Section 5 NIHR efforts in verifying that a number of convicts in the case known as (1/Terrorism/2017) were subjected to allegations of torture and enforced disappearance crimes 1. NIHR efforts to ensure fair trial guarantees 1.1 Pursuant to the broad mandate granted by Law No. (26) of 2014 Establishing the National Human Rights Institution, as amended by Decree Law No. 20 of 2016, for promotion, development, protection, awareness, and ensuring the exercise of human rights, particularly by conducting announced and unannounced field visits in order to monitor the situation of human rights and to attend court hearings to ensure fair trial guarantees, NIHR, since the case known as (1/Terrorism /2017) was referred to the Military Justice in 23 October 2017 until the issuance of the judgment in the 25 December 2017 session, over 8 hearings, were keen to attend and be present in all these hearings to monitor the proceedings of trial and ensure that they conform to national, regional and international standards related to fair trial. In addition, NIHR attended also the hearings of the Supreme Military Court of Appeal, which amounted to five (5) hearings, until the issuance of the judgment on 21 February 2018. 1.2 In continuation of this concern, and in order to reassure the public about the proceedings in the present case, NIHR is keen to release public opinion statements on all court hearings it has attended and make any observations regarding fair trial guarantees. 1.3 NIHR considers that the referral of the case to the Military Justice of Bahrain Defence Force is consistent with the fact that it is a competent and independent court established by Decree 27