Two Human Rights Organizations Accuse Bahrain of Abusing Detained Children

Two human rights organizations have accused Bahrain of abusing and threatening detained children who were arrested for participating in protests or holding political views. They urged the authorities to immediately end the abuse of detained children. According to a report by AFP, the two organizations, Human Rights Watch and Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), revealed instances of these abuses in two separate studies on Monday, March 20. Human Rights Watch stated that it interviewed 12 individuals, including eight men who were detained as children between 2013 and 2019 and released between 2019 and 2024. The organization also spoke with four mothers whose children were detained after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. These children either participated in protests supporting Palestinian rights or were believed to be protesters. Human Rights Watch's findings indicate that in most of these cases, children were subjected to beatings or threats of torture, including rape, and many were deprived of adequate access to lawyers and family. According to this human rights organization, Bahraini authorities 'abuse and threaten children detained in connection with protests or other forms of political expression.' The report notes that some of these children were coerced into confessing to crimes they did not commit. Among the interviewees, one lost his teeth due to lack of dental care, and another suffered from untreated scabies. Freedom House reported that 55 governments use travel restrictions to pressure their opponents. The organization also warned that 'several children have been deprived of education for long periods.' Nico Jafari-Nia, a researcher on Bahrain and Yemen at Human Rights Watch, stated, 'Bahraini authorities have stolen the childhood of many children through detention, torture, and depriving them of access to family and school.' The report from Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain also emphasizes that 'since October 2023, especially after the protests condemning the attacks on Gaza, Bahrain has intensified the crackdown on public freedoms.' According to this organization, Bahraini authorities have arbitrarily detained 11 children and coerced them into confessing through psychological pressure and physical torture. Despite this, a Bahraini government spokesperson claimed that the country has specific laws and mechanisms to protect children, including an independent inspector to oversee these matters. The spokesperson completely rejected the allegations, asserting that Bahrain is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of all individuals, including children, and 'will always conduct necessary investigations upon receiving any credible allegations.' Since 2011, when pro-democracy protests inspired by the Arab Spring began, Bahrain has imprisoned hundreds of protesters and declared opposition parties illegal. However, the country claims it has no political prisoners. In April 2024, Bahrain pardoned over 1,500 prisoners, including nearly 40 children detained for expressing their opinions. However, since then, 'dozens of children have been detained for fabricated reasons related to political views or peaceful expression of opinions.'