Bahrain ended issue of systematic torture
Bahrain, Politics, 9/29/2005

The Anti- Torture UN organization said that "there is no systematic torture in Bahrain" since it had started the implementation of reforms, but it called on it to deal with the remains of the past decades.

The organization is a coalition that includes non governmental organizations and takes Geneva as a headquarters,

The organization's director general Erick Sotas said in a press conference at the Bahraini foreign ministry after a three day visit that his organization "have been condemning for years the cases of tortures in Bahrain.. However, after the reforms, the issue of torture has been dealth with."

Sotas called on Bahrain which closed the file of torture of the past, and to recognize the rights of its victims in compensation and rehabilitation to justice saying "even if many of them were involved in terrorist acts .. they still have the right to justice."

Many Bahrainis demand the trial of those behind torture in the acts of riots took place in the country in the 1990s.

King Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa who assumed power in Bahrain in 1999 issued a decree three years ago ending chasing and prosecuting for acts which took place before February 2001, the date when his national reconciliation initiative was launched.

On top of the accused persons were the chairman of the national security agency Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ateyah al-Khaleifa who was removed from his post this week and was appointed a security advisor for the prime minister.

Previous Stories:
  Bahrain closes Islamic organization over harassing governmental figures   (7/5/2005)
  Manama: a demonstration against use of torture   (6/25/2005)
  Bahraini activist tried over insulting judiciary   (6/6/2005)
  Bahrain decides to teach democracy, human rights   (3/14/2005)

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