The 2018 report of the Secretary-General included references by multiple United Nations actors to a general context of harassment and intimidation against Bahraini civil society representatives seeking to cooperate with the United Nations (A/HRC/39/41 paras. 29–30). Those individuals included Mr. Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei and some of his close relatives, Ms. Ebtesam Abdulhusain Ali-Alsaegh, and Mr. Nabeel Rajab (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, paras. 1–6; Annex II, paras. 4–11). [...] 3. Mr. Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei reportedly continues to suffer disparaging public statements in pro-Government media. The deterioration of the detention and health conditions of his mother-in-law, Ms. Hajar Mansoor Hassan, and her two cellmates at Isa Town Women’s detention Centre, Ms. Medina Ali and Ms. Najah Yusuf, have been reported. On 19 January 2019, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Mr. Al-Wadaei’s relatives, Mr. Mahmood Marzooq Mansoor and Ms. Hassan, to be arbitrary and in reprisal for their family ties with him (A/HRC/WGAD/2018/51, para. 85, 93). 106 The Opinion was reported in the media and the Ministry of Interior publicly referred to Mr. Al-Wadaei as a “terrorist fugitive” and a “criminal,” and to his family members as “terrorists.” 4. On 17 January 2019, five special procedures mandate holders addressed allegations concerning Ms. Ali-Alsaegh and Ms. Hassan (BHR 7/2018; A/HRC/36/31, Annex I, paras. 5, 7; A/HRC/40/60, para. 75). Concerns about Ms. Ali-Alsaegh were in relation to threats, travel restrictions and criminal charges for her cooperation with the United Nations, including the Human Rights Council. During the 38th session of the Human Rights Council, after Ms. Ali-Alsaegh posted several tweets highlighting human rights concerns in Bahrain, she received messages through Twitter and Instagram urging her to close her accounts and to stop her human rights work, under threat of public defamation and rape. Her situation was addressed by special procedures in 2016 and 2017 (BHR 9/2017; 107 BHR 8/2017; 108 BHR 4/2016 109 ). 5. The mandate holders also raised concerns about further acts of reprisals, including physical abuse in detention, against Ms. Hassan, convicted under a counter-terrorism law. On 16 September 2018, Ms. Hassan was reportedly assaulted, harshly beaten, hospitalized, and then held incommunicado in Isa Town Prison from 16 to 23 September 2018. Around those dates, the 2018 report of the Secretary-General, which mentioned her case, was resented at the 39th session of the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, para. 5). 6. The family of Ms. Hassan has reportedly not seen her since September 2018 and in January 2019, she went on a two-day hunger strike to protest the restrictions after the publication of the Opinion of the Working Group. Reports also indicate that Ms. Hassan is being denied access to adequate medical care, in particular since August 2018 when she developed medical conditions that require specialized treatment. On 20 March 2019, the Embassy of Bahrain in London, through its Twitter account, posted private correspondence between Mr. Al-Wadaei and the Ombudsman Office of the Ministry of Interior of Bahrain, including information on the situation of his mother-in-law and private email accounts of relatives. The tweets were later deleted. 7. On 11 March 2019, the Government responded providing detailed information about the situation of Ms. Ali-Alsaegh and Ms. Hassan, including related to the claims submitted to the Ombudsman Office. It stated that allegations about retaliation against individuals or family members for their human rights activities are not true. 110 [...] 9. The Government in its reply of 19 June 2019 refers to the cases of Ms. Ali-Alsaegh, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. Rajab. In the case of Ms. Ali-Alsaegh, it provides detailed information and indicated that she was prevented from travelling due to charges against her for “unauthorized demonstration.” Regarding the situation of Ms. Mansoor Hassan, the Government indicated that she was arrested in March 2017 on the charge of having taken part in placing an object resembling an explosive in a public roadway for the purpose of terrorism. According to the Government, over the course of interrogation, some of Ms. Hassan’s fellow suspects confessed to having made an imitation explosive and planting it near a farm. On 30 October 2017, Ms. Hassan was sentenced to a three-year prison term. Concerning allegations of torture, the Government indicated that no complaint has been lodged by Ms. Hassan through any of the national remedies, nor has she complained about not receiving medical treatment.

The case of Ms. Hajar Mansoor Hasan was included in the 2018 and 2019 reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of arbitrary detention and abuse due to her family ties with Mr. Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, para. 5; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, paras. 3–6). The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Mr. Al-Wadaei’s relatives, including that of Ms. Mansoor Hasan, to be arbitrary and in reprisal for his cooperation with the UN and based on their family ties with him (WGAD/2018/51, paras. 85, 93 and 96). The case of Ms. Medina Ali, at the time Ms. Mansoor Hasan’s cellmate, was also included in the 2019 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para. 3). 2. On 1 November 2019, special procedures mandate holders addressed the continued imprisonment and abuse against Ms. Mansoor Hasan and Ms. Ali (BHR 3/2019). In mid- September 2019, both women were reportedly denied the right to participate in the commemorative Ashura rites with the other inmates, and their requests for Ashura books were rejected. Mandate holders noted that around those dates, the 2019 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/42/30) was made public and discussed at the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council. 3. Mandate holders also raised concern about further targeting after the cases of Ms. Mansoor Hasan and Ms. Ali were discussed at an NGO side event on the margins of the Council in September 2019, broadcast online by the organisers, and a report including their cases was launched on the situation of female political prisoners in Bahrain. The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) issued a statement denying the allegations and, around those dates, Ms. Mansoor Hasan and Ms. Ali were barred from communicating with other inmates who were threatened with punishment if they attempted communication (BHR 3/2019). 4. On 29 December 2019, the Government 1 noted that the General Directorate of Reform and Rehabilitation allows all inmates to fulfil their religious obligations, as long as they do not undermine security and order and that they follow the rules governing such practices. The Government stated that oversight mechanisms undertake regular and periodic visits to detention centers. On 15 December 2019, under Act No. 18 of 2017 on alternative penalties and measures, a judge approved the release from prison of Ms. Ali on 16 December 2019. On 5 March 2020, Ms. Mansoor Hasan was released after the completion of her sentence.

On 9 July 2020, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection with the present report affirming information on the charges and sentencing of individual cases. In particular it noted the release of Ms. Mansoor Hasan at the completion of her sentence. The Government affirmed the independence and integrity of the NIHR, stating that the alleged threats against Ms. Medina Ali are false. It highlighted the role of correctional and rehabilitation centres and the various national redress mechanisms, and affirmed the rights of those in detention to religious rituals.