E/CN.4/2000/9 page 26 Mohammed Hassan Ashoor, a teenager, Hussain Isa Abdulla and Ahmad Abbas Marhoon. The following persons were said to have been arrested in Sitra in mid-October 1999: Ali Ahmad Abdulla Al-Tobaji, aged 17, and Abdulla Ahmad Ibrahim Abdulla. The following persons were reportedly arrested in Ras Romman on 13 November 1999 and were being detained at the Al-Hoora prison: Aqeel Matar, Mohammed Matar, Abdulla Taher, Saeed Ibrahim, Hassan Jafar Madan and Ali Abdul Mahdi Hassan AlMottawa. Sheikh Hassan Al-Qaidom, a religious scholar, was also reportedly arrested and his whereabouts were unknown. Follow-up to previously transmitted communications 111. By letter dated 14 December 1998, the Government responded to an urgent appeal sent on 18 November 1998 (see E/CN.4/1999/61, para. 74). The Government replied that Muhammad 'Ali Muhammad ad-'Ikri was lawfully arrested on 1 November 1998 for riotous behaviour contrary to the 1976 Penal Code and was being detained at a regular place of detention, the name of which was not provided by the Government for reasons of public security. The Government assured the Special Rapporteur that his family were aware of the place of his detention and have been in regular and frequent contact with him. The Government denied that he had been held in secret or incommunicado detention and stated that the reason for his arrest had no connection with his previous juvenile record. The Government further informed the Special Rapporteur that his conditions and treatment had been humane, that he was in good health and that he had been afforded rights of visitation, representation and medical care in accordance with the law and international standards. The Government stated that all issues relating to his detention, trial and release had been and would be, determined by due process and that systematic, pro-active, measures were in force to safeguard the physical and mental integrity of all detainees in Bahrain, including their protection against torture and the use of excessive force. 112. By letter dated 30 December 1998, the Government responded to an urgent appeal sent by the Special Rapporteur in conjunction with the ChairmanRapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 10 November 1998 (see E/CN.4/1999/61, para. 72). The Government denied that nine of the individuals had been arrested or detained. Of the remaining individuals named in the urgent appeal, the Government replied that one male was lawfully detained for riotous behaviour and three males and two females were lawfully arrested and detained following a police investigation into the premature detonation of an explosive device which was part of a so-called "Hizbollah" led terrorist bombing and arson campaign in Bahrain. The Government denied that any of the six individuals arrested had suffered any physical or mental abuse or ill-treatment. The Government informed the Special Rapporteur that all prisoners are held in humane conditions and are afforded rights of welfare, visitation and medical care in accordance with the law. It further stated that women prisoners are supervised only by female prison guards and are held in a modern, purpose-built women's prison. The Government also drew the Special Rapporteur's attention to the ongoing programme, operating with the Government's unqualified cooperation, of visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Further, the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that any prisoner could seek domestic legal and administrative remedies concerning treatment in detention, which none of the individuals in the present case had sought to do. 113. By letter dated 4 January 1999, the Government responded to an urgent action sent by the Special Rapporteur in conjunction with the ChairmanRapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 20 November 1998 (see