Imad Al-Araibi died a few months after his release from the Bahraini prison, following eight years of arbitrary arrest.
“Imad is the brother of Hakeem Al-Araibi (who lives in Australia). They were charged over the same case, Hakeem managed to escape, but Imad fell into the nets of torture. After eight years he was freed under alternative penalty law, and here he is passed away,” human rights activist Ibtisam Al-Saegh said.
Imad Al-Araibi was released in March 2020, but his family didn’t enjoy his presence among them as he died only a few months later.
During his imprisonment, the Bahraini authorities refrained from temporarily releasing Imad to attend and participate in the funeral procession of his mother, who was anxiously waiting for him before her death.
Political dissident Fadhel Abbas wrote: “May God rest his soul in peace.
Imad was a polite young man and cellmate in Jaw Prison. Imad gave rise to optimism to all those with him. He was compassionate towards the other prisoners, so he endured many punishments. I talked to him a few days ago, and I did not know they were his last days. May God rest his soul in peace. My condolences to the people of Al-Musallah.”
Former prisoner Dr. Saeed Al-Samaheeji mourned Al-Araibi saying: “He was with me in building 4 in Jaw Prison in 2014, he had good manners and was kind.”
Many political prisoners, who have suffered severe torture after their arrest and during their sentences, are sick. There are daily reports of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners in Jaw and Dry Dock prisons. Many prisoners suffer from health negligence despite being ill.
Last month, two human rights organizations called on the US administration and British government to intervene with the Manama government to stop holding political opponents as hostages.
These demands followed the death of political prisoner Hussein Barakat in Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex after his injury. Husain Abdulla, Executive Director at Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) commented, saying: “Following this tragic death, the Biden administration and the UK government must make it clear to their Bahraini allies that holding political opponents as hostages will no longer be tolerated.”
