In the immediate aftermath of the December riots (reftels), the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and the Al-Haq movement publicly accused the authorities of torturing some of those detained in connection with the unrest. The abuse allegedly included sleep deprivation and electric shock. The GOB has adamantly denied those allegations, pointing to medical tests conducted by a forensic doctor who publicly reported finding no evidence the detainees had suffered, since their detention, the mistreatment alleged. Human Rights Watch reported that one detainee told his family that he had been assaulted sexually, and on January 22 HRW called for an independent investigation into the allegations. On January 24, the GOB announced that it would permit the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS), a local human rights NGO, to interview the detainees.
3.(SBU) Poloff met with XXXXXXXXXXXX(please protect) on January 24. XXXXXXXXXXXX confirmed that the GOB agreed to give XXXXXXXXXXXX private access to the detainees. He said he had also hoped to bring doctors, lawyers, and a psychiatrist along for the visits, but that the Public Prosecutor's office had balked. Instead, XXXXXXXXXXXX will be permitted to interview the detainees with no guards or other security officials present. XXXXXXXXXXXX will bring five trained social workers to interview the detainees. They will meet with four of the fifteen detainees over three sessions. They will meet with the first two detainees on January 27, one on January 31, and one on February 3. XXXXXXXXXXXX will visit the detainees at the Hamad Town prison, and plans to release its findings to the media.
4.(C) Comment: The Bahraini authorities recognize they need to deal with the torture allegations in a more transparent fashion. The arrangement with XXXXXXXXXXXX shows that the GOB is sensitive to criticism from international human rights watchdogs.
In response to the violent suppression of protests by security forces in Bahrain, HRW has called for "King Hamad, as commander of the Bahraini Defence Forces (BDF)" to "immediately order an end to attacks on peaceful protesters." It has said the United States, the United Kingdom, and other international donors should immediately suspend military assistance to Bahrain."
UNHRC chairman Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi praised the government of Bahrain in October 2010 for making strides in human rights. The chairman "hailed the Government's efforts to overcome all challenges facing human rights, human habitat, justice, Education and the economy, including the civic and political inalienable rights. The UN officials also lauded the viability and buoyancy of Bahrain civil society and the strength of democracy in the Kingdom."
The Bahrain government, as protesters continue to be brutalized, has not addressed condemnations or criticisms issued by human rights organizations.
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