Hassan Mushaima

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2011-015-002
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2011
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 26.0667

Longitude: 50.5577

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Bahrain
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
Dates of prior UN action
22 March 2011
Type of record
Named individual
Gender
Male
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

President of the Haq Movement.

Type of rights defended
  • Unclear in SG Report
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Engagement with UN body
  • Unclear
Dates of engagement
Unclear
Type of attempted engagement
  • Unclear
Dates of mentioned reprisals
17 March 2011
Reprisal information

On 17 March 2011, both Mr. Al Singace and Mr. Mushaima were arrested by the Bahraini security apparatus. It is alleged that the arrests were made in the aftermath of a security operation carried out by the security forces with the objective of removing protesters from Pearl Roundabout, Manama. At the time when the communication was sent, the fate and whereabouts of Mr. Al Singace and Mr. Mushaima were unknown.

Types of reprisals suffered
  • Detention/Imprisonment: Detention/Imprisonment - General
  • Disappearance/Kidnapping
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Government response dates
26 May 2011
Government response content

The Government confirmed in response to the Communication that Mr. Mushaima had been arrested.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No
How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
5
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 0
2012
Follow up information provided in SG report 0
  1. According to information received, the National Safety Court (a military court) sentenced Mr. Al-Khawaja, Mr. Al-Singace, Mr. Mushaima and Mr. Ghani Al-Kanja to life imprisonment on 22 June 2011. The Government reportedly considered that these human rights defenders formed part of a “terrorist cell”. The same defenders were referred to in several urgent appeals sent by special procedures, notably a communication of 5 August 2011 expressing concern in relation to their prosecution.
Followup Trends 0
Deterioration/further reprisals
Did the government respond? 0
No
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 1
2021
Follow up information provided in SG report 1
  1. The case of Mr. Hassan Mushaima, the former Secretary of the main opposition group Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy, who was imprisoned and sentenced to life, was included in the 2012 and 2011 reports of the Secretary-General86 following his engagement with the UN human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council and the Committee against Torture. Special procedures mandate holders addressed his situation on multiple occasions,87 to which the Government has replied,88 indicating that Mr. Mushaima, amongst others, formed part of a “terrorist cell.” The Government has provided information on his situation including on access to health care, family visits and books, most recently in November 2019.89
  2. According to information received by OHCHR, as of May 2021 Mr. Mushaima remains in Jau Prison with severe underlying health conditions and is routinely denied access to adequate medical care by prison authorities. During the reporting period, serious concerns have been raised, including by the High Commissioner for Human Rights,90 on the worsening of the situation in Bahrain prisons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, it is reported that Mr. Mushaima is at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, in particular due to his age (73 years old) and his severe health conditions
Followup Trends 1
Deterioration/further reprisals
Date of follow up 1
2007, 18 March 2011, 22 March 2011, 5 August 2011, 16 March 2012, 16 April 2014, 18 September 2019, 30 April 2021
Did the government respond? 1
Yes
Was this case followed up by a UN body? 1
  • UN Special Procedures: Country
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
  • UN Special Procedures: UN Special Procedures - General
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 2
2022
Follow up information provided in SG report 2
  1. The case of Mr. Hassan Mushaima, the former Secretary of the main opposition group Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy, who was imprisoned and sentenced to life on terrorism charges, was included in the 2011, 2012 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General following his engagement with the UN human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council and the Committee against Torture. Special procedures mandate holders addressed his situation on multiple occasions, to which the Government has replied providing information about his detention conditions and health status. According to information received by OHCHR, on 18 July 2021, Mr. Mushaima was reportedly transferred to Kanoo Medical Centre where he remains at present. In September 2021, following Mr. Mushaima’s refusal of an offer for conditional release, his video and phone calls to his family have been suspended. As of 30 April 2022, Mr. Mushaima’s health status and access to adequate medical care remain a source of serious concern.
Followup Trends 2
Stayed same
Did the government respond? 2
Yes
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 3
2023
Follow up information provided in SG report 3
  1. Mr. Hassan Mushaima, the former Secretary of the Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy, who was convicted and sentenced to life on terrorism charges, was included in the 2011, 2012 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General18 following his engagement with the United Nations human rights mechanisms. Special procedures mandate holders addressed his situation on multiple occasions, to which the Government replied. 20 According to information received by OHCHR, on 22 November 2022, four members of Mr. Mushaima’s family were arrested after a sit-in protest outside the Kanoo Medical centre requesting urgent medical treatment for his medical conditions.
  2. On 17 July 2023, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report and stated that in Bahrain no one is arrested because of peaceful political activity or affiliations.
  3. Concerning the situation of Messrs. Al-Khawaja, Al-Singace and Mushaima, the Government noted that the three are being tried in cases involving calling for the overthrow of the political system in the country and changing it by force, committing hostile terrorist crimes, and communicating with foreign countries in attempts to undermine security and stability in the Kingdom. It stated further that Mr. Al-Khawaja’s health condition is beingmonitored at the medical clinic of the correction and rehabilitation centre, and that he is receiving medical treatment for his chronic diseases and is also followed-up in specialized clinics in outside hospitals. With regard to Mr. Al-Singace and Mr. Mushaima, the Government noted that they are both under the supervision of a general medical practitioner at the Ibrahim Khalil Kanu Medical Centre. The Government added that Mr. Al-Singage continues to voluntarily reduce the amount of fluid and food he takes and that Mr. Mushaima was treated for two medical conditions that required specialized treatment and one of them hospitalization. The Government explained further that Mr. Mushaima had been transferred back to the Ibrahim Khalil Kanu Centre on 20 May 2022.
Followup Trends 3
Deterioration/further reprisals
Did the government respond? 3
No
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 4
2024
Follow up information provided in SG report 4
  1. The case of Mr. Hassan Mushaima was included in the 2021 and 2023 reports of the Secretary-General, and prior to that in the 2011 and 2012 reports, 19 on allegations of conviction and life sentencing on terrorism charges following his engagement with the United Nations human rights mechanisms. Special procedures mandate holders addressed his situation on multiple occasions,20 to which the Government replied.21 Mr. Mushaima is the former Secretary of the Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy18. According to information received by OHCHR, during the reporting period Mr. Mushaima’s physical condition has deteriorated further and there are serious concerns for his health. 19 July 2023 marked two years of isolation of Mr. Mushaima at the Kanoo Medical Center, where he is reportedly not provided with adequate healthcare and is denied freedom of worship.
Followup Trends 4
Stayed same
Did the government respond? 4
No