Victims of torture continue to suffer from their abuse years after their mistreatment.
This statement was originally published on adhrb.org on 30 January 2023.
In Bahrain, much attention is paid to the victims of torture immediately after the event, but those same victims can sometimes be forgotten when new, equally horrible treatment against equally innocent people comes to light. This study attempts to rectify the issue, looking at the long-term effects of torture from victims that experienced their trauma up to a decade ago. Predictably, it finds that victims continue to suffer from their abuse years after the event occurred, oftentimes reporting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental illnesses caused by their torture. In this report, we interview several such victims, provide their testimony, and make recommendations about how the Government of Bahrain should provide them restitution and solve the issue of torture once and for all.
