VP/HR — New charges against Habib Ali Habib Mohamed Hasan Mubarak (Bahrain)

12.12.2018

Question for written answer E-006249-18
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Julie Ward (S&D)

Habib Ali Habib Mohamed Hasan Mubarak is a Bahraini citizen who was arrested without a warrant, forcibly disappeared, and subjected to torture in 2014. His wife and infant son were also arrested and imprisoned for over eight months on charges of illegal assembly and assaulting security officers. He was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of setting fire to a municipal building for terrorist purposes, in spite of having a strong alibi at the time of the alleged crime and submissions to the court by three of his co-defendants that they had been subjected to torture to coerce them into making confessions. He remains in Jau Prison, and has recently been informed that new terrorist charges may be brought against him.

1. Can the VP/HR clarify whether the EU Mission in Riyadh is familiar with his case, and whether this case will be raised at the highest levels of the Bahraini Government?

2. Given that Mr Mubarak was convicted in an unfair trial, can the VP/HR confirm whether concerns surrounding the judicial system will be raised at the highest levels of the Bahraini Government?