From the Cell to After Release: The Impact of Prisoner Mistreatment and Systematic Medical Neglect in Bahrain

Introduction

The experiences of political prisoners in Bahrain reveal a painful truth: their suffering does not end upon release. The effects of the torture and ill-treatment they endured extend for years, daily affecting their physical, psychological, and social well-being. Physical and psychological torture, along with the denial of basic medical care, has become a systematic tool for exerting pressure and breaking their will during detention. Its consequences, however, extend far beyond prison walls, burdening survivors and their families long after the sentence is over.

This report draws on firsthand testimonies from former prisoners, medical documentation, and findings from international human rights organizations, including Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), to shed light on the long-term impacts of torture and ill-treatment. Some detainees entered prison with chronic illnesses; others left with permanent disabilities or complications caused directly by torture, including neurological and muscular damage, mobility impairments, loss of control over vital bodily functions, and severe mental health disorders.

Documented cases also reveal profound and lasting psychological harm after release, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, strained social relationships, and difficulty reintegrating into work and community life. These experiences show that the suffering does not end with the release order; rather, detention and torture become an ongoing trauma that continues to shape the lives of former prisoners and their families.

At the same time, ADHRB’s documentation shows that violations do not stop at release. They persist for those still imprisoned, even years after their arrest and sentencing, turning detention into a continuous cycle of physical and psychological harm. Cases show ongoing torture and medical neglect, including failure to treat chronic injuries, worsening health conditions caused by torture, and the absence of mental health care. These patterns have led to severe deterioration in prisoners’ health, at times placing their lives at risk. Such findings make clear that abuses in Bahraini prisons are neither isolated nor temporary; they form a sustained cycle of violence with lasting consequences, both before and after release.

The report also highlights the limited role of official oversight institutions, which have failed to protect detainees or hold perpetrators accountable. This systemic failure reinforces impunity and deepens the harm suffered by former prisoners. Through the analysis of documented cases, the report shows that torture, ill-treatment, and medical neglect are not minor incidents but forms of punishment whose impact can last for years, and in some cases, for life. It underscores the urgent need for accountability, full rehabilitation, and meaningful compensation for victims.

First: Systematic Medical Neglect in Bahraini Prisons

In Bahrain, torture and ill-treatment remain a cornerstone of the authorities’ treatment of political prisoners and human rights defenders. Many detainees endure physical and psychological torture from the moment of arrest and throughout interrogation, only to face the lasting consequences of that abuse inside prison, where systematic medical neglect further deepens their suffering. This entrenched pattern of violations has turned Bahraini prisons into environments that actively destroy physical and mental health. Denying treatment has become a prolonged form of punishment aimed at breaking prisoners and silencing their voices.

The neglect begins immediately after torture, when resulting injuries such as bone fractures, nerve damage, or trauma caused by blows to the head and genitals are left untreated. Numerous detainees sustained serious injuries during torture, yet never received medical care inside prison, despite filing documented complaints with the relevant authorities. This neglect has continued for years in many cases, worsening injuries and leading to chronic conditions that sometimes required surgical intervention only after release.

This is not an issue confined to individual cases; it reflects a broader policy across Bahraini prisons. Human rights organizations have documented numerous instances of prisoners with serious health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and chronic skin illnesses, who are deliberately denied treatment. Prisoners are routinely blocked from accessing hospitals or specialist care, and requests for treatment or even basic medication are often rejected. In some cases, those who insist on receiving medical care are punished with solitary confinement.

These practices do not end within the prison walls but extend beyond them. Many prisoners are released with chronic physical and psychological conditions directly linked to years of torture and medical neglect. Most are denied free medical care after release and face major obstacles in accessing specialized treatment because of security restrictions or the absence of official support. Some have been forced to undergo costly surgeries at their own expense after years of suffering. Others continue to live with permanent health damage, including tooth loss, hearing or vision impairment, and long-term joint or nerve injuries. Moreover, most released political prisoners also suffer from psychological effects that can reach the level of depression and PTSD because of torture, isolation, and ill-treatment.

The connection between torture and medical neglect reveals a deliberate policy designed to extend the impact of abuse far beyond the period of detention, ensuring that the body and society remain a witness to the suffering. Medical neglect, therefore, is not simply a human rights violation but a systematic extension of torture itself, reinforcing the entrenched culture of impunity in Bahrain.

Second: Medical Neglect and Denial of Healthcare to Prisoners

The documented pattern of violations demonstrates that medical neglect in Bahrain is a systematic punitive policy targeting political prisoners and human rights activists. ADHRB has documented dozens of cases in which prisoners were deliberately denied treatment, despite suffering from chronic illnesses or injuries resulting from torture. This transforms healthcare from a fundamental right into a tool of reprisal and abuse within prisons.

1.     Prisoners who Entered Prison with Chronic Illnesses

The documented cases show that many detainees entered prison already in need of consistent medical monitoring for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and kidney disease. Yet authorities routinely prevented them from receiving timely treatment or accessing hospitals when necessary.

One example is Hamed Jaafar AlMahfoodh, who was released under a royal pardon in April 2024 after years of suffering from diabetes and severe gum disease that ultimately caused significant tooth loss and worsened his overall oral health. After his release, AlMahfoodh stated that he did not receive the necessary dental treatment, demonstrating that the denial of medical care to released prisoners persists even after release, effectively extending the punishment beyond the prison walls.

Another case is Mohamed Hasan Abdulla (AlRamel). His health sharply deteriorated following his arrest in November 2015. He suffered from severe stomach problems that worsened due to continuous denial of treatment and diagnostic examinations, eventually leading him to vomit blood. Although an operation had been scheduled for December 2023, it was never carried out. Instead, he was subjected to repeated transfers to the hospital without ever being examined by a specialist capable of diagnosing his condition, and the consequences of this neglect continued long after his release.

2.     Cases Resulting Directly from Torture

In another category of prisoners, the illness was not present before arrest but emerged as a direct consequence of systematic torture. ADHRB documented cases of individuals who developed permanent disabilities due to repeated beatings, electric shocks, prolonged sleep deprivation lasting hours or even days, and being forced to stand in painful stress positions for extended periods. These practices have led to severe spinal, muscular, and joint injuries. Others suffered deep psychological trauma as a result of physical torture and threats of sexual assault. This includes cases of minors who were subjected to electric shocks, beatings, and sexual threats to coerce confessions to crimes they did not commit.

A stark example is the case of Sayed Kadhem Abbas, who died in February 2020 from brain cancer that developed during his detention in Jau Prison between 2015 and 2018. Throughout his detention, he suffered from swelling in his nose and face, severe headaches, persistent vomiting, and intense pain in his stomach, back, and urinary tract. By May 2018, he had lost nearly a quarter of his body weight, yet the prison administration took no meaningful steps to diagnose or treat him. When he was finally transferred to the military hospital, he received only partial and inadequate treatment, limited to painkillers and intravenous fluids. These treatments caused severe side effects, including hallucinations, memory loss, and an inability to concentrate or read. In June 2018, he underwent emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor, but due to ongoing medical negligence after the operation, he continued to suffer from impaired vision and difficulty recognizing people. His condition continued to deteriorate due to post-operative medical negligence, ultimately leading to his death. His case stands as a powerful example of the systematic abuses and medical neglect that have cost prisoners their lives.

3.     Diseases Resulting from Poor Prison Conditions

Beyond the direct effects of torture, the inhumane living conditions inside Bahraini prisons have contributed to the development and worsening of numerous illnesses. Severe overcrowding, poor ventilation, and the lack of basic hygiene in facilities such as Jau Prison and the Dry Dock Detention Center have fueled the spread of skin infections, respiratory diseases, and other preventable health problems. Prisoners consistently report shortages of clean water, essential medication, and even the most basic sanitation supplies. Deaths resulting from medical neglect have also been documented, including the case of Abbas Malallah, who died in 2021 from a heart attack after repeated denials of treatment, and Husain Barakat, who died from COVID-19 after contracting the virus inside prison in the absence of medical care.

Another prominent case is Mohamed AbdulNabi Abdulla (Al-Khoor), who is serving a life sentence. His health began deteriorating in July 2020 due to severe joint and ear pain, yet he was neither transferred to a hospital nor examined by a specialist. In response to the continued delays and neglect, he launched an open-ended hunger strike in January 2021. His condition worsened significantly before he was eventually transferred to Al-Qalaa Hospital without receiving a proper diagnosis, and the prison administration continues to deny him adequate medical treatment.

The case of minor Ali Mahdi Alaiwi further exposes the extent of violations against young detainees. Arrested at the age of 17, Ali developed severe psychological symptoms as a result of torture and medical neglect, including hallucinations, extreme nervousness, trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), and withdrawal from family visits. Despite these clear warning signs, the authorities failed to provide psychological care or refer him to a specialist.

Similarly, Isa Jaafar AlAbd, who had undergone multiple heart surgeries since childhood, was denied medical care during the early months of his detention. He was only treated after his health had sharply deteriorated and repeated surgeries at a later stage failed, leading to an even further decline in his overall condition. In the case of Habib Ali AlFardan, who had undergone major brain surgery before his arrest, the authorities prevented him from receiving regular MRI scans. This neglect led to increased tumor growth and severe complications, including memory loss, frequent loss of consciousness, and chronic headaches. Likewise, Mansoor AbdulWahed AlDolabi, who has lived with burn injuries since childhood and a brain tumor, was subjected to isolation, solitary confinement, and persistent denial of medical treatment, further damaging his mobility and worsening his health. Meanwhile, Osama Nezar AlSagheer was denied treatment for shrapnel lodged in his body and now suffers from continuous pain in his right finger.

Examples of Mass Medical Neglect

During the August 2024 protests in Jau Prison following the death of political prisoner Husain Khalil Ebrahim due to medical neglect, the authorities responded with collective punishment. Electricity and air conditioning were cut for extended periods despite temperatures exceeding 50°C. Prisoners were deprived of food, water, sunlight, communication, and family visits. Sick detainees, including those with heart and kidney conditions, were prevented from attending their scheduled medical appointments, placing their lives at imminent risk.

Prisoners who demand better health conditions are routinely punished with solitary confinement, isolation with foreign criminal inmates, or the denial of basic services. These measures reflect a systematic policy of reprisal and punishment designed to silence prisoners who seek their rights.

Third: Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prisons

Between 2011 and 2019, documented reports confirmed the direct involvement of the Bahraini Ministry of Interior (MOI) in at least 570 torture cases, all carried out under the oversight of Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. ADHRB’s weekly reports highlighted instances in which senior officials, including the minister himself, participated in abuses. One such case is that of activist Ali Hasan AlAradi, who was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture. He was beaten on his head and genitals with batons and wooden bars, kept blindfolded throughout interrogation, forced to stand for long periods, deprived of sleep and access to a toilet, and threatened with harm to his family. This torture resulted in a broken hand and the loss of hearing in his left ear. He was later tried on the basis of confessions extracted under torture.

Despite this evidence and documentation, and despite the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report‘s confirmation of the Interior Minister’s responsibility for these grave human rights violations, he was never investigated or held accountable. Instead, he continued to threaten anyone who criticized the Ministry’s actions or accused him of torture, using the judicial system to target victims and human rights defenders. This reality established a policy of protection for ruling family members and senior officials and fueled a widespread culture of impunity. As a result, torture and daily abuses against political prisoners became routine, with no legal deterrent or accountability.

Political prisoners have also documented the involvement of several MOI officers in torture and ill-treatment on political and sectarian grounds. These include Hisham AlZayani (former director of Jau Prison), Ahmed AlEmadi, Bader AlRuwaiei, Ali Arad, Yusuf AlQadi, and Abdulla Omar. Prisoners, including Mohamed Hasan Abdulla “AlRamel”, reported severe torture and deliberate medical neglect by these officers and submitted official complaints that received no response. This reality reflects the nature of Bahrain’s police state, where the MOI employs approximately 46 people per 1,000 citizens—one of the highest police-to-population ratios in the world—and where the country maintains the highest rate of mass detention in the Middle East. These conditions confirm that torture and serious violations are not isolated incidents but stem directly from systemic impunity and a a structure that rewards perpetrators instead of holding them accountable.

Human rights reports consistently indicate that torture and ill-treatment are widespread across Bahrain’s detention centers, especially within the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID), and are commonly used to extract forced confessions and punish dissidents. Impunity remains deeply entrenched: convictions of perpetrators of torture are exceedingly rare, and when they occur, sentences are lenient and disproportionate to the severity of the crime. Among the senior officials implicated in torture yet never held accountable are Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa (the King’s sons), Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa (Minister of Interior), and Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa (a police brigadier general in the Southern Governorate). Numerous other officers are repeatedly named by prisoners in widely circulated audio recordings detailing torture and ill-treatment. Meanwhile, oversight bodies such as the Ombudsman’s Office, the MOI, and the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) lack independence and often work to justify violations or marginalize complaints.

Fourth: Physical and Psychological Torture Spares No One

The documented pattern of violations shows that torture in Bahrain is not limited to any specific category of detainees; rather, it is a broad and systematic policy that affects men, women, and children alike. The authorities have used physical and psychological torture as tools of intimidation and to extract confessions, in clear violation of the Convention against Torture (CAT).

In Bahrain, prominent activists and opposition leaders remain among the most vulnerable to abuse. Human rights organizations, including ADHRB, have documented how many political and human rights figures have been subjected to severe physical and psychological torture from the moment of their arrest, often with the purpose of extracting forced confessions or humiliating and politically silencing them. These practices include violent beatings, sleep deprivation, prolonged solitary confinement, and sectarian insults, alongside the denial of fundamental legal rights such as access to a lawyer or contact with family members.

Torture extends beyond physical abuse to deliberate medical neglect inside prisons, where detainees are denied healthcare even when suffering from chronic illnesses or injuries caused by torture. In Jau Prison and the Dry Dock Detention Center, numerous political prisoners have been deprived of needed medications, medical examinations, or hospital transfers, often being taken shackled to appointments under degrading conditions. This systematic denial of treatment has become a slow form of punishment designed to weaken prisoners and break their will.

Multiple testimonies further highlight the scale of these violations against political leaders and human rights defenders, particularly concerning medical neglect as a punitive measure. Mr. Hasan Mushaima, for instance, continues to face multiple restrictions and is denied essential rights, including adequate medical care. Although he previously recovered from cancer, he remains unable to determine whether it has recurred because he has been denied the routine tests required for cancer survivors. He suffers from chronic illnesses, including hypertension and diabetes, and has long been deprived of regular medication and checkups. His painkillers and other medications have not been adjusted to match his current needs. Recent medical tests revealed elevated blood sugar and blood pressure levels, unidentified kidney and stomach damage, eye swelling, and heart muscle problems. Despite these findings, he has not received the necessary treatment, causing his health to deteriorate and leading him toward a critical stage of kidney failure. In August 2025, Mushaima was transferred to Muharraq Medical Center following a meeting with the prison director, who promised improvements. However, the transfer amounted only to a change of location. The same detention conditions persisted, including solitary confinement, and medical neglect continued at the new facility. Consequently, his health did not improve despite being moved to a different medical center.

Dr. AbdulJalil AlSingace is also subjected to severe medical neglect. He suffers pain in his left shoulder and rib as a result of beatings that worsened his carpal tunnel syndrome, compounded by being forced to stand with his hands raised and cuffed. He also lives with post-polio syndrome and a musculoskeletal condition that prevents him from standing or walking without crutches. These chronic illnesses require continuous medical examinations and treatment, yet the prison administration repeatedly denies him access to both. As a result of this ongoing neglect, his health has deteriorated significantly. AlSingace now endures severe headaches, prostate problems, shoulder joint inflammation, tremors and numbness in his extremities, and impaired vision. His immune system has become dangerously compromised, with critically low white blood cell levels. A medical request for an MRI scan of his head was denied, and he has been deprived of prescribed medication for chronic pain. Several essential medications needed for his nervous system and basic bodily functions, including eye drops, were delayed or withheld entirely.  In July 2021, AlSingace began a hunger strike to protest the confiscation of his book, which was an academic work on Bahraini culture and dialects that he spent four years preparing. The strike caused serious health complications, including headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, significant weight loss of more than 20 kilograms, and a dangerous drop in blood sugar to 2 mmol/L. On 8 January 2025, he escalated his protest by beginning a complete hunger strike (except for water) after his family was mistreated during a visit, further worsening his already fragile condition as the prison administration ignored his demands. In August 2025, AlSingace was transferred to Muharraq Medical Center after the prison director promised improvements. However, the same detention conditions persisted, including severe restrictions and ongoing medical neglect, leaving his health unchanged despite being moved to another medical facility.

Human rights defender AbdulHadi al-Khawaja has also been denied adequate medical treatment despite his deteriorating health resulting from torture. His repeated hunger strikes in protest against ill-treatment have caused significant weight loss and a sharp decline in his overall condition. Al-Khawaja suffers from severe back pain and chronic pain that prevents him from sleeping for extended periods, in addition to other complications, including impaired vision. Doctors have warned that his condition could lead to blindness. In March 2023, he was denied access to a cardiologist after experiencing an irregular heartbeat, and in September 2023, he was forced to begin another hunger strike after his ophthalmology appointment was canceled, prompting his family to raise the alarm amid fears he could lose his sight or die in prison.

Sheikh AbdulJalil Radhi Maki (Al-Muqdad) suffers from persistent pain in his leg and back, severe headaches, and has not received appropriate treatment despite continuous requests. He has also not received eyeglasses, even though he paid for them after an eye examination in November 2022. Officers attempted to assault him after he refused to sign a document falsely stating that he had declined medical treatment. His hospital appointments were then canceled in April 2023, forcing him to stage a sit-in inside the prison to demand his right to healthcare.

Sheikh Mohamed Habib Al-Miqdad suffers from severe stomach pain and difficulty eating, which has led to constant vomiting. He urgently needed surgeries for a hernia and heart condition, as well as a urinary tract examination, yet he was denied these procedures under the pretext of the COVID-19 pandemic. He eventually underwent the surgeries two years later, but he continues to suffer from head and foot complications resulting from torture, without receiving proper treatment.

AbdulWahab Husain Ismaeel, despite his advanced age and reliance on a crutch to walk, continues to face strict restrictions inside Jau Prison. His external medical appointments have been repeatedly canceled, leading to a serious deterioration in his health. He has been denied nerve treatment, his dental care has been cancelled, and he has been deprived of the insulin injections required for his condition, as well as follow-ups for his kidney issues.

This illustrates that medical neglect is not random negligence but a deliberate and systematic tool used by the authorities as a form of punishment against opposition leaders and activists. United Nations mechanisms have acknowledged this pattern, in which treatment, medication, and essential examinations are consistently withheld, turning chronic illnesses and torture-related injuries into life-threatening conditions.

Even more alarming is the treatment of minors in Bahraini prisons. Despite their young age, they are subjected to horrific levels of torture and medical neglect in clear violation of international child protection standards. In addition to physical and psychological torture, such as beatings, electric shocks, and threats of sexual assault to coerce them into signing pre-prepared confessions, these children are denied basic healthcare. Their medical visits are canceled, and their health conditions are ignored, even when they suffer from illnesses requiring ongoing monitoring.

On 17 June 2023, six young prisoners launched a hunger strike to protest the denial of treatment for scabies, forcing them to endure severe health risks, including hypoglycemia. Among them were K.E.S. and F.H.S. The case of political prisoner H.E.M., who was arrested at 16 and sentenced to 23 years in prison on three separate charges, is a stark example of these abuses. Healthy prior to arrest, he now suffers from severe stomach pain, vomiting, bloody stools, chronic headaches, difficulty breathing, and dental problems as a result of torture, enforced disappearance, deplorable prison conditions, and medical neglect. Despite the seriousness of his condition, the prison administration refuses to allow him to see a doctor. He has not been examined in more than a year.

Even after the creation of official bodies such as the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission (PDRC), the Ombudsman, and the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) within the Public Prosecution Office (PPO) following the 2011 crackdown, minors received no meaningful protection. Due to their political loyalties and lack of independence, these bodies consistently failed to investigate complaints filed by imprisoned or released minors or to hold security forces accountable for torture and medical neglect. Violations against minors reflect a systematic pattern of repression in which children are used as tools of intimidation and are deprived of their fundamental rights to health, safety, and education. This exposes them to long-term physical and psychological harm and reveals the scale of systematic abuses targeting all segments of the opposition without exception.

ADHRB has also documented cases of women subjected to verbal and physical harassment during interrogation, including degrading detention conditions marked by religious insults and constant threats.

This pattern of abuse does not end upon release from prison. Instead, it transforms into what can be described as “continuous collective punishment,” as former prisoners face strict restrictions on movement, persistent security surveillance, travel and employment bans, and other barriers that prevent reintegration into society. Their families are likewise subjected to harassment and monitoring, designed to deter any form of civic or human rights activity, perpetuating a continuous cycle of fear and intimidation.

Fifth: Documented Cases of Torture—from Detention to Post-Release

ADHRB has compiled extensive documentation revealing a consistent pattern of torture and medical neglect within Bahraini detention facilities, which extends well beyond the period of incarceration. These records provide clear evidence of ongoing violations committed against political prisoners and human rights defenders and underscore the profound and lasting physical and psychological harm resulting from such abuses. Collectively, the cases demonstrate how torture and the denial of medical care are systematically used as punitive tools to inflict suffering and exert control, in clear violation of Bahrain’s obligations under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) and other international standards requiring proper healthcare for victims.

1. Minors

H.E.M.

At just 16 years old, H.E.M. was arrested by Bahraini authorities on 28 November 2015 in the village of Sanabis. As the youngest of three detained brothers, he was taken by officers in civilian clothing to the CID and forcibly disappeared for three months. During this period, he was interrogated without access to legal counsel and subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, including beatings on the head and sensitive areas with batons, electric shocks, threats, intimidation, and constant verbal abuse. Despite the seriousness of his injuries, he received no meaningful medical care, laying the groundwork for years of medical neglect throughout his detention.

Systematic medical neglect persisted throughout H.E.M.’s imprisonment. He was never provided examinations to diagnose injuries affecting his head, eyes, nose, stomach, or colon, and was instead given only temporary painkillers. Eight of his teeth were extracted without replacement, impairing his ability to chew and contributing to long-term health deterioration. His broken nose was left untreated, causing persistent breathing difficulties. H.E.M. was also subjected to prolonged solitary confinement, including more than two months in March 2018, as punishment for refusing to sign an undisclosed document, inflicting further psychological harm. During these periods, he launched several hunger strikes in protest of his solitary confinement and ill-treatment and was met with additional violence, including beatings, punching, and pepper-spray attacks.

Since his release, H.E.M. continues to suffer the long-term effects of torture and medical neglect. One of his eyes remains impaired due to previous abuse, and his untreated broken nose continues to obstruct his breathing and now requires costly surgery. The loss of eight teeth necessitates extensive dental implant procedures, placing a substantial financial burden on him. He continues to receive care at Salmaniya Hospital for gastrointestinal disorders and has been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) following diagnostic testing for Crohn’s disease. He experiences recurrent vomiting and episodes of blood in his stool several times per month, indicating chronic medical concerns. H.E.M. also suffers from persistent headaches, neck pain, and other torture-related injuries, and is awaiting a CT scan scheduled for January. Comprehensive medical care remains essential to address the accumulated physical and psychological harm resulting from his detention.

K.E.S.

K.E.S., a Bahraini student with documented learning difficulties, was arrested in October 2022. These challenges had previously prevented him from completing intermediate school. During detention, he was subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse aimed at extracting forced confessions. He was prosecuted in unfair trials without legal counsel and charged with multiple offenses, which significantly affected his mental well-being and exacerbated his pre-existing educational and psychological difficulties.

Throughout his detention, K.E.S. received no appropriate medical or psychological care despite repeated incidents of torture. He was denied access to rehabilitative programs and routine health evaluations, further worsening his cognitive and emotional challenges.

Following his release, K.E.S. continues to suffer physical harm, including eye misalignment and broken teeth, and has not been provided with psychological or educational support to facilitate his rehabilitation. He is currently enrolled in first-year secondary school as a home-schooled student, participating only in final examinations. Although his overall psychological condition is considered stable, he continues to face substantial educational and physical obstacles. His application for a Certificate of Good Conduct remains pending.

Ali Mahdi Alaiwi

At 17 years old, Bahraini student Ali Mahdi Alaiwi was arrested without a warrant and subjected to an unfair trial. As a minor, he was deprived of family support during his detention, worsening the psychological and physical toll of the violations he endured. Throughout detention, he faced repeated abuses, including solitary confinement, beatings, and threats, that caused a dramatic deterioration in his mental health. He developed severe new symptoms, such as intense anger, uncontrolled screaming, conflicts with cellmates, refusal to see his family, and trichotillomania, leading him to pull out his eyebrows and eyelashes. He also experienced possible hallucinations, concentration difficulties, chronic headaches, and recurrent nosebleeds, none of which were ever treated.

Despite his deteriorating condition, he received no medical or psychological care in prison. Authorities refused to provide medication for his headaches or nosebleeds and delayed referring him to a psychiatrist or neurologist, even though his family filed repeated complaints between February and May 2019. Routine medical appointments and psychological support were denied, and he was instead placed in solitary confinement for four weeks from late January until 27 February 2019, intensifying the psychological pressure on him and deepening his emotional suffering.

After his release under a royal pardon, Ali continued to display severe symptoms. His family described his condition as “days of hardship that only God knows.” Although he initially received treatment in private clinics, financial constraints forced a transition to government healthcare. Due to the seriousness of his condition, he was hospitalized for six months at the psychiatric hospital in Salmaniya. His family stated, “Prison took from Ali the best years of his life… without medication, his condition would never have stabilized.” He remains dependent on long-term psychiatric care.

Ammar Ebrahim Ahmed (Dhaif)

17-year-old Bahraini minor Ammar Ebrahim Ahmed (Dhaif) was arrested from his sister’s home on 13 July 2013 without a warrant. From the outset, he was subjected to severe torture, including physical abuse, psychological ill-treatment, and sexual abuse. He was denied access to legal representation and convicted in an unfair trial based on confessions extracted under torture. He received a 20-year sentence in Jau Prison, where he endured years of significant physical and psychological suffering before being released under a royal pardon.

While detained, Ammar sustained multiple fractures to his hand and leg from violent beatings. He received no proper medical treatment and was forced to remove his own casts to avoid infections caused by harsh prison conditions. His broken nose required two surgeries; the first was unsuccessful due to the absence of follow-up care. Years of detention left him with chronic back, neck, and joint pain, frequent headaches, vision problems, and dental damage, all untreated. Despite the severity of his condition, authorities repeatedly denied him access to specialist care and provided only temporary painkillers, in clear violation of his right to basic medical treatment.

Ammar also endured severe psychological abuse, including repeated humiliation, sexual harassment, and degrading treatment, leaving lasting scars on his mental health. He participated in collective hunger strikes to protest the dire health and living conditions, which further deteriorated his physical state as authorities continued to deny him medication and treatment. Systematic medical neglect and harsh prison conditions compounded his injuries, inflicting lasting physical and psychological harm.

Ammar’s suffering persisted long after his release. He continues to experience painful physical complications affecting his back, joints, and nose, and struggles with reduced mobility caused by untreated fractures. He received neither comprehensive medical care nor physical rehabilitation after leaving prison. He also encountered repeated obstacles accessing public healthcare, with appointments frequently postponed or lost. Recently, the severity of his back pain and the ineffectiveness of public treatment forced him to seek care at a private hospital. Although he reports slight improvement, he continues to struggle with persistent and recurring pain.

2. Human Rights Defenders and Activists

Ali AlHajee

Since his arrest on 21 May 2013, 42-year-old Bahraini human rights defender Ali Husain Ahmed AlHajee has endured severe physical and psychological torture, leaving him with lasting and still unresolved health complications.

During 11 days of interrogation without access to a lawyer, AlHajee was subjected to systematic torture aimed at extracting forced confessions. He was violently beaten on the head, jaw, and genitals; deprived of sleep; forced to stand for hours; and denied access to a toilet, leaving him to urinate where he was held. He was stripped, degraded, prevented from praying, and subjected to religious insults. The torture included repeated blows, kicks, and intense pressure to the testicles, causing serious injury and vascular damage that developed into bilateral varicoceles.

These abuses left AlHajee with a broken nose and jaw, the complete loss of his lower teeth, partial hearing loss in his left ear, chronic genital pain, and severe neurological and psychological trauma. Despite documented injuries and formal complaints submitted to the Ombudsman, the SIU, and the NIHR, no effective investigation was ever launched. Instead, the coerced confessions were used to convict him in a trial that failed to meet the minimum standards of fairness.

Throughout more than ten years in Jau Prison, AlHajee faced deliberate medical neglect. He was denied surgical treatment for his nasal, jaw, and ear injuries, and repeated requests for specialist care were rejected. He suffered chronic pain and a steady decline in health, made worse by untreated bilateral varicoceles, persistent gum infections, and dental problems resulting from torture. He was also held in prolonged solitary confinement, intensifying his psychological distress and contributing to symptoms of PTSD, depression, insomnia, and constant anxiety.

Even after his release under the “alternative sentencing” program in June 2023, AlHajee continued to be denied the treatment he urgently required. On 15 September 2025, he finally underwent surgery for his bilateral varicoceles, which were directly caused by torture and aggravated by years of medical neglect in prison. He later received two surgeries to repair fractures in his nose and jaw and remains in long-term psychological treatment due to the trauma he sustained during and after detention.

AlHajee’s case illustrates the direct link between systematic torture and medical neglect as tools of punishment and reprisal against political prisoners and human rights defenders in Bahrain. The denial of medical care functioned as a continuation of the torture he faced in detention and extended beyond his release, in clear violation of Bahrain’s obligations under the ICCPR, ICESCR, and CAT, which require providing treatment, compensation, and full rehabilitation to victims of torture.

Mohamed Hasan Abdulla (AlRamel)

The case of Mohamed Hasan Abdulla (AlRamel) represents one of the clearest examples of systematic torture and deliberate medical neglect in Bahrain, where withholding treatment served as a continuation of the abuse he endured.

Mohamed, a 55-year-old carpenter, was arrested on 3 November 2015 during a warrantless raid. From the moment of arrest, he faced physical torture, sexual harassment, and threats designed to extract forced confessions later used to convict him in a politically motivated trial. He received a life sentence and was transferred to Jau Prison, where he was placed among criminal inmates.

Despite his worsening health, authorities repeatedly refused to provide essential medical care. He launched multiple hunger strikes to protest this neglect and suffered severe complications, including repeated loss of consciousness and persistent vomiting.

When he was released under a royal pardon in September 2025, his condition shocked observers: he appeared in a wheelchair, unable to walk, and visibly weakened after years of untreated illnesses.

As a result of years of medical deprivation, Mohamed developed numerous chronic health conditions, including hypertension, persistent urinary tract problems, and severe vision impairment that remained unaddressed even after his eyeglasses broke. He also suffers from chronic abdominal, back, and pelvic pain linked to previous surgeries that lacked follow-up care, as well as recurrent bleeding and significant hypoglycemic episodes that caused frequent fainting. The denial of essential medications and the toll of prolonged hunger strikes further destabilized his health, leading to serious complications affecting his stomach and colon. Throughout his detention, authorities failed to provide necessary medications for his blood pressure, gastrointestinal, and urinary conditions, and repeatedly refused hospital transfers or medical examinations despite clear deterioration.

Mohamed’s psychological condition also declined due to his isolation within the criminal prisoners’ building and the hostile environment in which he was held, characterized by constant tension, insecurity, and exposure to violent inmates. These conditions deepened his physical and mental deterioration, even as prison authorities ignored repeated appeals from his family and human rights organizations. His experience reflects the use of medical deprivation as a punitive tool, in direct violation of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules).

Following years of suffering, AlRamel was released under a royal pardon. However, the effects of torture and prolonged medical neglect remain. He lives with a chronic prostate condition directly caused by electric torture during interrogation, resulting in loss of bladder control. Although physicians prescribed medication to manage his symptoms, obtaining these treatments remains difficult and financially burdensome. He underwent several surgical procedures, including an inguinal hernia operation at Royal Bahrain Hospital and another surgery at Salmaniya Hospital after sustaining a hand fracture from a fall. A metal wire was inserted to stabilize the bone. Still, due to bone thinning caused by malnutrition and poor medical care in prison, the procedure failed, requiring the removal of the wire and new treatment at Royal Bahrain Hospital.

Today, Mohamed Hasan AlRamel continues to live with chronic pain, limited mobility, and permanent physical disabilities, as direct consequences of years of torture and intentional medical neglect. His case exposes the brutality of Bahrain’s punitive system, where the body becomes a site of continuous harm, and medical deprivation is used to prolong suffering and break human will long after detention ends.

3. Prisoners with Chronic or Life-Threatening Illnesses Requiring Specialized Care

Isa Jaafar AlAbd

Isa Jaafar AlAbd, a 24-year-old Bahraini, was repeatedly arrested and beaten during his detention, despite his critical health condition that requires uninterrupted medical care. He was born with a serious heart disorder and has undergone several surgeries, the most recent on 30 July 2018. That operation failed and further worsened his health, creating an urgent need for continuous follow-up and an immediate corrective procedure, of which he was denied once imprisoned.

Throughout his detention, Isa suffered from extreme medical neglect. For six months, he was denied access to essential medical treatment and was only examined by a doctor on 16 July 2019, after his condition had sharply deteriorated. Although he was later monitored at Salmaniya Medical Complex, he was never provided the necessary treatment nor permitted to undergo the urgent procedure needed to save his life and improve his health.

In addition to this neglect, Isa was subjected to brutal physical and psychological torture during interrogation, including beatings, blindfolding, handcuffing, and threats of execution or electric shocks, further endangering his already fragile condition.

Isa Jaafar AlAbd was released on 26 December 2023 under the alternative sentencing law after serving part of his five-year sentence, along with an additional six months for non-payment of bail. Following his release, he finally received the long-delayed cardiac surgery he urgently required. The operation, performed at Awali Hospital at government expense, was fully successful, stabilizing his health and enabling him to resume normal life. Despite this improvement, he has received no compensation for the suffering he endured during detention. He remains under continuous medical follow-up in state health facilities to ensure his condition remains stable.

Mansoor AbdulWahed AlDolabi

Mansoor AbdulWahed AlDolabi, a 26-year-old Bahraini national, has lived since childhood with severe leg burns that significantly limit his mobility, as well as a brain tumor that affects his vision and ability to carry out daily tasks. During detention, he faced continuous medical neglect that posed an immediate and serious threat to his health. He was denied necessary treatment for both his burn injuries and his brain tumor, and his condition was neither adequately monitored nor supported with the diagnostic tests and surgical interventions he required.

When transferred to solitary confinement in the isolation ward, his burn medications were halted, his dietary allergies ignored, and treatment resumed only after a long delay, further intensifying his pain, physical exhaustion, and the risk of further complications.

Mansoor was also subjected to physical and psychological torture during interrogation, including forced standing—especially painful given his leg injuries—repeated blows to the head, and forced stripping. These acts inflicted deep physical and psychological harm. Combined with ongoing medical neglect, they caused a serious deterioration in his overall health, affecting his quality of life and complicating the treatment he needed after release.

Since being released under the alternative sentencing law, Mansoor continues to struggle with major health difficulties. His brain tumor requires sustained, careful monitoring through regular hospital visits to prevent further deterioration. His burn injuries, which extend to the bone, still require costly surgical interventions that have not been carried out due to financial constraints, placing him at risk of long-term and potentially irreversible complications. Years of medical neglect, combined with torture and ill-treatment, have left him with lasting physical and psychological damage.

Hamed AlMahfoodh

Hamed AlMahfoodh, a Bahraini political prisoner since 2013, was arbitrarily arrested and prosecuted on fabricated, politically motivated charges. He was released on 8 April 2024 under a royal pardon decree, following years of detention marked by harsh conditions and significant health deterioration resulting from systematic medical neglect inside Bahraini prisons.

During his imprisonment, Hamed developed multiple health problems, particularly severe dental issues. Several of his teeth were extracted without proper follow-up care, leaving him with persistent pain and difficulty eating and speaking. He also developed diabetes and did not receive adequate medical management for this chronic illness, placing him in ongoing danger. His gums remained continuously inflamed, and despite repeated complaints, he was never provided with effective treatment.

After his release, Hamed sought appropriate healthcare, only to find that public clinics do not offer the dental replacement services he urgently needs. Like many former prisoners, he faces significant financial hardship, leaving him vulnerable to continuing medical complications. Hamed described his situation, saying: “If the Ministry of Health does not provide dental treatment, and we former prisoners have no rights or employment today, where are we expected to go?”

Hamed AlMahfoodh’s experience reflects the systematic and deliberate medical neglect endured by political prisoners in Bahrain. Chronic illnesses and injuries are left untreated, and the suffering persists even after release. His case highlights the urgent need for immediate medical intervention to uphold basic health rights and ensure stability after years of arbitrary detention.

4. Prisoners Rendered Ill by Severe Torture

F.H.S.

F.H.S., an 18-year-old Bahraini student, was arrested without a warrant during a raid on his home. During interrogation, he was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, including beatings to his legs and body, electric shocks, and threats of rape against his family to coerce confessions. He was later convicted in an unfair mass trial and sentenced to ten years in detention.

While imprisoned, F.H.S. was denied the medical care he urgently needed, despite suffering from chronic headaches, persistent leg pain from beatings, and a scabies infection that remained untreated for more than four months. This ongoing medical neglect, combined with physical abuse, intimidation, and restrictions on family visits and psychological support, led to a significant deterioration in his health. His hunger strikes resulted in critically low blood sugar levels, putting his life in danger and highlighting the lasting physical and psychological impact of torture.

Despite his worsening condition, prison authorities limited his treatment to basic painkillers, without carrying out comprehensive diagnostics or providing effective medical interventions. No specialized assessments were conducted for his chronic headaches or leg pain, and his scabies infection was inadequately addressed, even after a hospital transfer that resulted in no meaningful care. This persistent medical neglect, along with continuous psychological stress and harsh prison conditions, compounded the long-term damage to his physical and mental well-being.

Following his release and transfer to alternative sentencing in October 2025, F.H.S. continues to suffer clear health consequences from his imprisonment. He still experiences chronic headaches, weakened immunity that leaves him prone to frequent infections, and ongoing leg pain caused by past torture. Although his psychological condition is currently stable, his medical needs remain substantial and require careful monitoring and effective treatment. F.H.S. complies with all alternative sentencing requirements, including wearing an ankle device and submitting to electronic monitoring. However, these measures do nothing to address the essential healthcare he was denied during detention.

Like many political prisoners, F.H.S. also faced repeated threats and acts of retaliation while in custody, delaying his release until he was transferred to alternative sentencing. Last year, he and several others were moved to the “Open Prisons” program, and in October 2025, he was released under alternative sentencing with a security ankle monitor. Despite this release, fears of retaliation linked to his past activism remain a constant concern.

S.A.M.H.

At the time of his arrest, S.A.M.H. was a 22-year-old employee at the Al-Manhal water factory. He was detained for the fourth time following a warrantless raid on a home in Al Dair in October 2018. During his detention, he was subjected to physical and psychological torture, forced disappearance, and prolonged denial of communication with his family and legal counsel. His prosecution was marked by unfair trials based on confessions extracted under torture, accompanied by sectarian insults and threats targeting his family. He is currently serving prison terms totaling nearly three decades in Jau Prison on politically motivated charges. Although recently transferred to the Open Prisons facility in preparation for temporary, conditional release, he remains in custody.

S.A.M.H. suffers from chronic and severe knee pain caused by a shotgun wound he sustained during a peaceful demonstration in 2014. Throughout his years of detention, he has been denied adequate treatment for this injury, including access to pain medication and physical therapy, resulting in worsening pain and limited mobility. He has also endured recurring skin conditions, particularly scabies, without effective treatment or proper follow-up, leading to prolonged rashes, infections, and additional complications. His body still bears signs of physical and psychological torture, including bruises and wounds that have not been properly treated.

Beyond the physical harm, years of torture, solitary confinement, and sectarian discrimination have inflicted deep psychological trauma. He continues to suffer from severe sleep disorders, chronic anxiety, and persistent fear and tension linked to isolation and repeated threats inside the prison, many of which targeted his family. Malnutrition, reduced food rations, and the denial of essential items from the prison shop further weakened his general health and immunity, all amid a near-total absence of medical and psychological care.

According to his family, medical neglect against S.A.M.H. continues. In her most recent communication, his mother stated that he still struggles with injuries to his leg and knee and remains detained. Despite his transfer to the Open Prisons facility (Building 11), he has not been included in the temporary-release program, which allows prisoners weekly 12-hour leave as the first step toward gradually easing restrictions and eventually obtaining permanent release—a process that can take years. His exclusion from this program makes clear that the transfer to a new building has brought no meaningful improvement or relief from his ongoing physical and psychological suffering. It underscores that medical neglect and degrading treatment persist even within facilities portrayed as more humane.

5. Prisoners Who Remain Detained and Suffer From Torture and Medical Neglect

Sayed Mohammed Hashem AbdulWahab

Bahraini authorities arbitrarily arrested 17-year-old minor and school student Sayed Mohammed Hashem AbdulWahab on 3 July 2025 after summoning him to the CID. During his detention, he was subjected to torture, forced confessions, denial of family visits, denial of legal representation, unfair trials, retaliatory measures, and severe medical neglect.

AbdulWahab was denied access to a lawyer or the presence of a guardian during his intensive overnight interrogation. Throughout this period, he was threatened, verbally abused, and ultimately coerced into signing confessions. He was charged in three cases: two related to arson and one involving unlawful assembly and participation in a protest. He received two prison sentences totaling one year and six months, while the third case remains pending.

For more than two months, he was denied family visits before finally seeing his relatives on 25 September 2025. During that visit, he informed them that he had been verbally and physically assaulted by a prison guard after requesting reclassification and a transfer to a cell better suited to his psychological condition. No investigation was opened, and the guard responsible faced no accountability.

During detention, Sayed Mohammed suffered from severe medical neglect. He was deprived of basic hygiene supplies and not allowed to bring personal items, preventing him from bathing. As a result, painful boils began to appear across his body, eventually growing larger and causing intense pain. His condition worsened to the point that an urgent transfer to Salmaniya Medical Complex was required for a cleaning procedure and insertion of a drain. He was returned to his cell the following day, despite the cell’s poor sanitary conditions and lack of proper care.

Two weeks later, an even larger boil developed, leading to a second hospital transfer for additional surgery. His physical and psychological condition was extremely poor, and when his family tried to support him during this crisis, they were prevented from doing so. A special permit from the prison administration was required, yet approvals are only issued during official working hours, and the surgery took place on a Friday night.

His mother reported that her son screamed in pain throughout the procedure while authorities showed no concern for the family’s pleas. When she attempted to enter the facility to be with him, she was shouted at and intimidated by female police officers. She was summoned repeatedly by prison police, and a guard even filed a complaint against her at the police station, further hindering her ability to support her son during this period of severe physical and psychological distress.

According to the family, the issue was a bacterial infection that affected his thigh and other areas of his body. It required surgical procedures and antibiotics, after which his condition stabilized. After approximately eleven days, Sayed Mohammed was returned to prison, where he continued receiving wound care and treatment.

The continued detention of minor Sayed Mohammed Hashem AbdulWahab exposes him to further violations and worsening physical and mental health while he awaits upcoming trials. Documentation makes clear that the ordeal he endured did not end with his arrest or sentencing, underscoring the urgent need for immediate action to protect his legal and medical rights.

Khalil Ebrahim Al-Saffar

Khalil Ebrahim Al-Saffar, a 29-year-old Bahraini citizen, has been detained in Jau Prison since his arrest on 10 September 2015. Before his arrest, Khalil had undergone surgery to insert a platinum plate in his skull after sustaining a severe fracture and was receiving necessary medical treatment to manage his condition. However, from the moment he was detained, his health began deteriorating rapidly due to physical torture targeting the exact area of his head where the plate had been implanted. This abuse caused recurring seizures, frequent convulsions, nerve damage, and widespread physical weakness, severely affecting both his physical and psychological well-being.

Throughout his detention, Khalil was denied appropriate medical care despite submitting daily complaints. He was transferred to the prison clinic only when he fainted, where doctors limited treatment to basic painkillers such as Panadol and medications inappropriate for his condition, including Citalan and drugs typically used for individuals recovering from substance addiction, such as Depakine and Treptizol. There were no meaningful examinations of his skull or damaged nerves, and no real medical follow-up. As a result, his seizures continued multiple times per day, leading to permanent nerve weakness, partial disability in one hand, difficulty moving, and chronic, debilitating head pain.

Khalil’s recent testimonies reveal that the prison administration is deliberately ignoring his medical needs, amounting to what he describes as “medical assassination.” The repeated denial of treatment and the absence of an accurate diagnosis place his life in constant danger and highlight the urgent need for immediate specialized medical intervention. This includes comprehensive neurological assessments, effective treatment for seizures and convulsions, physical rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and continuous psychological support.

Khalil describes his current situation as a direct threat to his life and calls for immediate release or permission to receive treatment abroad. He emphasizes that his continued detention without proper medical intervention exposes him to severe complications and poses an ongoing, life-threatening risk.

Osama Nezar AlSagheer

Osama Nezar AlSagheer was a 19-year-old Bahraini student at the time of his arrest in 2017 during the violent suppression of peaceful protests in the village of Duraz. From the moment he was detained, Osama endured severe violations, including physical and psychological torture, enforced disappearance, solitary confinement, sectarian insults, and religious discrimination—abuse that has left deep and lasting effects on his physical and mental health. He is currently serving a 61-year prison sentence in Jau Prison, where medical neglect persists and adequate healthcare remains out of reach despite his critical condition.

During his arrest, Osama was shot with birdshot, causing metal pellets to spread throughout his body, including his head, face, back, and hands. He was also severely beaten on his injured head and hands, resulting in a fractured left hand and a deformed finger due to the bones healing incorrectly in the absence of medical treatment. He continues to suffer from a disability in the finger next to his left thumb, limiting his movement, along with persistent metal pellets embedded in his hand and head that cause chronic pain and severe, recurring headaches.

Despite the seriousness of his injuries, Osama was denied effective medical treatment. For the first several years of his detention, his requests for care were consistently ignored or deliberately denied. Prison authorities even told him directly, “Even if you need treatment, we will not treat you.” Two years after his injury, the bones in his hand fused incorrectly due to the complete absence of proper medical care. Although he later received some physiotherapy, the treatment was ineffective because the metal pellets lodged throughout his body were never removed. To this day, Osama continues to suffer from widespread shrapnel, with sharp pain that intensifies during changes in temperature, particularly in cold weather. This persistent pain restricts his movement, sleep, and ability to carry out daily activities.

Osama submitted multiple complaints to the Ombudsman as his health deteriorated, but authorities took no meaningful steps to address his condition. He went more than 19 months without receiving any medical care after filing his complaint, and he was even forced to sign a form stating that he had received treatment, although no care had been provided. Prison officials also refused to take him to pre-scheduled medical appointments in December 2019 and February 2020, further worsening his condition.

Osama resorted to several hunger strikes in protest of the denial of medical care, most notably in March and September 2019. During one strike, his health collapsed; his blood sugar dropped to 3.8, he fainted, and he sustained a head injury. Instead of receiving treatment, he was punished with solitary confinement. He also participated in the mass hunger strike in August 2023, during which he collapsed from extreme fatigue and the worsening of his existing health issues.

To this day, Osama suffers from chronic pain in his head and left hand, with metal pellets still lodged throughout his body. He has not received any surgical treatment to remove the shrapnel and has never been examined by specialized doctors, despite repeated requests. His case stands as a clear example of systemic medical neglect in Bahraini prisons, where prisoners with serious injuries are deprived of effective treatment, allowing otherwise treatable injuries to become permanent disabilities that threaten their long-term physical and psychological well-being.

Jasim Mohamed AlEskafi

Jasim Mohamed AlEskafi, a 23-year-old employee at the Kraft Factory (owned by Mondelez) and a freelance worker in agriculture and sales, was arbitrarily arrested by Bahraini authorities on 23 January 2018. From the beginning of his detention, he was subjected to multiple forms of physical and psychological abuse. Since April 2019, Jasim has been held in Jau Prison, where his health has sharply deteriorated due to deliberate medical neglect and harsh detention conditions.

Jasim has developed several health problems, the most prominent being a chronic skin allergy that progressed into severe scabies as a result of the lack of hygiene and medical care. Painful skin patches and intense itching spread across his body, yet he was not provided with appropriate treatment or anti-allergy ointments. He also suffered lasting physical effects from torture, including bruises, chronic pain in his joints and muscles, and extreme physical exhaustion caused by malnutrition and unsanitary conditions. In addition, he developed psychological symptoms such as persistent anxiety and sleep disturbances, driven by isolation and ongoing mistreatment.

Jasim has not been examined by a specialist doctor since his arrest and has been routinely deprived of necessary medications and ointments to treat scabies and skin infections. When he requested treatment or attempted to visit the clinic, he was placed in isolation and shackled instead of receiving care. He is also denied access to warm water in winter and cold water in summer, worsening his skin condition and adding to his suffering. Overcrowded cells, inadequate ventilation, and low-quality water have further weakened his immune system and contributed to the steady decline in his health.

Recently, Jasim joined an open-ended hunger strike lasting two weeks as part of a broader protest by political prisoners in Jau Prison against ongoing violations, arbitrary detention, and the administration’s refusal to meet basic humanitarian demands. According to sources inside the prison, 71 inmates participated in the strike for around 14 days, with several fainting due to critically low blood sugar levels—some dropping to as low as 3—including Jasim. No effective medical intervention was provided. Prisoners also reported being deprived of rights they once had, such as inter-prisoner visitations, as well as the administration’s repeated backtracking on promises of imminent release.

Sixth: Psychological and Social Effects of Torture

Torture in Bahrain does not end with the immediate physical injuries it inflicts; its impact reaches deep into the victim’s psyche, where trauma takes hold and becomes a continuous struggle that touches every aspect of life. Political prisoners not only endure physical abuse during interrogation and detention but also face deliberate medical neglect inside prisons and psychological and social isolation after their release. Torture, in this context, becomes an ongoing process, one that continues long after they leave the prison cell.

1. Long-Term Psychological Disorders

The painful, degrading torture that detainees face in Bahrain leaves deep psychological wounds that do not fade with time. Many victims develop anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD, which manifest in nightmares, insomnia, memory loss, sudden anger, chronic anxiety, and a constant fear of re-arrest. Others experience social withdrawal, a loss of security, and deep distrust of others.

ADHRB has documented several cases reflecting these patterns. One woman, forced under torture to remove her clothes and threatened with rape and the killing of her children, remains in a permanent state of trauma, suffering from recurring nightmares and nervous breakdowns. In another case, a prisoner developed a phobia of speed after being repeatedly transported in police vehicles driven recklessly; he often fainted during transport without receiving any treatment. In a third case, a woman was violently kicked in a sensitive area during interrogation, requiring uterine surgery, and has since lived with persistent fear of raids or re-arrest.

These cases are not isolated incidents. They reflect a widespread pattern of psychological harm, rooted in physical torture and systematic humiliation used by Bahraini authorities to break detainees’ will and force submission.

2. Absence of Mental Health Services

Medical neglect in Bahraini prisons is not a matter of oversight but rather a systematic practice used as an additional form of punishment. Instead of receiving proper healthcare, prisoners are left without treatment until their physical and psychological conditions worsen.

ADHRB reports that authorities have completely disregarded the mental health needs of prisoners, offering no specialized support to address the psychological effects of torture. One documented case involved an under-21-year-old prisoner who suffered severe psychological deterioration after torture and developed trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), yet received no treatment.

Even when prisoners are transferred to psychiatric hospitals, they seldom receive meaningful care. The authorities refuse to acknowledge the torture that caused their conditions in the first place. ADHRB documented the case of a prisoner who developed symptoms of schizophrenia and hallucinations just four months after his arrest. He attempted suicide several times while hospitalized, yet was returned to prison without any improvement.

Beyond official neglect, social stigma and fear of persecution further deepen the crisis. Many victims fear seeking psychological support after release, either due to fear of state reprisal or because of social shame, particularly in cases where women were subjected to sexual violence.

Psychiatrists emphasize that victims have “lost their sense of safety and control over their lives,” and that psychological rehabilitation and community support remain almost entirely absent in the Bahraini context.

3. Extended Social Consequences

The effects of torture and medical neglect reach far beyond the victims themselves, extending into their families and communities. Many former prisoners leave prison to find their jobs gone, their family relationships strained, and their trust in others shattered.

One released mother reported that her children were afraid to let her leave the house after her return, having witnessed her episodes of anger and depression. Another woman lost her job and withdrew from society entirely.

A male victim, engaged before his arrest, lost his fiancée after receiving a 15-year sentence and later being diagnosed with cancer. Even after his release, he lived with constant anxiety and the persistent feeling of being watched.

Athletes and artists have also seen their futures destroyed. One athlete, after spending ten years in prison, could not physically or psychologically return to his previous life. In the case of two brothers arrested as minors, constant torture and humiliation shattered their self-confidence and trust in society. The younger brother became too afraid to leave the house or seek employment.

Seventh: A Legal Analysis of Bahrain’s Violations of Its Obligations

The widespread practices of torture, ill-treatment, and medical neglect in Bahraini prisons constitute a clear and ongoing violation of Bahrain’s binding international obligations. These practices stand in direct breach of fundamental legal and human rights standards. The Convention Against Torture (CAT)—ratified by Bahrain in 1998—requires the state to prevent torture, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and establish independent and effective mechanisms to investigate all allegations of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. However, documented evidence and field testimonies, the observations of the UN Committee Against Torture during its most recent review of Bahrain, demonstrate that officers implicated in physical and psychological torture have not been meaningfully held accountable, and that trials involving political detainees frequently rely on coerced confessions extracted under torture.

In this context, the UN Committee Against Torture, in its review of Manama’s compliance with the Convention Against Torture held in Geneva on 18 and 19 November 2025, expressed deep concern over the continued prevalence of ill-treatment and torture in the country. It highlighted numerous violations: detainees subjected to violence and beatings, physical and verbal abuse, collective punishment, denial of medical care, poor sanitation, recurrent electricity and water outages, food shortages, prolonged solitary confinement, restrictions on family visitation, extreme overcrowding, and the deprivation of education and healthcare for minors detained in Dry Dock Prison. The Committee also identified serious gaps in fundamental safeguards, including the absence of prompt forensic medical examinations following arrest and the lack of cameras in interrogation rooms. It further noted violations of detainees’ basic rights, such as judicial review within 48 hours, access to legal counsel, and the right of families to be promptly informed of the detainee’s location. Oversight bodies, including the Ombudsman and the SIU, were found to be ineffective, lacking both independence and the authority to submit complaints directly to the judiciary. The Committee also raised concerns regarding the lack of judicial independence, observing that courts routinely dismiss torture allegations without initiating investigations. The Committee urged Bahrain to strengthen accountability and transparency, guarantee independent investigations into abuses, and ensure full protection for political prisoners. It called on the state to uphold due process rights, limit solitary confinement to a maximum of 15 days, and meet detainees’ basic needs, including access to clean water, sanitation, adequate food, ventilation, sunlight, and timely medical care. It further emphasized the need to increase the number of trained and qualified prison staff, including medical personnel. The Committee also stressed that Bahrain must respect prisoners’ rights at all times, refrain from reprisals or collective punishment against those protesting detention conditions, and guarantee accountability and effective redress for victims of torture, including non-financial remedies and safeguards to prevent recurrence.

Bahrain’s practices also violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and provides protection against arbitrary arrest and detention. Arrests carried out without warrants, the detention of minors, and the extraction of confessions through torture constitute clear violations of Articles 1, 9, and 14 of the Covenant.

Moreover, Bahrain’s systematic medical neglect violates Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which guarantees the right of every individual to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. This obligation includes ensuring access to timely and adequate medical treatment, preventive care, and all necessary health services for detainees.

In addition, the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) establish that prisoners must receive healthcare equivalent to that available in the community, including regular access to doctors, medical examinations, and necessary medications. Yet field reports consistently show that political prisoners in Bahrain are systematically denied basic healthcare, routine evaluations, and essential treatments, even in cases involving chronic diseases or severe injuries resulting from torture. As a result, many detainees have suffered irreversible physical and psychological harm, with some cases leading to permanent disability or death.

These violations demonstrate that Bahrain is not merely failing to uphold its obligations to prevent torture and protect detainees. Rather, the state has entrenched a system of impunity that enables the continued use of torture, ill-treatment, and medical neglect as punitive tools against political opponents and human rights defenders. This reflects an institutional culture in which abuses are permitted, accountability is absent, and human dignity is systematically undermined.

Eighth: The Failure of Oversight Bodies and the Entrenchment of Impunity

The continued practice of torture, ill-treatment, and medical neglect in Bahraini prisons is directly linked to the state’s failure to establish independent and effective complaint mechanisms, which has entrenched a policy of impunity. Existing local oversight bodies, including the Ombudsman, the MOI, the SIU within the PPO, the NIHR, and the PDRC, lack genuine independence and operate entirely under the control of the MOI. As a result, they are structurally incapable of holding perpetrators accountable or protecting prisoners from reprisals.

Consequently, prisoners who file complaints about torture or ill-treatment frequently face retaliation, including prolonged solitary confinement, denial of medical care, and the deprivation of other basic rights, in addition to intensified psychological and physical abuse. These institutional practices reinforce a deeply rooted culture of impunity, turning torture and medical neglect into systematic tools of retaliation against political opponents and human rights defenders, rather than violations investigated and prosecuted under national or international law.

The absence of independent mechanisms to investigate detainees’ complaints makes it nearly impossible to bring perpetrators to justice, ensuring that abuses continue unchecked. In such an environment, prisons become unsafe and inhumane, where physical and psychological torture and medical neglect operate as deliberate components of a broader state policy aimed at suppressing dissent, silencing critical voices, and eliminating any meaningful oversight of security authorities’ conduct.

Ninth: Recommendations

• Immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, political activists, and minors: This is essential to safeguard their fundamental rights and to end the ongoing practices of torture, ill-treatment, and medical neglect.
• Ensure specialized medical care for all prisoners without restrictions or discrimination: This includes individuals with chronic illnesses, injuries caused by torture, and urgent medical conditions. Authorities must provide necessary medications, regular medical examinations, and access to specialized healthcare. The use of treatment denial or delayed medical appointments as a punitive measure must be strictly prohibited.
• Establish an independent oversight mechanism to investigate torture, ill-treatment, and medical neglect: This body must be fully independent from the MOI and all security agencies, capable of receiving complaints, conducting prompt and impartial investigations, protecting complainants from retaliation, and ensuring accountability for perpetrators.
• Guarantee legal accountability for those responsible for torture, ill-treatment, and medical neglect: Individuals found responsible for such violations must be prosecuted in accordance with international standards, including the CAT and ICCPR, with effective and appropriate penalties applied.
• Provide compensation and reparations to all victims of arbitrary detention, torture, medical neglect, retaliatory measures inside prisons, and inhumane detention conditions.
• Offer psychological support and rehabilitation programs for former prisoners and their families: This includes long-term medical and psychological care for those who suffered torture, medical neglect, or other abuses, in order to support their reintegration into society.
• Enable UN mechanisms and human rights bodies to freely monitor detention facilities: UN Special Rapporteurs and international human rights organizations must be granted unrestricted access to visit prisons, review medical files, and interview inmates confidentially, ensuring transparency and compliance with international standards.
• Amend national legislation to ensure full compliance with international health and human rights standards: Laws must explicitly require the state to provide continuous and adequate medical care to all prisoners and prohibit the use of medical neglect as a punitive measure, in line with the CAT, the ICCPR, and the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Conclusion

It is evident from these testimonies that torture in Bahrain does not end with interrogation or imprisonment. Instead, it continues through systematic medical neglect, denial of treatment, and the long-term psychological and social harm inflicted on victims and their families. The state not only withholds justice and accountability, but also deprives prisoners of their right to medical care and rehabilitation, leaving them to confront deep and enduring trauma on their own. Many former prisoners continue to suffer severe health complications caused by years of neglect inside prisons, including untreated chronic illnesses, permanent disabilities, and significant deterioration in vision and mobility, all of which affect their daily lives and impede their reintegration into society.

What occurs inside Bahraini prisons is not mere negligence; it amounts to “silent torture”. It leaves marks not only on the body, but also suffocates the spirit, the family, and the broader community. Deliberate medical neglect, denial of healthcare, and the continuation of punitive measures even after release are interconnected parts of a larger system designed to break individuals, suppress dissent, and silence critical voices.

In the absence of justice and accountability, the suffering of victims, both during detention and after release, stands as a stark reminder of the Bahraini government’s failure to uphold even the most basic human rights. The international community, therefore, bears a responsibility to pressure Bahraini authorities to end this systematic policy and restore dignity to the victims.

Accordingly, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) reiterates its calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience and political activists; for ensuring they receive urgently needed medical care without restrictions; for conducting independent investigations into cases of torture and medical neglect; for holding perpetrators accountable in line with international law; and for providing full reparations to all victims. ADHRB also urges the international community and UN bodies to intensify monitoring of Bahraini prisons and push the authorities to comply with international human rights standards and the humane treatment of detainees.

The persistence of torture and medical neglect inside Bahraini prisons, and the devastating long-term consequences for those released, constitute a systematic violation of human rights. It underscores the urgent need for accountability, victim protection, and decisive international action to end these abuses and restore dignity to both current and former prisoners.