Bahrain

Two Members of Parliament (MPs) for France drew the attention of the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, to the worrying human rights situation in Bahrain. This was supported by further comments made on October 12, 2021, by another MP. All MPs made explicit reference to the concerning state of political opposition leader Hassan Mushaima, whose health continues to deteriorate amidst numerous human rights violations by prison authorities. Over the last few months, multiple French MPs have expressed their concern for the government’s systematic violation of human rights, and have urged the Foreign Minister to address the treatment of political prisoners in Bahrain. The three MPs who most recently highlighted the concerning developments in the country were Mr. Michel Larive, Ms. Maud Gatel, and Mr. Guillaume Garot. 

Mr. Michel Larive is a member of the Commission of Cultural Affairs and Education and a member of the La France Insoumise. Mr. Larive drew the attention of the Foreign Minister to the situation of Hassan Mushaima, the leader of the political opposition in Bahrain, who was imprisoned for life in 2011 for his activism in the Arab Spring. Mr. Mushaima, now 73-years-old, is currently in very poor health after being denied medical care by the prison authorities. Mr. Larive also mentioned the reports by his family that prison authorities are exerting psychological pressure and punitive measures which has exacerbated his deteriorating health. Mr. Larive explicitly mentioned a recording on ADHRB’s YouTube channel where he referred to the failure of prison authorities to provide Mr. Mushaima with treatment for his ailments, and that he was only provided painkillers which were not adapted to his medical needs. This was followed by reports delivered by ADHRB from his family, who said that his condition was “extremely worrying” and that his “days would be numbered.” Mr. Larive then referred to a Twitter post by Amnesty Bahrain on July 23, 2021, which referred to Mr. Mushaima’s transfer to hospital for medical tests and his extremely high blood sugar and blood pressure levels. In light of these events, Mr. Larive questioned the Foreign Minister on his position on the case, as well as the actions he intends to take with regards to Mr. Mushaima’s release. 

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Husain Jaafar Mohamed was a 19-year-old Bahraini student when he was arrested in 2014, which prevented him from completing his studies. After being convicted in multiple cases, he is currently serving his prison sentence in Jau Prison, and has been denied contact with his family on multiple occasions.

Husain was pursued by authorities for around two years and received multiple summonses to attend court. As a result, he turned himself in at Al-Budaiya Police Station on 11 October 2014. Three days after his arrest, on 14 October, Husain was transferred to New Dry Dock Prison for convicts under 21, as a judgment had already been issued against him. Husain was sentenced in several cases, some of which his family is not even aware of, and on various charges including robbery, illegal assembly and rioting, manufacture and possession of reusable canisters, damage through negligence, and establishing a terrorist cell. He was sentenced to ten years in prison on 11 June 2015, in a mass trial involving 50 other defendants, known as the 61 Cell Case. His combined sentences reached 30 years in prison, his appeal was rejected, and the verdict was upheld.

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