Foreign Nationals
Research suggests that Bahrain's use of the
death penalty shows foreign nationals are
discriminated against, particularly those
from Bangladesh (Rajab, 2010, among
others).
A report published by Reprieve & BIRD
(2021) states that of the foreign nationals
sentenced to death between 2011 and
2020, approximately 62% were
Bangladeshi.
The recent BIRD study further highlights
that among those prisoners facing imminent
execution on Bahrain's death row, almost
30% (8 out of 26) were Bangladeshi nationals
and the only foreign national executed in the
decade between 2011 and 2021 was from
Bangladesh.
Jau Prison in Bahrain, where some death row prisoners are
held.
Furthermore, unlike Bahraini nationals as well
as some individuals from the Philippines, no
Bangladeshi nationals on Bahrain’s death row
have received a pardon or commutation.
Further research by the Death Penalty
Research Unit, University of Oxford found
that from 2016-2021 foreign nationals
constituted 85% of the death sentences for
homicide offences, although they made up
only 55% of the population (Harry et al,
2023).
Acknowledgements
With special thanks to the following organisations and individuals who lent their considerable assistance and expertise
towards this research in Bahrain: Reprieve, Pramod Acharya, Luise Eder, among others.
Death Penalty Research Unit, University of Oxford
For more research see:
foreign-nationals.uwazi.io or tinyurl.com/mappingdeathrow