19. In the framework of protecting the rights of expatriate workers, the NIHR observed news published
in social media about the collapse of a building rented by a number of expatriate workers in the
Salmaniya area, where a number of workers were injured, and some of the injured workers died.
Since the moment of the collapse, the NIHR followed up on the details of the incident through
visiting the injured and wounded workers in the Salmaniya Medical Complex by a delegation of
the Council of Commissioners headed by the Chairperson of the Institution to check on them and
their health status and make sure they have received proper medical treatment.
20. The NIHR commends the efforts of the ministries and the concerned bodies - each within their
competence - especially the Ministry of Interior, which secured the area of the accident, rescued,
and transported the injured to hospitals promptly. In addition, the Public Prosecution attended the
site of the accident, examined it, and assigned specialists in this regard. The owner of the building
was interrogated about the charges laid against him and the committed violations and ordered
he be held in custody for seven days pending the investigation. The investigations, hearing the
statements of the injured, and requesting the technical reports are being carried out in preparation
for referring the case to criminal trial. Moreover, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development
formed a working group comprising occupational safety inspectors and those concerned with social
welfare to follow up on the conditions of those harmed in the incident, and make the necessary
arrangements to provide them with temporary accommodation.
21. Regarding the role of the NIHR in carrying out announced and unannounced visits to monitor
human rights conditions, the NIHR conducted two announced visits to the Women’s Reform and
Rehabilitation Center after allegations were circulated on social media on the violation of human
rights of three female inmates out of (205) women inmates at the Women’s Reform and Rehabilitation
Center in Isa Town. These allegations reported that there were a number of restrictions on their
access to medical care, religious practice, and others related to maintaining contact with the outside
world or exposure to ill-treatment.
22. During the visits, the NIHR’s delegation examined the health files of the inmates, the telephone
calls and visits logs, and the disciplinary sanctions file. In addition, the delegation interviewed the
inmates privately and listened to their statements in order to verify the mentioned allegations; each
individually without the presence of the Center’s officials on duty.
23. The NIHR’s delegation found that the allegations made by the inmates of not being allowed to
practice religious rites were incorrect and contradicted the reality. This was evident from the video
surveillance recordings at the Center, which were shown to the delegation. As for the allegation that
some of the Center’s officials subjected one of the inmates to ill-treatment, the delegation watched
the video recordings on the treatment of the inmate by the officials of the Center. It was evident
that the treatment did not cross the limits of the legal use of force to ensure the safety of the inmate
from attempting to cause harm to herself or to others. With regard to the right to communicate
with the outside world, and through examining the relevant logs, it was found that all visits and
communications were carried out in accordance with the Executive Regulations of the Center,
52