Bahrain: Human Rights Report Accuses Bahrain of Torture

A Human Rights Watch report released yesterday says Bahrain has resumed using torture against its detainees since 2007. After about a decade of halting such methods, the report said “torture is back in the repertoire of Bahrain’s security services.”

The organization used 20 former detainees, court records and medical records in order to determine its findings. Joe Stork, HRW’s deputy Middle East director, said there was “credible evidence” that Bahrain’s security personnel had forced detainees to undergo electric shocks and beatings, painful positions, and threats of death and rape against their family members.

HRW said that torture is against Bahraini law and three different international treaties that the country has signed. “The government should promptly investigate all torture allegations and prosecute offenders according to international fair trial standards,” said the report.