A/HRC/25/60/Add.2
context, the Special Rapporteur reiterates that each Government has the obligation to
protect the right to physical and mental integrity of all persons. This right is set forth inter
alia in the UDHR, the ICCPR and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). The Special Rapporteur also
reiterates that no exceptional circumstances whatsoever can be invoked to justify torture by
the Government and that therefore the rights of Messrs. Mazen Darwish, Hussayn Gharir,
Hani Zitani, Abdelrahman Alhamade, Mansour Al-Omari, Mr. Khalil Matouk and Mr.
Mohammed Thatha have been violated.
(d)
UA 16/08/2013 Case No. SYR 4/2013 State reply: None to date Alleged enforced
disappearances of Messrs. Bassam Bahrah and Sameeh Bahrah.
150. The Special Rapporteur regrets that the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic
has not responded to this communication, thereby failing to cooperate with the mandate
issued by the Human Rights Council. The communication referred to the alleged enforced
disappearances of Messrs. Bassam Bahrah and Sameeh Bahrah. Mr. Bassam Bahrah is 52
years old and works at the al-Mezzeh Military Hospital in Damascus. Mr. Sameeh Bahrah,
son of Mr. Bassam Bahrah, is a 26-year-old medical student and peaceful political activist.
On 30 April 2013, Mr. Bassam Bahrah was allegedly seen for the last time when he left his
place of work. It was reported that the authorities may have arrested Mr. Bassam Bahrah in
order to use him to locate Mr. Sameeh Bahrah. That evening, unidentified Government
security service officials allegedly arrested Mr. Sameeh Bahrah at his family home in the
al-Mezzeh district of Damascus in relation to his peaceful political activities. Since then, he
has reportedly been held incommunicado at an unknown location. Mr. Sameeh Bahrah has
reportedly been detained twice before in relation to his political activities. He was first
arrested in July 2012, and was kept incommunicado for twenty-two days in the Palestine
Branch in Damascus, a Military Intelligence run detention centre reportedly known for
torture. Due to the lack of information provided by the Government, the Special Rapporteur
expresses concern that Messrs. Bassam Bahrah and Sameeh Bahrah may have been
subjected to enforced disappearance and may be at risk of torture. The Special Rapporteur
reiterates that prolonged incommunicado detention can itself constitute a form of torture
and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and that paragraph 1 of
Human Rights Council Resolution 16/23 “Condemns all forms of torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including through intimidation, which are
and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever and can thus never be
justified, and calls upon all States to implement fully the absolute and non-derogable
prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Tanzania
(a)
JAL 18/3/2013 Case No. TZA 1/2013 State Reply: 26/3/2013 Alleged lack of meaningful
prosecutions for perpetrators of killings and mutilations of People of Albinism.
151. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania
for its reply, dated 26 March 2013, to this communication in reference to the alleged
killings and attacks on People with Albinism (PWA) in various provinces of Tanzania. It is
alleged a seven year old boy was killed on 31 January 2013, sustaining lacerations to his
forehead, right arm, and left shoulder, and his left arm was severed above the elbow. It is
reported that PWAs body parts are superstitiously thought to bring wealth, as well as
provide a cure to HIV/AIDS. Allegedly, another seven year old and his mother were
attacked on 5 February 2013, attempting to kill the boy because of his albinism. Ms. Maria
Chambanenge, aged thirty nine was also allegedly attacked because of her albinism, and
had her arm severed. Another victim, a ten year old boy, also had his arm severed at the
110
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