Bahrain Regime spins rosey tale of compassionate, responsible regime for complicit State Department Stooges

Bahrain hits back at child detention claims on ‘CNN’
4 September, 2012 – Gulf News

BAHRAIN has hit back at claims made in a CNN interview that an 11-year-old alleged tyre burner was detained in prison, branding the allegations as baseless.

The Information Affairs Authority (IAA) yesterday issued a statement in which it said the boy, Ali Hassan, had actually been held at the Bahrain Juvenile Care Centre from May 14 to June 11.

It was responding to comments by opposition activist Lamees Dhaif in an article that appeared on CNN’s website on August 15.

“We reiterate that he was not in jail and was not detained for months; nor was he charged with participating in an illegal gathering,” the IAA said.

“Hassan participated in burning tyres in a roadblock and after several warnings to clear the street he was held in the Bahrain Juvenile Care Centre from May 14 to June 11.”

The IAA said the child had received “academic tutoring, social services and healthcare from a centre that is acknowledged by many, including international experts, for its high standard of care and state-of-the-art facilities”.

“Contrary to (Ms) Dhaif’s claim, this case was not an attempt to send a warning to protesters,” it added.

“Unfortunately juvenile delinquency is common around the world and it is Bahrain’s obligation to not only maintain the well-being of the boy, but that of the community as well.”

The IAA said that Bahrain’s government was “firmly committed” to punishing all human rights violators and did not resort to arbitrary arrests as claimed, highlighting that one Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) recommendation was to oblige police officers to show warrants upon arrest and grant suspects access to a lawyer.

It also defended the impartiality of the judiciary.

“It should also be noted that the National Security Agency’s mandate to gather intelligence has been restricted and they are no longer authorised to arrest or detain individuals on their own authority,” it added.

“Despite (Ms) Dhaif’s false allegation, the judiciary system is an independent body that holds those who break the law to account, whether they are vandals or members of security forces.”

Prosecution

The IAA pointed to the prosecution of 15 policemen following an investigation by the Public Prosecution.

“Bahrain is firmly committed to punish all human rights violators and provide citizens the opportunity to express themselves freely,” it said.

It revealed the government had permitted 88 rallies and gatherings since the beginning of the year, at which participants had been able to express their views.

“It is also important to highlight that Bahrain currently has 20 political groups, including opposition groups such as Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, who vividly voice their complaints and concerns,” it said.

“So to claim that Bahrain is intentionally targeting activists is outrageous when the government has facilitated the platform to voice their concerns.”

The IAA also defended Bahrain’s close ties to the UK and US.

“The US provided security assistance to protect the country from foreign threats and not for crowd control as (Ms) Dhaif suggests,” it said.

It also pledged that reforms initiated by His Majesty King Hamad in 2001 would continue and “will not be hijacked by any special interest group from the opposition, especially one that does not represent the vast majority in Bahrain and protect the rights of all”.
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