Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry delivers but what next?

Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry delivers but what next?

Chris Doyle

The image is compelling. The leader of an Arab state, in this case the King of Bahrain, listens as a distinguished judge outlines major criticisms of the regime’s behaviour and abuses of human rights, and then has to respond. I cannot recall an Arab ruler being in such a position, in the glare of the spotlight, having to stomach blow after blow. After all, can we image a British Prime Minister doing the same – would there not be some junior Minister dispatched to handle the bad press? The fact that the King did not shy away from this may be important in the months to come.

The first thing that strikes many observers about BICI is that it was far tougher than we had expected, not because the very serious human rights abuses had not occurred, but simply  so many were expecting political pressures to weaken the findings. There were damning conclusions about the behaviour of his security forces in February and March 2011 when 40 people were killed. All of this was in a report that extends to almost 500 pages. 

Why were so many cynical about the Commission’s work?

Firstly, the commission had been appointed by the King, even though the  line-up was as Amnesty International stated “impressive”.

Secondly, there was scepticism that it would be a full and thorough investigation. There were doubts that Bahraini citizens would feel safe about approaching the commission.

Thirdly, its head, Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni had made contradictory comments about torture. In August, he stated "It leads me to believe that on his part [the Minister of Interior] there was never a policy of excessive use of force or torture”.

Fourthly, there has been precious little history of Arab states commission human rights inquiries, publishing the results and having to comment on them, let along promising follow up.

The findings will be grim reading for the Bahrain royal family, who are not used to such criticism and the subsequent hammering they will receive in the media.  The King expressed dismay and made some encouraging comments including that "we do not want ever again to see civilians tried anywhere else but in ordinary courts." There has been a carefully nurtured image of Bahrain built up with the help of public relations companies and friendly states. To have a report determining that there had been widespread torture including 5 killed in detention, arrests without trial and other human rights abuses cannot be ignored. The report does have its shortcomings not least that it does not call for the release of prisoners. 

This is the key challenge. Presented with this report, the King must now make good on his word and implement BICI’s recommendations.   This includes holding security officials to account and setting up a body to look at reforms that include government and opposition. This will be crucial for national reconciliation and a chance to heal the wounds in this island state. 

There is also a geo-political element to the report. Contrary to everything we have been told both by the Bahraini government and indeed Saudi sources, no evidence was found of any Iranian involvement. This was the given rational for why GCC forces had been deployed to Bahrain.  On the other hand, imagine how much the authorities would have made of it, if the report had genuinely found evidence of Iranian involvement. The case therefore remains unproven. The regime continues to maintain that Iran was involved.

For the international community, this should also be sober reading as key players, not least the US and the UK, have not been vocal enough thus far in condemning abuses. In contrast to other countries, the UK has not been as critical and vocal. The US should wait until serious reforms are implemented and high-level accountability upheld until it even considers allowing an arms deal worth $53 million to go through. It is essential that the Bahrain authorities take the report and its findings seriously.   Until this happens and there is convincing evidence that the human rights abuses have ended and those responsible for them have been held to account it should not be a return to business as usual and there should no arms sales until the repression is over once and for all. The international community can also help constructively by offering advice on reconciliation and human rights training.

Bahrain is a fantastic country with a wonderful people, and one can only hope and work to end these abuses and heal the sectarian tensions.  That would the right and proper way to honour all those who lost their lives or were injured earlier in the year.