that interview Salman Mahdi Salman said that he had been repeatedly hit on the face by policemen during his interrogation on 14 August 2013 at al-Budaiya’ police station.

He further explained that he was threatened with more beatings if he did not “confess” and if he complained about his treatment, and two policemen also threatened to arrest his parents. His trial started on 10 September 2013 on charges of “illegal gathering”, “riots” and “attacks on security patrols”, which he denies. The court ordered that he be released on bail pending a second session on 24 September 2013.  

Salman Mahdi Salman was arrested on 11 August 2013 at around 5pm near a shopping mall on al-Budaiya’ Street, in the west of the capital, Manama. He was taken to al-Budaiya’ police station and released at 1am on 12 August. However, within a few hours of his release the police contacted his family and demanded they bring Salman Mahdi Salman back to the police station for further interrogation. 

The family felt obliged and took the child back to the police station the following day. The Juvenile Prosecution ordered his detention for seven days pending investigation, which was renewed again. Salman Mahdi Salman was held in a juvenile detention centre.

Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:

* Urging the Bahraini authorities to ensure that Salman Mahdi Salman is treated in accordance with the international standards of juvenile justice;

* Ensuring that Salman Mahdi Salman’s allegations of ill-treatment are independently investigated and that statements obtained through the use of torture or other ill-treatment are not accepted in any proceedings.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 1 NOVEMBER 2013 TO:  (Time difference = GMT + 3 hrs / BST + 2 hrs)

King
Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555
Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama,
Bahrain
Fax: 00973 1766 4587
Salutation: Your Majesty

Minister of Interior
Shaikh Rashid bin ‘Abdullah Al Khalifa
Ministry of Interior
P.O. Box 13, al-Manama,
Bahrain
Fax: 00973 1723 2661
Twitter: @moi_Bahrain
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
P. O. Box 450, al-Manama,
Bahrain
Fax: 00973 1753 1284
Email: minister@justice.gov.bh
Twitter: @Khaled_Bin_Ali
Salutation: Your Excellency

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEAL TO

Her Excellency Miss Alice Thomas Yusuf Samaan
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
30 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8QB. Fax: 020 7201 9183.    Tel: 020 7201 9170 Email: information@bahrainembassy.co.uk . Website: http://www.bahrainembassy.co.uk