Bahrain: In spite of the minor cosmetic reforms, systematic torture st
 

03-07-12 11:42 PM

Bahrain: In spite of the minor cosmetic reforms, systematic torture still exists
Security heads and senior officials must be brought to trial
http://alwefaq.net/index.php?show=ne...rticle&id=6639

On the issue of torture in Bahrain Al Wefaq National Islamic Society said, “Systematic torture in Bahrain is ongoing and it continues to be used to extract false confessions in prisons and detention centres. Inhumane force and brutal torture is used on political prisoners who are forced to sign testimonies

Stressing, “Torture in Bahrain is not just adopted by individuals or groups of officers from the security forces, rather it is an ongoing systematic practice as commanded by officials in power, although executed by lower level officials. These torturous acts have occurred inside the offices of investigation and detention centres that are under the control of senior officials in the security services. The regime has adopted the practice of systematic torture since a long time, bringing pro-democracy citizens to trial based on false confessions, taken under torture.”

Al Wefaq emphasized, “The bringing to trial of a number of low-level security individuals for torture is not consistent with the reality of the practice of torture in Bahrain. Instead high security heads and senior officials should be brought to trial and held responsible for these inhumane crimes. Individual officers are just the implementers of the order to torture.”

“The senior officials who are responsible for torture and other systematic crimes against pro-democracy citizens must not be able to escape from legal and judicial accountability. Impunity should not be granted to whomever violates human rights. The refusal to hold them to account will only serve to escalate the responsibility to a higher level and justice must be gained for those who are victims of systematic torture.”

Al Wefaq stated, “The authorities are not serious in their attempts to stop the ongoing systematic torture. The bringing to trial of low-level security personnel is an admittance of the practice of torture even though authorities try to deny it. Until today torture is being systematically practiced by security forces inside Bahraini prisons, in its detention centres and in other newly created sites dedicated to these torturous acts”.

“There are thousands of incidents reported in which citizens were subjected to torture and bestial violations by security forces. Four citizens were brutally killed inside a detention centre after they faced severe and unbearable torture sessions. Many other cases caused permanent disabilities and extreme injuries”, Al Wefaq said.

“There are an uncountable number of stories of torture and other human rights violations being practiced by Bahraini security forces. The continuity of such violations will escalate the accountability from a local level to an international level. The international community is called upon to take action to stop these ongoing violations. The United Nations must take the necessary stops to ensure the illegal practice of torture in Bahrain is ended immediately.”

Al wefaq pointed out, “Many countries believe and recognise the scale of human rights violations in Bahrain, and they are aware of the continuity of systematic torture. Consequently, they recommended bringing senior officials to trial, at the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review in Geneva in May.

Al Wefaq stated that any procedures of so-called reforms carried out by the regime are designed purely to mislead international opinion and escape from national and international demands to end torture, out-law extra-judicial killings and the misuse of authority. Procedures taken thus far are unclear and do not follow the recommendations of either the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry or UN member states at the Universal Periodic Review. The international community is aware of the failure of Bahrain to implement its recommendations and will judge Bahrain’s commitment to human rights accordingly.

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