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A solitary inmate is on trial for allegedly attacking a prison guard during mealtime, escaping his cell, and later trying to rile up fellow prisoners by shouting ‘Allahu Akbar!’
The 37-year-old Bahraini man, who was serving a six-month jail sentence for drug-related offences, was charged with assaulting an on-duty policeman without causing long-term injury.
He was also charged with attempting to prevent three policemen from performing their duty and insulting them in public. He is now being tried before the High Criminal Court.
“I was on shift in the solitary confinement building in Jaw Prison,” the guard said. “I opened the defendant’s cell to give him his dinner, but he barged out of the cell.
“A colleague and I tried to get him back in but he refused. I ordered him to return to his cell, but he still refused.
“When I tried to handcuff him, he suddenly punched me in the chest and head. Other guards tried to control him, but he continued resisting, although they managed to return him to his solitary cell.
“While they were returning him, he chanted a takbeer very loudly, trying to provoke other inmates and create chaos.”
The Bahraini defendant had reportedly shouted ‘Allahu Akbar, victory be to Islam’, and made antisemitic statements.
When the guards tried to control him, the witness said, he cursed at them, calling them dogs and kafirs (infidels).
Takbeer (‘Allahu Akbar’ or ‘God is great’) is heard at the very beginning of the daily call to prayer (athan).
The man, who lived in Salman City, had admitted to the charges relating to the November 2025 incident, and added that he was moved to solitary confinement for violations that were not specified in his testimony.
He recounted that he was imprisoned in Jaw Prison for using drugs, and had been found guilty earlier that year.
“A guard opened the cell’s door to give me dinner, and I left the cell,” the 37-year-old said. “I wanted to smoke a cigarette, but he refused my request.
“He called five individuals and they tried to handcuff me, but I resisted. Then I had a nervous breakdown and was put back in the cell.”
Court documents show that the defendant had previously been a psychiatric patient, and people involved in the case suspected that he had not taken his medication when he allegedly committed the offences. Judges ordered a psychiatric evaluation of the man to determine whether he could be held responsible for his actions. The trial continues.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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