Bahrain Football Palyers Tortured
Bahraini soccer palyers, including stars of the national team, were tortured while in custody during anti-government protesters this year.
The testimony given to the famous "Times" newspaper directly contradicts assurances given to FIFA, by the Bahrain Football Association that no players had been suspended or mistreated.
"Friends and relatives said a number of players were subjected to beatings in prison after they were arrested for taking part in a demonstration against the ruling al-Khalifa family in March," "Times" reported.
Other sportsmen have told of long interrogations and ritual humiliation in jail. The victims included Alaa Hubail, a striker, his brother Mohammed and goalkeeper Ali Saeed, all members of the Bahraini football squad.
The soccer stars were too afraid to speak about their treatment and would say only that they did not know whether they would be allowed to play football again. The Hubail brothers had had their heads shaved. Mohammed had bruises on his feet.
Friends and relatives said the men had been threatened with further abuse if they spoke out, but gave details of what they knew of the men's treatment in jail.
"The first two weeks after they were arrested were the worst. They were beaten all the time. They still have marks on their bodies," said one close relative, who did not want to be named.
"But the men who were beating them were not Bahraini. They didn't care who they were," said a friend of the players. "
These men are loved by the people, Sunni and Shia. You are British: imagine David Beckham gets arrested and tortured. It's unthinkable."
With martial law in place from March to last month, the Bahrain Football Association was sidelined.
Last month, Mohammed Hubail was sentenced to two years in jail by a military court set up to try those involved in the unrest.
The jail sentence prompted FIFA to request details of Hubail's detention, to establish whether the government had breached international rules separating politics and sport.
FIFA this week said it had been assured by BFA that no players had been disciplined during the unrest. "We contacted the BFA and they confirmed that no player has been suspended or sanctioned in any way," a FIFA spokesman said.
The authorities released the Hubail brothers and Saeed on bail last week. Government officials insisted that the sportsmen were charged with criminal acts.
Comments
- Related News
France’s Hollande in Qatar for Warplane Deal
10 years ago
Iraq Police Dismantles Al-Qaeda Protest Site
11 years ago