OMCT calls on the international community to urge Bahrain to put an end to the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations Geneva, 21 March 2011. The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) condemns the ongoing excessive and indiscriminate use of for

BAHRAIN: OMCT calls on the internationalcommunity to urge Bahrain to put an end to the violentrepression of peaceful demonstrations

Geneva, 21 March 2011. The World Organisation AgainstTorture (OMCT) condemns the ongoing excessive and indiscriminate use of forceand violence against the protests that have started on 14 February 2011 indifferent parts of the country, which led to the death of several persons andleaving many others injured, and the lack of medical attention to the woundedpersons.

According to the latest informationreceived, the situation in Bahrainhas escalated dramatically. On 13 March 2011, security forcesused batons, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters whoclosed down a highway on the same day as a response to the violent repression ofa protest by the riot police on 11 March 2011. Since 15 March 2011, there are reportedly attacks on several Shia villages by Bahrainisecurity forces using live ammunition. At least 16 persons have reported tohave died. Moreover, the security forces have taken over several hospitals,among others the Salmaniya Medical Complex, the country’s main hospital.Security forces are reportedly shooting at anyone who tries to enter theoccupied medical centres, and do not allow any ambulances out to attend woundedpersons. Moreover, several patients of the hospital are reportedly beingtransferred to an unknown place and their patient information hidden.

OMCT has also been informed about the arrest of severalactivists, notably the president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Mr. NabeelRajab, who was detained on 20 March 2011, and releasedthe same day. He reportedly suffered ill-treatment by the police.

OMCT is deeply concerned about theserecent events, including the introduction, on 15 March 2011, by the King of Bahrain of a three-month state of emergency and thedeployment of troops from Saudi Arabia after the request by Bahrainto the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). OMCT recalls to the Bahraini authoritiesthat they have to fulfil their obligations under international law to protectfundamental rights, such as the right to life and the right not to be subjectedto torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, at alltimes, even in a public emergency. Security and armed forces currently deployed in Bahrain are bound bythe same obligations.

The protests that have spread since14 February 2011 in Bahrain, spurred by the protests in Tunisia andEgypt, and which have been demanding respect for human rights and an end tocorruption, and economic inequality in the country, have been violentlyrepressed by the security forces (see OMCT Press release on 16 February 2011).

In light of the recent events, OMCT calls for anindependent international investigation into these events.

OMCT also calls on the Bahraini authorities to

• Immediatelyput an end to the repression of the peaceful protests and issue clearinstructions to the security forces to refrain from using excessive forceagainst the protesters in accordance with international standards, including the Basic Principles on the Useof Force and Firearms and the Code of Conduct for Law EnforcementOfficials;
• Guaranteefreedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression;
• Guaranteemedical attention to the injured persons;
• Immediatelyrelease all those who were detained while peacefully demonstratingand immediately cease torture and ill-treatment;
• Guarantee,in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of thearrested persons; the unconditional access to a lawyer of their choice andfamilies, as well as guarantee that they are promptly examined byindependent medical doctors and receive adequate medical care;
• Carry out prompt, effective,thorough, independent and impartial investigations into the security forces abuses and violence, in particular into thecircumstances surrounding the aforementioned deaths, the results of whichmust be made public, in order to bring those responsiblebefore a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and to apply penal,civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law; and provide the victims with adequatecompensation, reparation and rehabilitation;
• Ensure the respect of humanrights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance withnational laws and international human rights standards.

Contact: Eric Sottas, +41 22 809 49 39