A/HRC/19/61/Add.4 (h) JAL 05/08/2011 Case No. BHR 15/2011 State reply: 24/08/2011 Allegation of torture and ill-treatment of Bahrain correspondent of France 24 and Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya. 21. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain for its response to the communication dated 5 August 2011, regarding the allegation of torture and ill-treatment of Bahrain correspondent of France 24 and Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya, Ms. Nazeeha Saeed, who was summoned to a police station in the city of Rifa‟a (Bahrain) where she was allegedly held for more than 12 hours of interrogation on 22 May. The Government indicated that the Minister of Interior himself ordered a swift investigation into the incident and emphasized that those found to have perpetrated the attack were to be brought to trial. Furthermore the Government reported that an investigation was conducted into Ms. Saeed‟s claims by the Office of the Military Prosecutor. The Government added that the female police officer in question has been identified and has been brought before the competent military tribunal; that the defendant was convicted on 21 July 2011 and that the Office of the Military Prosecutor has appealed against the decision. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain for its prompt investigation of this case and the conviction of the perpetrator. The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to continue its engagement with the mandate. (i) JUA 05/08/2011 Case No. BHR 17/2011 State reply: 23/09/2011 Alleged life imprisonment of human rights defenders. 22. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain for its response to the communication dated 5 August 2011, regarding the alleged life imprisonment of human rights defenders, the alleged incommunicado detention, the alleged torture and the allegation that confessions may have been extracted under duress. With regard to the Court proceedings the Government indicated that the Kingdom of Bahrain was under a state of national safety according to the Royal Decree No. 18 of 2011 and as provided for under its Constitution. In addition, the Government refers to article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In its response the Government explains in detail the national legislation and court proceedings. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government for its explanation of the legal grounds and the administrative and judicial proceedings regarding this case. However, he regrets that the Government failed to address the specific allegations of the alleged incommunicado detention and torture of all defendants as well as the acquisition of confessions under duress. Moreover the Special Rapporteur regrets that the Government did not provide further information about the investigation of the alleged ill-treatment, torture and the denial of medical care of Mr. Abd al-Hadi Al-Khawajah although a forensic physician, assigned by the Bahraini Office of the Public Prosecutor, concluded that the defendant‟s injuries could have been sustained as described by the defendant. The Special Rapporteur therefore would like to reiterate that article 12 of the Convention against Torture, which requires the competent authorities to undertake a prompt and impartial investigation wherever there are reasonable grounds to believe that torture has been committed, and that article 7 requires State parties to prosecute suspected perpetrators of torture. The Special Rapporteur calls on the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to undertake prompt and impartial investigations into all cases of alleged torture and ill-treatment and to provide the results of these investigations. Finally he encourages the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to continue its engagement with the Mandate. (j) JUA 09/09/2011 Case No. BHR 18/2011 State reply: 15/12/2011 Alleged arrests, detention, harassment and stigmatisation against human rights defenders and their relatives. 23. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain for its response to the communication dated 9 September 2011, regarding the alleged ill-treatment 11