Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): The Cassation Court issued the final verdict against Mohammad Ramadan and Hussain Moosa over charges of killing a policeman and other terrorism-related charges, even though both of the defendants stated that security men tortured and sexually assaulted them to extract confessions.

Bahraini human rights organizations and other organizations made efforts last week to defend these two prisoners and cooperated with MPs in Britain, as well as France and the European Parliament in order to reduce the verdict against Ramadan and Moosa.

Since 2011, the Bahraini authorities have executed five political prisoners due to their participation in the February 14 movement. The five martyrs are: Sami Mushaima, Abbas Al-Samea, Ali Al-Singace, Ahmad Al-Arab and Ahmad Al-Malali.

The execution of the five single men left their mothers, fathers and families in shock. However, this time is different, because prisoner Mohammad Ramadan has a wife and three children.

Mohammad Ramadan used to work as a policeman at the airport. He served as a Sergeant Major. He is 33 years old and has three children (Ahmad and the twins Hussein and Zeinab). He holds a bachelorette in history.

The lives of his children have totally changed since his arrest on February 21, 2014. They started appearing in videos expressing their sadness over the absence of their father and their desire for his release. They repeatedly appealed and demanded his release. People saw their innocent tears. These children are victims of the justice system failure in Bahrain.

Perhaps appeals for mercy would fall on deaf ears, but hope remains that the world's calls would fall on the ears of one of the regime officials. This will not only save the lives of Moosa and Ramadan, but also the hearts of these three children.

"Children with a parent facing the death penalty may feel invaded by anger and a deep sense of uncertainty. The process from trial to imprisonment, perhaps with multiple stages and appeals, is exhausting both for those convicted and their children. These children experience high levels of stress and anxiety as the execution is announced, delayed and appealed," Marta Santos Pai, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, says in a study she published in 2017.

"Traumatized and with low self-esteem, they suffer from constant nightmares or loss of sleep, and eating disorders; they lose concentration and interest in school, as well as the desire to engage in recreation or play. Some feel pressed to become economically active if the breadwinner of the family is in prison or has been executed."

The judges of the Court of Cassation should think before they destroy the lives of these young children. "The death penalty ends up having a lasting intergenerational impact," UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, stresses.

The death penalty was upheld by the Court of Cassation in November 2015. However, the Special Investigations Unit of the Public Prosecutor's Office, which conducted an investigation under pressure "found a medical report of a doctor at the Ministry of Interior, documenting the injuries in Moosa's wrists."

The report said the injuries raise doubts about his assault and ill-treatment, adding that there are complaints about a crime of torture committed with the intention of forcing them to confess to the crime over which they were accused.

After the Court of Cassation relied on this new evidence and overturned the death sentences in October 2018, an appeals court in January 2020 convicted them again and sentenced them to death. 

Arabic Version