Profiles in Prosecution: Mohamed Radhi Hasan

Born in 1992, Mohamed Radhi Hasan is a Bahraini student facing an imminent risk of execution. At the age of 23, Bahraini authorities arbitrarily detained Mohamed and subjected him to multiple human rights violations. He is currently detained at Jau Prison.

On 1 August 2015, National Security Agency (NSA) officers arrested Mohamed at his house in Sitra without a presenting warrant. Mohamed, along with 32 other individuals, was arbitrarily arrested for his alleged connection to a bombing in Sitra.

On the day of his arrest, Mohamed was taken to the NSA facility and was subjected to multiple forms of torture and abuse. He was beaten all over his body, electrocuted and deprived of sleep. As a result of the torture, Mohamed’s body was disfigured and he was in constant pain for two months. Despite repeated requests for medical attention, he continues to be denied medical care.

On 29 March 2017, Mohamed was found guilty of the charges brought against him in connection to the bombing in Sitra. He was sentenced to death and his citizenship was revoked. The judgement was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 29 October 2018 and by the Court of Cassation on 25 February 2019. Mohamed has now exhausted all legal remedies and his death sentence is awaiting the King’s ratification.

Mohamed was arbitrarily arrested, tortured by the Bahraini authorities and denied medical care in prison. These all constitute human rights violations and a breach to Bahraini law and the Bahraini constitution, as well as international human rights treaties ratified by Bahrain. It is important to note that Mohamed’s right to life, right to be free from torture, and his right to health are protected by the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) calls upon Bahrain to uphold its human rights obligations by commuting the death sentence against Mohamed. If serious criminal charges can be held against him, authorities must ensure that they conduct a fair trial which conforms to universal judicial standards. ADHRB urges Bahrain to investigate all torture allegations, to ensure accountability, condemn the use of the death penalty.