US envoy: Bahrain detainees need rights protection

US envoy: Bahrain detainees need rights protection

By REEM KHALIFA and BRIAN MURPHY
Associated Press

MANAMA, Bahrain — American officials are concerned about claims of abuses against detainees following Bahrain’s crackdowns on Shiite-led protesters demanding sweeping reforms in the kingdom, a top U.S. rights envoy said Wednesday.

The State Department official, Michael Posner, also expressed hopes for proposed talks next month between Bahrain’s Sunni rulers and opposition groups.

At least 31 people have died since the unrest began in February – inspired by uprisings elsewhere in the region – yet Washington has made no moves to punish Bahrain’s monarchy.

Bahrain’s rulers have waged a harsh campaign to crush dissent but also play host to the highly strategic U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet.

“The challenge now is how to initiate dialogue with representatives of all sides and to ensure that this dialogue will address and resolves divisive issues,” said Posner, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.

Bahraini authorities detained three women activists who staged a sit-in Wednesday at a U.N. office in the capital Manama to call for the release of family members held in custody, according to the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights.

Bahrain and its Gulf Arab allies are deeply concerned over expanding influence by Shiite power Iran and view any gains by Bahrain’s Shiite citizens as a possible new foothold for Tehran.

This leaves Washington caught between backing its traditional Gulf partners – led by Saudi Arabia – and expressing support for the greater political openness and rights pushed by the demonstrators in Bahrain.

Shiites comprise about 70 percent of Bahrain’s population, but claim they face systematic discrimination such as being blackballed from top government or military posts. …more