Bahraini demand trial of persons who commit torture crimes
Bahrain, Politics, 5/28/2003

A human right Bahraini activist said that thousands of Bahraini people appealed the King, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, urging him to cancel a law forbiding suing persons involved in torture crimes and human rights violations.

The chairman of the national committee for martyrs and victims of torture Sayed Jafaar al-Alawi said that 33,000 Bahraini citizens signed this appeal which includes cases filed by at least 3500 persons alleged to have been exposed to torture while they were held in prison because of political activities during the 1980s and the 1990s.

In a press conference he held in Manama, al-Alawi added that the first request is to cancel law no. 56 for 2002 which forbids suing those responsible for torture.

Sheikh Hamad had issued this law following historical political reforms that covered amnesty for all political prisoners and activists outside the country and abrogating emergency laws.

The appeal, however, calls for forming a judicial committee including representatives from the human rights groups in Bahrain in order to investigate previous allegations of torture and deaths. The appeal also calls for paying compensations for all victims of torture.

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