Appeals for 26 death row inmates to the King of Bahrain

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Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) say the death row inmates, some of whom have been convicted of “terrorism” and drug charges, are expected to be executed once the king approves their sentences .

Human rights groups today appealed to the King of Bahrain to commute the death sentences handed down to 26 prisoners and work towards the abolition of the death penalty in the Gulf country.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) say the death row inmates, some of whom have been convicted of “terrorism” and drug charges, are expected to be executed once the king approves their sentences .

According to a joint statement by the two NGOs, King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa should commute all death sentences, arguing that some of the death row inmates were forced to confess their guilt. Bahrain is also called “to proceed with the abolition of the death penalty”, they add.

“The convictions were based on coerced confessions despite the defendants’ credible allegations of torture and ill-treatment,” said Michael Page of HRW.

A government spokesman told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that “allegations of ill-treatment are being investigated”, assuring that the rights of all prisoners in Bahrain are legally guaranteed.

The kingdom of Bahrain has executed six death row inmates since 2017, when the first execution took place in seven years. Some of them were convicted after the 2011 uprising, which was suppressed by the authorities with the support of the Saudi military.

In the wake of the uprising, Bahraini authorities outlawed opposition parties and carried out mass arrests, drawing international criticism. Hundreds of people were imprisoned and some were stripped of their citizenship.

Bahrain, home to the US 5th Fleet, has accused Iran of fomenting the uprising to topple the government and destabilize the country, which Tehran denies.

RES-EMP

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