Brussels, 24/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton reiterated, on Thursday 24 November, her call for the government of Bahrain to ensure that civilians are tried by civilian courts. She again requested that “the cases of all individuals tried by the National Safety Courts, and in particular the medical staff, be subjected to a thorough review”. “If the evidence dictates, fresh trials should then take place in civilian courts, according to Bahraini legislation and international standards”, she said.
Catherine Ashton also took “positive note” of the publication, on 24 November, of the report by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) on human rights violations which occurred in the country at the beginning of February 2011. She called on “all sides” to do their utmost to implement the recommendations of the report, “in a timely and complete fashion”, saying that the EU is ready to assist the country in its work. “I sincerely hope that the BICI report will help Bahrain to open a new chapter in its history, driven by an inclusive process of national reconciliation, founded on peaceful and constructive dialogue”, she added.
The report underlines that the Bahrain authorities resorted to torture and excessive use of force during the crackdown on mainly Shiite demonstrators protesting against the ruling Sunni monarchy. (CG/transl.jl)