AI Slams Bahraini Authorities, Demands End to Opposition Members Arrests

Local Editor

"The Bahraini authorities must stop detaining anyone who opposes them and release protesters who have been locked up for peacefully demanding reform," AFP quoted Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Philip Luther, as saying Wednesday.

The Bahraini rulers should bring to an end their campaign of terror through arrests and extension of the emergency rule to curb the ongoing protests, he said.

The parliament on Tuesday voted to extend the state of emergency for three more months, which was due to expire on June 15.

"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," it said.

It added that Bahrain has used the "emergency law" to arrest protesters without any judicial warrant and "detain incommunicado protesters and political activists" and has also tried civilians in military courts, which is against the law.

Human rights organizations have strongly criticized Saudi-backed Bahrain forces for its heavy-handed crackdown on peaceful protesters.

Scores of protesters, including children, have been killed and many others gone missing. Regime forces have also raided dozens of mosques, schools, sacred sites and even graves in persisting efforts to suppress all opposition.