A/HRC/36/31 7/2016). At the time of the finalization of the present report, no response had been received from the Government. 6. On 21 June 2016, the Spokesperson of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep concern that Nabeel Rajab, a co-founder of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was arrested on 13 June 2016 for “spreading false news and rumours about the internal situation in a bid to discredit Bahrain”. He had been subject to a travel ban since at least January 2015. There is concern on the part of the High Commissioner for Human Rights that these and subsequent actions against Mr. Rajab are connected to his engagement with the Human Rights Council. 7. On 8 July 2016, some mandate holders raised concerns regarding allegations of a travel ban imposed on members of civil society, Hussain Salam Ahmed Radhi, Ebtesam Abdulhusain Ali-Alsaegh, Ebrahim Al-Demistani and Abdulnabi Al-Ekry in an act of reprisal for their cooperation with the United Nations Human Rights Council, in particular their participation in the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council, and their human rights work (see A/HRC/34/75, BHR 4/2016). 8. In its replies dated 15 August 2016 and 9 September 2016, the Government informed that the travel ban was imposed pursuant to a decision by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, based on the provisions of article 159 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which authorizes the imposition of a travel ban on an accused person if it is considered that such action is in the interest of the investigation. The Government’s response did not address the allegations of possible reprisals. 9. It is alleged that travel bans have been repeatedly imposed in what appears to be a politically motivated strategy to prevent human rights defenders from travelling abroad and participating in international events related to human rights, in particular those organized by the United Nations. On 23 August 2016, the President of the Council, in a meeting of the Bureau “recalled the alleged case of reprisals relating to travel bans faced by eight individuals who were allegedly prevented from traveling from Bahrain to Geneva to participate in the 32nd session of the Council, as discussed at the Bureau meetings of 23 and 29 June 2016, and informed of the lack of appropriate action or adequate explanatory information from the concerned State.” The President expressed concern over this case and noted that he will consider very carefully all cases of reprisals brought to his attention. 10. On 16 June 2017, special procedure mandates publicly urged the Government to halt its orchestrated crackdown on civil society, stressing that the authorities have resorted to drastic measures to curb dissenting opinions such as torture, arbitrary detention, unfounded convictions, the stripping of citizenship, the use of travel bans, intimidation, including death threats, and reprisals for cooperating with international organizations, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.a 3. Burundi 11. In December 2015, the Committee against Torture requested a special report from Burundi, in light of the deterioration of the human rights situation in Burundi since April 2015. The consideration of the special report on Burundi was scheduled for the fifty-eighth session of the Committee on 28 and 29 July 2016. In this context, the Committee received reports from non-governmental organizations, in particular a coalition report from several Burundian non-governmental organizations, which was made public and posted on the Committee’s webpage. Some of these NGOs also sent participants to the session held in July 2016 in Geneva, including three lawyers: Armel Niyongere (representing ACAT/Campagne SOS-Torture), Dieudonné Bashirahishize (representing “Collectif des Avocats”) and Lambert Nigarura (representing ACAT Burundi/ CB-CPI). 12. A delegation from the Government of Burundi participated in the session in Geneva and briefed the Committee. During her introductory speech to the Committee on 28 July 2016, the Minister of Justice of Burundi referred to information that, in her view, had been a OHCHR, “Bahrain must end worsening human rights clampdown, UN experts say,” 16 June 2017. 17