Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): Bahrain's Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society issued on Monday (June 8, 2015) its annual report of 2014, entitled: "Reform in Bahrain: Game of Numbers," referring to the courts in Bahrain that have issued prison sentences over political issues that amount up to 11,000 years.

Hadi Al-Musawi, head of the Al-Wefaq's Liberties and Human Rights Department, said that the same violations stated in the 2013 annual report are still committed and widespread, stressing that the authorities have mastered the game of numbers: "that game depends on the first impression the numbers have on people and the magic of statistics."

During a press conference to launch the report, Al-Musawi further stated: "The first manifestation of this game is the growing number of official institutions assigned to deal with issues related to protecting human rights, and the numbers that the special investigations unit revealed of members of security forces who committed human rights violations who were referred to investigation without announcing any results!"

The report also stressed that it only includes some violations, based on what it managed to monitor in 2014, depending on its capabilities.

Al-Wefaq's report revealed that 1741 arrests took place during 2014 over issues linked to the political opposition movement, 245 of which were children and 31 were women. The report also highlighted that 812 arrests were by house raids out of 2328 raids on houses and private properties, and 1291 of which were announced by activists.

The annual report also mentioned that the number of arrests since 2011 until 2014 reached 9083, including the arrest of 302 women, and 727 children, including three girls, and 58 cases of arrests or summoning of "prominent" activists in the political, journalistic, or human rights fields, and the indications show that the charges raised against them were malicious charges.

"Activists were targeted by lawsuits and harassment of civil organizations they were affiliated to," the report added, stressing that "Bahraini courts issued prison sentences that amount to about 11,000 years against 1,200 people charged over political issues."

The report also stated that death sentences were issued against three individuals charged over political issues, according to local newspapers, and that in 2014, 21 citizens were stripped of their Bahraini nationality, raising the number of revoked citizenships to 52.

Al-Wefaq's annual report pointed out 390 torture and maltreatment cases, including 154 inside prison and 236 cases outside prison, also highlighting that the authorities prevented 228 detainees from attending the funerals of their parents.

The torture cases included different kinds of abuse. 74 detainees were deprived of medical care and treatment, while there were 54 short-term enforced disappearances, according to the report.

The report revealed that most of the torture and maltreatment was practiced to force the victims to expose information and that there were cases of punishment and religious discrimination, stressing on the fact that Bahraini authorities continue to practice systematic torture and harsh and degrading treatment.

Since 2011, 3054 victims said they were subjected to torture and maltreatment.

Al-Wefaq's report declared that the villages and towns across the island kingdom witnessed 6710 protests, and that 2660 of which were suppressed with firearms, leading to 140 people injured who confirmed that they sustained injuries during the crackdown on protests, including two deaths caused by injuries; in addition to 361 injuries announced by activists.

"390 people sustained injuries due to shotgun pellets, 3 others by live rounds, 38 injuries were caused by tear gas canisters, while 70 others due to torture," stressing that the Bahraini authorities continue to use (shotguns) to disperse protestors in violation of international law and use of force principles.

The report also found that since 2011, 4367 people were injured, 33 of which lost their lives, and that there were 166 death cases of citizens, including 4 foreigners.

Al-Wefaq's report concluded that there are no serious or transparent investigations to hold accountable the direct perpetrators or those involved in arbitrary killings committed by soldiers, officers and commanders.

Arabic Issue