Amnesty International slams violation of human rights by Bahraini regime

Amnesty International has criticized the Bahraini regime for continuing the violation of human rights and the excessive use of force against anti-regime protesters.

In a new report released on Tuesday, Amnesty International said Manama has failed to provide justice for the victims of human rights violations and produced inadequate response to the findings of an international commission of inquiry.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry issued a report on November 23, 2011, saying that the Manama regime had used ”excessive force, including the extraction of forced confessions against detainees.”

“The authorities are trying to portray the country as being on the road to reform, but we continue to receive reports of torture and use of unnecessary and excessive force against protests. Their reforms have only scratched the surface,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa deputy director.

The investigations of the rights organizations proved that the regime failed to bring to trial those security forces responsible for the violations against protesters.

“With the world’s eyes on Bahrain as it prepares to host the Grand Prix, no one should be under any illusions that the country’s human rights crisis is over,” said Sahraoui.

The report further called on the Al Khalifa regime to hold accountable those senior members of the security forces accused of torture and violence, and to release political prisoners and address the “underlying discrimination against the Shia majority population.”

Anti-regime demonstrators hold US-backed King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa responsible for the death of protesters during the popular uprising that erupted in February 2011.

The Bahraini protesters maintain that they will hold their ground until their demands for freedom, constitutional monarchy as well as a proportional voice in the government are met.