International Community Reacts to Bahrain Report

Today, the international community reacted to the much-anticipated release of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report on potential human rights violations during the February-March protests.

Secretary Hillary Clinton said in a statement: “We are deeply concerned about the abuses identified in the report, and urge the Government and all elements of Bahraini society to address them in a prompt and systematic manner. The Government of Bahrain has committed to establish a follow-on committee to implement the report’s recommendations, and we urge full and expeditious implementation of these recommendations.”  Clinton called the report a “a historic opportunity for all Bahrainis to participate in a healing process that will address long-standing grievances and move the nation onto a path of genuine, sustained reform.”

A joint statement released by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) expressed hope “that the King and his government will immediately accept the BICI’s recommendations.  We also hope that the regime makes more general changes to give all the people of Bahrain an equal voice in government.” The statement also noted, “The people of Bahrain are unlikely to stop pushing for freedom, equal opportunity, and representative government.  This may require a gradual transition, but that transition must begin or the country of Bahrain, and potentially the entire region, could continue to be rocked by instability.”

Amensty International also released a statement urging “Bahrain’s government to usher in much needed human rights reforms after a comprehensive independent report by international experts criticized the use of torture and “excessive force” during protests earlier this year.” Amnesty International’s acting Middle East and North Africa Director Philip Luther stated, “The pattern of abuse documented by the BICI – including mass arrests of peaceful demonstrators, widespread torture in detention and dozens of flawed military trials of activists and professionals – must be relegated to the past and Bahraini authorities must fully establish the rule of law and deliver justice to the victims.”

Hours before the release of the report, “police in Bahrain have clashed with protesters, firing teargas and raiding a makeshift clinic [...] in A’Ali, about 30km south of the capital Manama, after officers allegedly ran a driver off the road.”

The U.S. Government has delayed a $53 million weapons sale to Bahrain “pending the outcome of the investigation, which was set up by King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa to probe the crackdown on mainly Shiite protesters.” Both Wyden and McGovern in their joint release reaffirmed “their opposition to the sale of arms to the Kingdom of Bahrain until sustaining human rights improvements are made.”