King Hamad of Bahrain welcomes report accusing kingdom of torture

 

Tyres burning in Bani Jamrah, north of Manama, on Wednesday. Unrest has erupted as a report on protests in March is published. Photograph: Mazen Mahdi/EPA

Bahrain's western-backed security forces used "excessive force" and torture during the crackdown on the Pearl revolution this year, according to a critical official report [PDF]published as new protests erupted in the Gulf state.

King Hamad Al Khalifa welcomed the report by the Bahrain independent commission of inquiry and pledged reforms and an end to impunity. But he ignored its finding that Iran was not involved in the unrest and blamed Tehran's "propaganda" for fuelling sectarian strife.

Protesters took to the streets of Shia villages around the capital, Manama, some dismissing the report as a "conspiracy". Bahrain's western allies and human rights organisations urged the government to implement its recommendations. The US said that it would link future arms sales to human rights observance.

The 500-page document, published on Wednesday, detailed the use by Bahrain's information ministry and the national security agency of "a systematic practice of physical and psychological mistreatment, which in many cases amounted to torture". The Bahraini government pledged that there would be no immunity for crimes. "All those who have broken the law or ignored lawful orders and instructions will be held accountable," it said.

But Sheikh Ali Salman, leader of al-Wefaq, the main Shia political group, said: "We cannot say Bahrain is turning over a new leaf yet... because the government that carried out all those abuses is definitely not fit to be given the responsibility of implementing recommendations."

Al-Wefaq welcomed the finding that Iran was not involved in Bahrain's revolution.

Tension mounted in the hours before publication, and police fired teargas to disperse protesters, with one man killed.

Political skirmishing had been going on for weeks, with the inquiry criticised in advance as a "whitewash" by pro-democracy forces and hailed as a triumph of openness by the western-backed monarchy, which hosts the US Fifth Fleet.

The inquiry was appointed by King Hamad but headed by the US-Egyptian Cherif Bassiouni, a respected international lawyer. It was asked to investigate whether the events of February and March "involved violations of international human rights law and norms".

Bassiouni said 35 people were killed, including five security personnel. On Tuesday a coalition of Bahraini human rights groups claimed 45 people died.

The government tried to shift the blame on to individual officers. "Regrettably the report confirms that there have been instances of excessive force and mistreatment of detainees, as well as five deaths as a result of torture," it said, adding: "The report does not confirm that there was a government policy of torture, mistreatment or using excessive force."

It billed the commission as part of attempts to promote reconciliation by reform and dialogue, with the help of expensive foreign PR advisers. It said after publication: "It is our will and sincere hope that we are now moving into a period of renaissance and progress which will improve the lives of all citizens of the Kingdom of Bahrain."

But Alaa Shehabi, whose husband, Ghazi Farhan, is one of 500 people detained since February, said: "If the government thinks a fancy party and a glossy report will end the uprising, they are sadly mistaken. The struggle for democracy will continue."

Bahrain's place in the Arab spring is rooted in its political and economic circumstances – a minority Sunni dynasty ruling over a restive Shia majority in a tiny country at the heart of a volatile region dominated by Saudi Arabia and Iran. Initially peaceful protests were inspired by the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia but triggered a violent backlash.

Pro-reform demonstrations at Pearl roundabout were followed by marches that paralysed Manama's financial district.The drama peaked in March when Saudi forces moved in. The report found no evidence of human rights abuses by them.

But it did criticise the government for demolishing illegally built Shia mosques in a way that was seen as "collective punishment" and encouraging the sacking of Shia employees who joined protests. But the "vast majority" had since been resinstated, it said.

Shia demanding equal rights are portrayed by Sunnis as fanatics backed by Iran. The communities are polarised and their narratives, like in Northern Ireland and Israel/Palestine, hard to reconcile.

The political implications could be significant. The US had delayed a $53m arms sale to Bahrain until the publication of the report, which Washington welcomed."The world will be watching to ensure that it acts decisively in the coming days and weeks to address the serious abuses identified," said William Hague, Britain's foreign secretary. "This will be crucial to Bahrain's future stability.

Amnesty International said:"We hope Bahrain's government will view this landmark report as a turning point in how it responds to human rights violations, and will use its recommendations to lay the foundations for far-reaching reform.