Amnesty: Bahrain still far from changes

The Bahraini government remains far from delivering the human rights changes that were recommended by an independent international commission, Amnesty International said on Monday. The humanitarian organisation warned that the government risked falling short of meeting its self-imposed deadline of the end of February to implement the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI)’s recommendations. The human rights watchdog said that BICI called on the government to release all prisoners convicted or held solely for leading or peaceful participation in protests and to bring all those responsible for the gross human rights violations committed during the last year to account. As Bahraini protesters prepare to mark the one year anniversary of the start of mass anti-government protests, BICI also warned that the government used excessive force against demonstrators, Amnesty reported. “Despite promises made by the government, victims and families of victims of the serious human rights violations –   torture, arbitrary detention and excessive use of force – that have taken place since protests began a year ago are still waiting for justice,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.   Amnesty International said that since the end of June 2011 the government has taken some limited positive steps, including the lifting of the state of emergency; the setting up of an independent commission of inquiry made up of five international experts; the release of some detainees; the transfer of all trials from military courts to civilian ones; and the reinstatement of hundreds of workers to their roles. Last November 23, BICI submitted its report to the King and made detailed practical and legislative recommendations. The report confirmed that gross human rights violations had been carried out. The King accepted the findings of the report and appointed a 19-person national commission, made up of mostly government supporters, to oversee the implementation process. But Bahrainis have complained that the process of implementation is very slow and has not addressed the most important issues.