Bahrain: Concern over whereabouts of 4 detainees

The whereabouts of 4 detainees arrested on Thursday from Al-Duraz area is still unknown. Ahmed Al-Asfoor, Jalal Al-Anfooz, Muhsin Almarzooq and Ali Matrook were all arrested during home raids. Their families are greatly concerned over their situation, especially that some are in need for medical care, Alwefaq.net reported. The families held a peaceful assembly near Al-Buday’a Police Station, the nearest to Duraz. However, the police forces dispersed the families with toxic tear gas, instead of providing information about the detainees. Two years on the issuance of the BICI report, the authorities are failing to implement the recommendations. The arrest of the four and others is carried in such way that contradicts paragraph 1722- d. of the report, and which states "To avoid detention without prompt access to lawyers and without access to the outside world for more than two or three days. In any event, all detention should be subject to effective monitoring by an independent body. Moreover, every person arrested should be given a copy of the arrest warrant and no person should be held incommunicado. Arrested persons should have access to their legal counsel and family visits in the same way as any person detained under the Bahrain Code of Criminal Procedure."