The report gives background to the situation, then identifies and documents all the types of violations that took place, with the aim of putting out recommendations to the Bahraini government, as well as the EU, US, UN OHCHR and the ICC.
(BCHR/IFEX) – Manama and London, 22 November 2011 – As Bahrain awaits the outcome of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report, Bahraini human rights groups, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), and the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS), have released their own report documenting the brutal crushing of the Arab Spring protests in Bahrain.
This report documents the violations in Bahrain since February 14, although it is crucial to note that due to lack of funding and manpower it was difficult to document all the cases that have occurred. This 87-page report gives background to the situation, then identifies and documents all the types of violations that took place, with the aim of putting out recommendations to the Bahraini government, as well as the EU, US, UN OHCHR and the ICC. These recommendations are crucial to start a process of reconciliation and to stop the ongoing violence, including loss of civilian lives, taking place.
This joint report represents a concerted effort on the part of every human rights organization operating in Bahrain, various opposition parties, and those citizens for whom this report gives a voice. The collection of personal testimonies, governmental orders and documentation, as well as video and hardcopy evidence, has been an ongoing project since before the February 2011 protests erupted. Nevertheless, while the work of this joint report is representative of an almost year-long research study, much more needs to be done, largely because the conflict continues to rage and violations of international human rights law are reported every day.
The evidence contained in this report is accurate considering the reliability of the sources used and the length of time spent in collecting and addressing various data. It is therefore the opinion of this joint report that the violations of international human rights law that are addressed herein are credible and sufficient in quality and quantity to illicit immediate action by the international community and the government of Bahrain. Prior to and after the February 2011 protests, the international media has produced several reports pertaining to these events. Moreover, videos and still pictures have been given to members of the Bahrain human rights community by various individuals fearful of coming forward to the Government supported BICI Report. This video and photographic evidence has been surmised in relation to their validity and proven credible.
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Click here to read the full report (updated 28 November 2011).
