Global Arab Network | Bahrain to step through a new democratic gateway

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Bahrain to step through a new democratic gateway

Global Arab Network - - Maha Karim

Tuesday, 22 November 2011 20:16

Global Arab Network - The bravery of a small nation facing its own demons, has the world enthralled, waiting to see if Bahrain’s leadership will step up to the mark, admit its failings and take dramatic measures for reforms passionately demanded by its citizens and agreed by the leadership. Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) is just one of the globally-recognized organizations which has praised the statement by Amnesty International, that Bahrain now has an opportunity to deliver justice for the victims of Human rights violations in the country.

Global Arab Network reports according to Mr Faisal Fulad, Secretary General of BHRWS saying “For the first time in its history, the Kingdom of Bahrain has the opportunity to step through a democratic gateway that will lead to the unity of its people, the affirmation of rights for all its citizens and a new era of prosperity and acceptability within the global community. This is not an easy gate to walk through, but a leadership that accepts responsibility for its failings, and takes immediate measures for restitution, can win the hearts of the people.”

On 23 November in Manama The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report’s findings will be made public, following months of investigation into alleged abuses during and after the protests in February and March, and Amnesty International has made it clear that this is a prime opportunity for real honesty, and admission of its mistakes from the monarchy.

The move to allow an independent report, established by a royal decree on 29 June, to be chaired by Cherif Bassiouni, a respected Egyptian law professor who is a UN war crimes expert, has been hailed as historic and has been welcomed by the international community, but it is widely believed that only when the report’s recommendations have been translated into action will retribution be recognized.

Those interviewed for the report included a large number of victims of human rights abuses, eyewitnesses, detainees, members of the security forces, political parties and government officials and wide-ranging allegations of abuse surfaced following the Bahraini authorities’ attempt to stop the democratic protests.

In the aftermath, it is believed that Bahraini security forces detained more than 500 and almost 2,000 employees of state-funded institutions were dismissed or suspended from work on suspicion of supporting the protests, with many yet to be reinstated.

The international community was outraged recently when dozens of professionals, including doctors, nurses and teachers, were brought before an unfair military court, and a later move to transfer their cases to civilian courts, was the result.

If a true democratic state is to be upheld, bringing to justice all those who carried out human rights violations and reinstating those who were dismissed from work must be undertaken as well as reforming the legislation that criminalizes public gatherings.

Amnesty International and other independent human rights organizations will be in Bahrain to attend the BICI report launch at the invitation of the Bahraini government.

Global Arab Network

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