Mahdi Abu Dheeb, released from prison after five years, has spoken of the ill-treatment he received at the hands of the authorities.

Mr Abu Dheeb was repeatedly tortured during his time in captivity and spent months in solitary confinement in filthy cells with nowhere to sleep.

He was released from prison in April 2016 following a long campaign by NASUWT working together with Amnesty International and Education International.

But despite the brutal and inhuman treatment he was subjected to, he harnessed the power of education for himself and others to get him through his horrific ordeal.

Mahdi gave his first interview to International Solidarity upon his release, in which he spoke of his time in prison and some of the challenges faced by the BTA and the state of education in Bahrain.

He also thanked the NASUWT for its continuing support and encouraged the Union and others to continue to put pressure on the authorities in Bahrain to respect human rights and to free trade unionists and teachers and children who have been jailed for merely criticising the regime.

Despite the enormous pressure he is under as a trade union leader he said that he intends to “go on to the end”.  And he said immersing himself in books and teaching others helped him get through his time in prison.

Mahdi said of his imprisonment: “It was a period full of pain because of what we suffered – torture, ill-treatment, being insulted all the time because of our beliefs, our sect and our opinions.

“Most of my time was spent in dark, narrow dirty cells where many of us could not find a place to sleep. There was no real medical care and we suffered this and many other difficulties which left me in real pain.”

His long periods of isolation in solitary confinement did allow him to meditate and eventually he was allowed books sent in by family members, which meant he could help other prisoners as well as keep his mind occupied.

He said: “I started reading all the time, I read hundreds of books in different fields, working with the prisoners teaching them, trying to improve their practical and mental skills.

“I also worked all the time to improve myself physically but that was very hard because of my physical problems due to torture.”

Mahdi said trying to concentrate at all times on his physical, mental, spiritual and psychological health helped him get through his experiences – “That really helped me to survive,” he added.

And he spoke of the children locked up in prison, often alongside adults, who are being denied their right to education. No official figures are available but it is thought that at least 250 children are being held, though there could be as many as 500 incarcerated.

“I have met many of them, they are still there in prison being denied an education,” he said.

“When I was still with them in prison I tried to help them through teaching, supporting and encouraging them to continue their education.     

“We demand their release without any conditions and, without any delay and take them back direct to their desks, and classes to continue studying. “

Since his release Mahdi has been meeting society leaders and starting medical treatment which was denied to him in prison, taking a toll on his health. He has also been having discussions about the BTA and its role in the future.
He urged the NASUWT and other trade unions and politicians in the UK and abroad to continue putting pressure on the regime.

The NASUWT and teachers in the UK have done a lot in the last five years for me, my colleagues and the BTA, and we will continue needing these efforts even after achieving our fair goals.

“Of course we expect you to keep pressure on the government of Bahrain to return the teachers back to their jobs as one of their basic rights.”

Mahdi said the education system in the country needed reform and teachers were losing the jobs and were victims of sectarianism. He said many teachers were being replaced by foreign workers to “guarantee their loyalty”.

He added: “Education in Bahrain has been suffering from sectarianism for decades, particularly in the last sixteen years, and this became very clear to everybody since 2011.

“Education today needs huge reforms on a national basis, and need real great efforts from everybody, but before that we need honest intentions.”

As Mahdi begins to adjust to being out of prison for the first time in five years, he is aware that the authorities could detain him at any time.

Despite these threats he remains loyal to the BTA, his vice president Jalila al-Salaman who has campaigned tirelessly for his release, often at great risk to herself, and Bahrain’s teachers and the wider civil and human rights movement.

“It is a great honour for me to be a trade unionist and at the same time it’s a great responsibility, this keeps pressure on me, but despite this I intend to go on to the end.”   

Since our interview with Mahdi, International Solidarity has received reports of a further crackdown on democratic rights and additional restraints on civil liberties.

The NASUWT has written to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office setting out its concerns and the need for the UK Government to continue to put pressure on the Bahrain authorities.