Marta Rosique i Saltor and Maria Carvalho Dantas, Members of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, tabled questions for the Spanish government on July 23, 2020, regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain’s Jau Prison. Ms. Saltor and Ms. Dantas questioned the Spanish government on its position at the “forefront of the fight for human rights,” and implored immediate action by the government to utilize its bilateral relations with Bahrain and act with foreign policy “focused on the defense and guarantee of human rights.”
Bahrain’s notorious Jau Prison has been the subject of widespread international controversy, as reports continue to arise with regards to the prison’s appalling conditions and lack of COVID-19 safety measures. In particular, concern was raised for Mr. Hasan Mushaima, the leader of the political opposition, and his deteriorating health condition following a systematic denial of medical care.
After the first active COVID-19 case was recorded on February 21, 2021, Bahraini authorities have failed to take measures to stop the spread of the virus; instead denying the protection of masks and disinfectants, preventing communication between families and inmates, and concealing the exact numbers of active cases within the prison.
Overcrowding and medical negligence have exacerbated the already dire situation within the prison, leading to a peaceful sit-in by prisoners on April 17, 2021, in protest of the prison’s management of COVID-19 and the death of political prisoner, Mr. Abbas Malallah. This was brutally suppressed by prison authorities who reportedly assaulted, tortured and transferred multiple prisoners to unknown locations. This was followed by the tragic death of Husain Barakat on June 9, who passed away only days after testing positive for the virus.
The two Spanish deputies also raised concern about the use of alternative punishments by Bahraini authorities, whose conviction of prisoners of conscience on discriminatory grounds fails to abide by various international treaties and international law. This practice disproportionately increases the number of custodial sentences, a measure which disregards the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s request to ensure the restriction of human rights be “proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued.”
As a result of these events, Deputies Rosique i Saltor and Dantas posed their questions as follows: (translated from Spanish)
- Regarding the “External Action Strategy 2021-2024” in section 4.1.1 dedicated to Human Rights, does the Spanish Government intend to act urgently, both in the international human rights fora and in its bilateral relations with Bahrain, and exert the necessary pressure to achieve the unconditional release of all political prisoners, starting with the leader of the political opposition, Mr. Hasan Mushaima?
- Regarding the “External Action Strategy 2021-2024” in section 4.1.1 dedicated to Human Rights, does the Spanish Government intend to act urgently, in international human rights fora and in its bilateral relations with Bahrain, and exert the necessary pressure to ensure that the UN Special Rapporteur is allowed to visit Bahrain, especially Jau prison?
- Regarding the “External Action Strategy 2021-2024” in section 4.1.1 dedicated to Human Rights, does the Spanish Government intend to act urgently, both in international human rights forums and in its bilateral relations with Bahrain, and exert the necessary pressure to put an end to the use of alternative sentencing and to replace it with the unconditional release of all political prisoners?
- Regarding the “External Action Strategy 2021-2024” in section 4.1.1 dedicated to Human Rights, does the Spanish Government intend to act urgently, both in the international human rights fora as well as in its bilateral relations with Bahrain, and exert the necessary pressure to provide immediate access to quality medical quality medical care to all political prisoners?
- Regarding the “External Action Strategy 2021-2024” in section 4.1.1 dedicated to Human Rights, does the Spanish Government intend to act urgently, both in the international human rights for a as well as in its bilateral relations with Bahrain, and exert the necessary pressure to put an end to the deep-rooted culture of impunity in Bahrain and independently investigate the continuous and systematic human rights violations?
- Regarding the “External Action Strategy 2021-2024” in section 4.1.1 dedicated to Human Rights, does the Spanish Government intend to act urgently, both in international human rights fora and in its bilateral relations with Bahrain to exert the necessary pressure so that the government of Bahrain takes serious and measurable steps towards democracy and democratization?
The Spanish government has yet to answer the questions of Deputies Rosique i Saltor and Dantas.
