Trial of two boys starts in Bahrain

Two 15 year old boys, Jehad Sadeq Aziz Salman and Ebrahim Ahmed Radi al-Moqdad were arrested with two adults during an anti-government protest in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.

They have since been held in detention and appeared for the first time before the High Criminal Court in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, on October 16, together with Sadeq Jalil Ibrahim al-Haiki.

Their charges under articles of the Bahrain Penal Code and the 2006 anti-terrorist law include ‘’intending to murder”, “burning a police car”, “illegal gathering and rioting”, “throwing Molotov cocktails”, and “attempting to steal a police car”. One of the defendants told the court he had been tortured in detention.  Their lawyers are still waiting for the results of a forensic examination and their case has been adjourned to 3 December. All five are still held in the Dry Dock prison in Manama.

The age of criminal responsibility in Bahraini law is 15 years old. However, as Jehad Sadeq Aziz Salman and Ebrahim Ahmed Radi al-Moqdad are under 18, they are children and should be treated in accordance with the rules and principles of juvenile justice.

TAKE ACTION

Please write immediately to the authorities before 19 December using sample letter below.

King of Bahrain

Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa

Office of His Majesty the King

P.O. Box 555

Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama

BAHRAIN

Fax: 00 973 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: 011 973 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: 011 973 1753 1284

Twitter: @Khaled_Bin_Ali

Salutation: Your Excellency

SAMPLE LETTER

Your Majesty/Excellency

I am writing to express my concern at the treatment of Jehad Sadeq Aziz Salman and Ebrahim Ahmed Radi al-Moqdad as adults, despite the fact that they are both only 15 years old. I therefore urge you to ensure that Jehad Sadeq Aziz Salman and Ebrahim Ahmed Radi al-Moqdad are treated in accordance with the rules of juvenile justice, particularly with respect to their detention and any proceedings against them.

Furthermore, I implore you to ensure that Jehad Sadeq Aziz Salman, Ebrahim Ahmed Radi al-Moqdad, Naser Saeed Hassan, Hassan Abdul Jalil al-Ekri and Sadeq Jalil Ibrahim al-Haiki are protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and guarantee that their allegations of torture are independently investigated and that statements obtained through the use of torture or other ill-treatment are not accepted in any proceedings.

Yours truly,