The aunt of Bahraini prisoner of conscience Ali Mohammed Hassan Mirza, who has been detained since July 23, 2014 and sentenced to 22 years in Jau Prison, has passed away — adding new pain to his and his family’s suffering, as he may be deprived of attending the mourning ceremony.
Bahraini laws and international obligations provide detainees with the right to maintain family ties and participate in humanitarian occasions. However, the authorities often deny prisoners of conscience this right, in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), which emphasize the importance of respecting family connections.
Depriving Ali Al-Alawi of bidding farewell to his aunt constitutes an additional form of collective punishment without justification, intensifying his psychological suffering and that of his family, and reflecting a systematic policy of restricting political prisoners.
Urgent Human Rights Demands:
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Immediate permission for Ali Al-Alawi to participate in the mourning ceremony as an inalienable human right.
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An end to the policy of retaliation against prisoners of conscience by depriving them of their most basic human rights.
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The unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain and the guarantee of their rights inside and outside prison.