Bahrain re-arrests human rights defender Naji Fateel two years after royal pardon

Bahraini authorities have re-arrested prominent human rights defender Naji Fateel more than two years after he was freed under a royal pardon following over 11 years in prison, according to the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR). 

Plainclothes police officers raided Fateel’s flat at around 5:45am on 18 August while he and his family were asleep, the rights group reported. Fateel later told a colleague from detention that officers did not present an arrest warrant or explain why they were taking him into custody.

Bahraini authorities have re-arrested prominent human rights defender Naji Fateel more than two years after he was freed under a royal pardon following over 11 years in prison, according to the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR). 

Plainclothes police officers raided Fateel’s flat at around 5:45am on 18 August while he and his family were asleep, the rights group reported. Fateel later told a colleague from detention that officers did not present an arrest warrant or explain why they were taking him into custody.

Fateel described the raid as “intimidation in every sense of the word”, saying officers entered the home early in the morning and frightened his children and mother. Police revealed the reason for the arrest only after placing him in a police bus. The arrest concerned an outstanding financial payment connected to one of his previous cases. 

The Gulf Centre said Fateel had already been attempting to resolve the outstanding payment. Two days before his arrest, he reportedly spoke to officials about documenting the amount owed so that he could seek a settlement. He said officials advised him not to attend the police station and instead to approach the Public Prosecution and Sentence Enforcement Judge. 

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Authorities initially held Fateel at East Riffa Police Station before transferring him to Jau Prison on 20 August. At least three other former political prisoners were being detained over the same issue, including Ali Sanqoor. Rights groups have reported further arrests linked to outstanding financial penalties.

Fateel’s return to Jau Prison comes after years of international criticism of his prosecution and treatment by the Bahraini authorities.

Security forces first detained Fateel in May 2013. Between 2013 and 2016, courts convicted him in three cases and handed him sentences totalling 25 years and six months. GCHR claims that the cases were connected to his peaceful human rights work. Bahrain released Fateel on 8 April, 2024 under a royal pardon after he had spent more than 11 years behind bars. 

One of the convictions stemmed from protests inside Jau Prison in 2015. In 2016, a court convicted Fateel alongside 56 other defendants and ordered them collectively to pay approximately $1.35 million in compensation for alleged damage to the prison.

According to GCHR, authorities assigned Fateel an individual liability of approximately $23,700 and established a repayment arrangement of about $996 per month. Those unable to meet the payments can face imprisonment. 

Fateel’s previous imprisonment attracted scrutiny from UN experts. In 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that his deprivation of liberty was arbitrary because of violations of international fair-trial standards. It called for his immediate and unconditional release, compensation and an independent investigation into the circumstances of his detention and allegations that he had been tortured. 

UN experts have also previously raised concerns about Fateel’s treatment alongside other prominent Bahraini human rights defenders. In 2021, the UN special rapporteur on human rights called for Fateel, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Abduljalil Al-Singace to be released, warning about deteriorating health, solitary confinement and the denial of adequate medical care. 

GCHR has now called on Bahrain to release Fateel immediately and unconditionally, as well as other former prisoners who received pardons but have subsequently been detained because they cannot meet financial liabilities arising from their previous cases.

Fateel described the raid as “intimidation in every sense of the word”, saying officers entered the home early in the morning and frightened his children and mother. Police revealed the reason for the arrest only after placing him in a police bus. The arrest concerned an outstanding financial payment connected to one of his previous cases. 

The Gulf Centre said Fateel had already been attempting to resolve the outstanding payment. Two days before his arrest, he reportedly spoke to officials about documenting the amount owed so that he could seek a settlement. He said officials advised him not to attend the police station and instead to approach the Public Prosecution and Sentence Enforcement Judge. 

Authorities initially held Fateel at East Riffa Police Station before transferring him to Jau Prison on 20 August. At least three other former political prisoners were being detained over the same issue, including Ali Sanqoor. Rights groups have reported further arrests linked to outstanding financial penalties.

Fateel’s return to Jau Prison comes after years of international criticism of his prosecution and treatment by the Bahraini authorities.

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Security forces first detained Fateel in May 2013. Between 2013 and 2016, courts convicted him in three cases and handed him sentences totalling 25 years and six months. GCHR claims that the cases were connected to his peaceful human rights work. Bahrain released Fateel on 8 April, 2024 under a royal pardon after he had spent more than 11 years behind bars. 

One of the convictions stemmed from protests inside Jau Prison in 2015. In 2016, a court convicted Fateel alongside 56 other defendants and ordered them collectively to pay approximately $1.35 million in compensation for alleged damage to the prison.

According to GCHR, authorities assigned Fateel an individual liability of approximately $23,700 and established a repayment arrangement of about $996 per month. Those unable to meet the payments can face imprisonment. 

Fateel’s previous imprisonment attracted scrutiny from UN experts. In 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that his deprivation of liberty was arbitrary because of violations of international fair-trial standards. It called for his immediate and unconditional release, compensation and an independent investigation into the circumstances of his detention and allegations that he had been tortured. 

UN experts have also previously raised concerns about Fateel’s treatment alongside other prominent Bahraini human rights defenders. In 2021, the UN special rapporteur on human rights called for Fateel, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Abduljalil Al-Singace to be released, warning about deteriorating health, solitary confinement and the denial of adequate medical care. 

GCHR has now called on Bahrain to release Fateel immediately and unconditionally, as well as other former prisoners who received pardons but have subsequently been detained because they cannot meet financial liabilities arising from their previous cases.

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