 |
| The protests began in Bahrain on 14 February |
"Excessive
force" was used by security forces in Bahrain against pro-democracy
protesters earlier this year, the government has said.
At least 24
people died during Shia-led protests last February and March.
The
government was commenting ahead of the publication of a report into the
crackdown, commissioned by King Hamad.
Bahrain's
information affairs authority said 20 members of the security forces had been
charged over the alleged abuses.
It said the
inquiry found there had been "instances of excessive force and
mistreatment of detainees" during the crackdown.
The
statement from the government was welcomed by Mansoor al-Jamri, editor of
al-Wasat, the only independent newspaper in Bahrain.
"These
are small steps in the right direction," he told the BBC, adding that the
government needed to be seen to respond positively to the report. "It
wants to say to the outside world we have taken action."
But he
cautioned: "The system is still there and we can only encourage the
government to start the long march away from the despotic and repressive regime
that is still very much in place."
Medics
retrial
Unrest in
the tiny island state began on 14 February, led by the majority Shia Muslims
protesting about economic hardship, the lack of political freedom and
discrimination in jobs in favour of the governing Sunni Muslim majority.
A clampdown
began on 16 March, with a state of emergency imposed and the arrival of
hundreds of Saudi and UAE soldiers to beef up security.
Hospitals
were sealed off and medics were beaten as they tried to help the wounded in the
streets. The UN described the crackdown as "shocking and illegal".
King Hamad
lifted the state of emergency on 1 June, but hundreds of people have been
arrested since February and dozens have been handed lengthy jail terms, with at
least five people sentenced to death.
Last month,
Bahraini authorities ordered a retrial for 20 medics after they were given jail
sentences of up to 15 years, sparking an international outcry.
Related Article:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.