A/HRC/7/3/Add.1 page 18 Para 12. Country Date 25/05/07 Type JUA Mandate WGAD; FRDX; TOR Allegations transmitted Government response told that he required an operation. An appointment was set for 21 March 2007. Mr. Ahmad had not suffered from any illness or disability in his eye before he was ill-treated upon arrest. The physical abuse was recorded neither at the police station nor by the public prosecutor. Ali Saeed Yacob al-Khabaz, a 22-year-old resident of Sanabis, who was arrested after a demonstration in support of Mr. Hassan Mushiama, secretary-general of the organisation “Movement of Freedoms and Democracy – HAQ”, and Mr. Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, president of the “Bahrain Center for Human Rights”. The latter were subjects of a previously transmitted communication on 2 February 2007, and have since been released. Mr. Ali Saeed Yacob alKhabaz was arrested by special forces on 20 May 2007 after attending a peaceful demonstration that took place in an area between the cities of Sanabis and Daih. The special forces dispersed the demonstration, using rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas. They chased some of the demonstrators and arrested Mr. Al-Khabaz in front of his family home. During the arrest, he was forced to the ground by the special forces, collectively beaten with batons and kicked with boots. For two days he was treated at Bahrain Defence Force Hospital for a broken nose, injuries to his head, lacerations to his face, a dislocated lower jaw, bruises and swelling of both eyes, injuries to his legs, and wounds on his back. Mr. Al-Khabaz is currently unable to walk. The public prosecutor ordered Mr. Al-Khabaz’ detention for By letters dated 14/06/07 and 20/07/07, the Government informed that he was released on 8 June 2007. The “facts” set out concerning the arrest of Ali Said al-Khabbaz are untrue and baseless. He was arrested for attending a peaceful demonstration. The right to express an opinion by peaceful means is guaranteed by the Constitution and by Bahraini law. No one has ever been arrested for exercising this right. Mr. AlKhabbaz was one of a group of around 40 persons who took part in riots in the Sanabis area on 20 May 2007. They threw Molotov cocktails and stones at the security forces which had been sent to disperse the crowds, quell the rioting and protect the lives of citizens from these irresponsible acts of sabotage. The rioters set fire to rubbish skips on the main road, placing the residents of the area in danger. Mr. Al-Khabbaz was arrested in the Sanabis area while engaging in riotous behaviour and arson. There is no truth to the allegations that he was picked up in front of his home. His injuries were caused by a tumble that he took while fleeing from the security forces in order to evade arrest. He fell on his face, which caused him to have a nose bleed. Immediately afterwards, he assaulted and injured a policeman with a stone which he had in his hand. His