Fifteen-year-old diabetic boy held in detention in Bahrain

15-year-old ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim, a Bahraini boy who suffers from diabetes, was arrested at his home in al-Hidd in northern Bahrain on 8 September 2013 and was reportedly hit on the head during interrogation. The Public Prosecutor has ordered his detention.

Police officers arrested the child at his home at 2:45 am on 8 September 2013. The officers who entered the house to arrest the boy, despite not showing an arrest warrant, stated that the boy’s name was on a list of people to be arrested on orders of the Public Prosecution.

The child was taken to al-Hidd police station where he was reportedly hit on the head during questioning by the police. He was forced to “confess” to “participating in illegal gatherings”, “throwing Molotov cocktails” and “rioting”.

On 10 September2013, accompanied by his lawyer, ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim appeared before the Public Prosecutor where he withdrew his “confessions” stating that he had made them under duress. The Public Prosecutor ordered his detention for 45 days pending investigation and scheduled his next hearing for 25 October 2013.

The boy is now held in Bloc 11 at Dry Dock prison for adults in the capital Manama, along with other children. He suffers from diabetes for which he needs insulin injections and a special diet. It is not clear whether he is receiving regular and adequate medical care.

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

* Urging the Bahraini authorities to ensure that ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim receives the regular and adequate medical care he requires;

* Urging the authorities to ensure that ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim is treated in accordance with the international standards of juvenile justice;

* Ensuring that ‘Ali Muslim Ebrahim is protected from torture or other ill-treatment and that his allegation of ill-treatment is independently investigated, and that anyone found responsible is brought to account. Statements obtained through the use of torture or other ill-treatment are not accepted in any trial proceedings.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 31 OCTOBER 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 (keep trying)
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 bin Abdullah 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