Bahrain renews emergency law as repression persists

Bahrain renews emergency law as repression persists
4 May 2011
AI Index: PRE01/235/2011

The Bahraini government must end its relentless crackdown on human rights, Amnesty International said today after the country’s parliament voted to extend a repressive state of emergency amid continued arrests of dissidents. “The Bahraini authorities must stop detaining anyone who opposes them and release protesters who have been locked up for peacefully demanding reform,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“Even since the protests on the streets were violently crushed in mid-March the government’s persecution of dissidents has not abated, while the renewal of the so-called ‘State of National Safety’ will only exacerbate this human rights crisis.” Bahraini media reported that members of parliament yesterday voted overwhelmingly to extend the “State of National Safety” for another three months, even though it is not due to expire for another six weeks.

Emergency law had been used to arrest without judicial warrant and detain incommunicado protesters and political activists, as well as to try civilians before military courts. …more