By: Priscila Néri, Posted: May 20 09

Regions: Bahrain

Issues: Freedom of opinion & expression, Justice, Violence

Tags: abduction, Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, beating, freedom of the press, human rights defender, political persecution, political prisoners, torture

On May 7, human rights defender Jaafar Kadhim was abducted and severely beaten by a group of men just west of Bahrain's capital city of Manama.  Kadhim was left unconscious and, when he awoke, he was alone in his car and covered in blood.   He managed to seek help and was taken to a local hospital, where he spent 11 days in treatment for severe injuries to the face and head, as well as two broken ribs. Watch:

Before his abduction, Kadhim had been working with two local groups -  Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) - in documenting torture of political activists in Bahraini prisons and assisting families of detainees.  "It looks like the men who abducted Kadhim intended to teach him a lesson - that pursuing torture allegations in Bahrain today carries a high price," says Joe Stork from Human Rights Watch.

Although Bahrain is a party to several conventions that prohibit torture, to date there have not been any investigations into the cases of Kadhim and other activists that have been subject to similar abuse. 

Take Action: Join BCHR, BYSHR and Frontline Defenders in calling on Bahraini authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into Kadhim's abduction, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure a safe environment for Bahraini human rights defenders.