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Supporters from opposition camps hold different mass protests in Bahrain

25 November 2011 20:25 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Bahrain on Friday witnessed two mass protests by different political groups that was attended by thousands of citizens, who took to the streets and slammed the government on different issues, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Pro-government group, The National Unity Assembly (NUA) held its rally in Riffa that was well attended by thousands of supporters, who slammed the report by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) and urged the government to pull up its socks to tackle corruption and not providing investigators evidence regarding Iran’s blatant interference in the months of unrest.

Bahrain’s largest opposition group, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society held at its rally in Budaiya, thousands of its supporters backed the group’s demand of resignation of the government following the BICI report findings.

"The commission report stated the protests in Bahrain resulted in sectarian attacks against Sunni community and migrant workers," said NUA chairman Dr Shaikh Abdullateef Al Mahmood.

He further told thousands of supporters that there is a difference in the Arabic and English version of the BICI report.

Dr Al Mahmood explained that this raised questions whether Arabic version is the original report adding that BICI investigators stated Iran had no role in the unrest.

"We hold the government and its bodies responsible for its failure to provide important security information to BICI team that Iran is involved in Bahrain’s unrest."

Dr Al Mahmood also rejected recommendations by BICI which government agencies were considering of roping in international experts to train law enforcement officers such as judges and policeman on human rights principles training.

"We reject any kind of foreign invitation to deal with our country’s issues. The government should instead work on maintaining state funds and properties to tackle corruption."

In the rally organized by Al Wefaq, its leaders called for the immediate resignation of the government and prosecution against officials who practiced torture against citizens, as stated in the BICI report.

A government task force has been set up to follow recommendations of the BICI report that met on Thursday to study the report as a matter of urgent priority.

Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammad bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the working group will meet again on Saturday and present its analysis and proposed action plan for consideration at the next regular weekly cabinet meeting.

The Bahraini government has already taken significant steps to address many of the issues covered in the independent commission’s report by instituting several important reforms.

These have included approving legislation to establish a new National Human Rights Institution in accordance with best international practices.

Amendments have also been made to Bahrain’s laws including changes to the country’s penal code, so that all forms of torture will be criminalized.

These amendments will be accompanied by stricter sentencing for those who commit torture, together with the lifting of the limitation period for claims of torture. The maximum sentence for torture will be set at life imprisonment.

In addition a Special Fund for Victims is established to ensure that those who suffered in any way from the violent events of February and March are rightly compensated.