A lie can get half way round the world before the truth can get its boots on. We heard that 11 year-old Ali Hassan had been “playing with his friends” when he was arrested, interrogated and locked up by Bahrain’s police; that he was put on trial on “spurious charges”.
Now that there has been time to properly look into the issue it turns out that Ali had been involved in blocking a crowded road, no less than three times over the course of an afternoon. He was questioned for a mere six hours before being released back to his mother. However, a social worker following up the case determined that he was an “at-risk” youth and for his own welfare spent time at a juvenile centre specializing in children from abusive or violent homes.
So why are the authorities putting him on trial? They are not. As a juvenile, he can’t be tried as such and the police involvement in his case ended after his brief initial questioning. We don’t know the personal circumstances of Ali Hasan, and out of respect for his privacy it would be wrong to speculate. However, he is clearly the victim of difficult personal circumstances, and Ali’s admission that he was paid to block roads is a tragic indication of how Bahrain’s children are being exploited by some quarters.
Chief of Public Security: Report Released On Arrest of Juvenile
MANAMA, June 18, 2012 -–- On 13 June 2012, the Chief of Public Security, Major-- General Tariq Al Hasan ordered an official investigation into the arrest, detention and treatment of Ali Hassan based on serious allegations against the police contained in local and international press reports.
The investigation found that Ali was arrested for blocking a crowded main road on three separate occasions in the course of one afternoon. When he was arrested he told police that he had been paid 3BD to commit the illegal acts. Ali was in police custody for a total of 6 hours before he was taken home by his mother who promised to bring him before a Juvenile Court Judge the next day. This effectively ended police control of Ali Hassan. At no time was he mistreated, beaten or abused in any way.
On 14 June 2012, a social worker from the juvenile section of the Public Prosecution interviewed Ali and his mother and looked into his academic standing. It was then determined that Ali was an at--risk youth.
Over the next four weeks, Ali was held under the jurisdiction of the Bahrain juvenile court system and was housed at the Juvenile Detention Center with 14 other at--risk youth. This is no different than the approach used in many other countries that have government facilities set up with the goal of helping children who may find themselves in confusing, abusive or violent situations at home or on the street.
The Bahrain Juvenile Detention Center is run by an all--female staff that includes 7 teachers and a social worker. The Center provides a structured environment where children receive special attention in areas such as academic tutoring, social services and health care. During his stay, Ali appeared before a Juvenile Judge every week to have his case reviewed.
There is no criminal trial in this instance. In Bahrain, just like in Western countries, there are no trials in the juvenile court. Rather, a judge makes a decision after hearing from the child, their lawyer, a social worker, and the prosecuting attorney. The judges decision is based on what is best for the child. The notion of punishment does not enter the equation.
The investigation into the case of Ali Hassan also found that there has been no intentional focus on the part of police on arresting children. Further it found that the allegations in the press that there are over 60 juveniles held at the Detention Center are false. In fact, the number of youth housed at the Center has remained stable at an average of 15 since the start of the year. Children typically stay at the center for a matter of weeks, with the longest stay, in the most serious of cases, sometimes extending to a full year. Under no circumstances will any youth at the Juvenile Center face 15 years in detention.
This report vindicates the actions of the police and the juvenile justice system, said Chief Tariq Al Hassan. However, it also points to the need for greater parental and community adult supervision in the lives of at--risk youth. What is deplorable is how some older people will take advantage of vulnerable youth for their own political purposes.