On 26 september, ADHRB has delivered an oral intervention at the United Nation Human Rights Council session 48 under item 4 about the culture of impunity in Bahrain.
One of the main challenges to any human rights reforms in Bahrain is the deep rooted culture of impunity in the country. Where Bahraini security officials who have allegedly engaged in the heinous crimes of torture. The official who makes the top of the list is the son of the King Nasser bin Hamad Alkhalifa. Instead of holding Nasser accountable and ordering an independent investigation the King of Bahrain Hamad Alkhalifa promoted him in a clear sign of nepotism and what Bahraini activists been calling the spread of culture of impunity in the country.
What encourages governments like Bahrain to strengthen this danger culture of impunity is the support it’s get from their two biggest allies the United Kingdom and the United States. Both countries receive Nasser bin Hamad with an open diplomatic arms in complete disregard to serious concerns raised by Bahraini activists about his alleged role in torturing Bahraini activists. Such impunity will encourage further human rights crimes in Bahrain.
One of the main government bodies responsible for human rights violations in Bahrain is the Ministry of Interior which is led by Rashid bin Abdulla Alkhalifa. For over 10 years this ministry has been engaged in serious human rights violations in Bahrain. However, no investigation took place against Rashid Alkhalifa despite his clear responsibility of being a minister of this notorious ministry in the country.
Nasser and Rashid Alkhalifa are just two of long list of Bahraini officials who enjoys the ongoing systematic culture of impunity in the country. Such policy which is created locally by the Bahraini King and supported by the Bahrain’s two biggest allies United States and United Kingdom.
