Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
except the seven political opposition societies which placed
preconditions and obstacles before this sincere initiative.
e. Groups that do not recognise the legitimate political system in
the Kingdom of Bahrain began to cause chaos and terrorise
innocent civilians by blocking roads, assaulting passers-by,
attacking students in schools and universities, setting up
checkpoints and bearing weapons and using them against
people and security personnel.
f. This situation led to the declaration of a State of National
Safety in order to restore order in Bahrain. In addition, the
GCC-JSF was invited to protect vital locations in Bahrain and
to fulfil its role according to GCC joint defence treaties.
These units are not involved in any internal security
operations.
g. The statements issued by Iranian officials are a flagrant
intervention in the internal affairs of Bahrain. Iran is invited
to revisit its policy towards Bahrain, in particular as it relates
to Iranian calls on international organisations to intervene in
Bahrain.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
572. Levels of general violence decreased in Bahrain. There were fewer
reports of clashes between protesters and police and fewer reported incidents
of violence and vandalism compared with previous days.
573. Police continued to operate checkpoints on many roads in Bahrain,
where drivers were stopped, searched and arrested if they were found to be
carrying any anti-government material. The practice of seizing and examining
mobile phones and arresting persons who were found to have anti-government
SMS messages or videos recorded on their phones continued.
574. Patterns of mistreatment of arrested persons continued, especially at
police stations. Large numbers of people were arrested for participating in
demonstrations in the various cities and villages of Bahrain. Individuals
continued to be blindfolded and handcuffed behind their backs upon arrest,
after which they were transported to police stations where they were subjected
to various forms of mistreatment, including beatings, kicking, lashing with
rubber hoses and verbal insults. 264
575. Riot police continued to be deployed in many neighbourhoods of
Bahrain to ensure that no further demonstrations were organised. In some
cases, clashes occurred between these units and persons who either tried to
organise protests or tried to attack police patrols.
576. Some of the neighbourhoods in which confrontations with police took
place included Al-Khamis, Issa Town, Hamad Town, Sitra, Sanabis, Jidhafs
and Karbabad.
264 See Chapter VI, Section D.
152