Manama, April 14: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Bahraini government to investigate the death of Shia opposition activists in police custody.
The New York-based HRW called for the investigation after observing the body of Ali Issa Saqer which “bore signs of horrific physical abuse.”
Photos taken before Saqer’s burial showed criss-cross purple lash marks all over his back. His legs were badly bruised and his toes and feet were covered in purple bruises.
“Bahrain’s public prosecutor should investigate the three deaths in custody reported since April 3, 2011, and hold accountable anyone found responsible for torture, ill-treatment, or denial of medical care,” HRW said on Wednesday, shortly before the death of the fourth opposition activist under torture in police custody.
“The authorities need to explain why this is happening, put a stop to it, and hold anyone responsible to account,” the organization added.
Bahraini authorities, however, deny that opposition activists have been tortured, claiming that Saqer, 31, was fatally injured by prison guards after “causing chaos in detention” and that two other deaths were caused by sickle-cell disease — a genetic blood disorder.
The authorities have not commented about the death of businessman Abdul Kareem al-Fakhrawi, the fourth detained activist who died in prison.
Witnesses say al-Fakhrawi’s body was not shown to his family, supporting the notion that his body also bears signs of torture.
HRW has also urged the Manama regime “to disclose the whereabouts of detainees, permit them to contact their families and lawyers, and open detention centers to independent inspection.”
“It’s outrageous and cruel that people are taken off to detention and the families hear nothing until the body shows up with signs of abuse,” the rights group said.
Since the beginning of anti-government protests in Bahrain in mid-February, scores of protesters have been killed and many others went missing.
According to opposition groups, over 800 anti-government activists, including 17 women, have been arrested.
The protesters are demanding an end to the rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty.
Bahraini security forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, are brutally cracking down on demonstrators.
Protesters say they will continue their street demonstrations until their demands for freedom, constitutional monarchy as well as a proportional voice in the government are met.
——–Agencies