UN torture expert reiterates request to visit Bahrain

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - On Monday 10th, the UN’s Human Rights Council listened to experts on torture and the situation of human rights defenders in its 25thsession.The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Torture, Mr. Juan Mendez, reiterated his request that the Government suggest new dates for his visit after it refused two planned visits. This request is still pending. The Danish mission in Geneva expressed concern of the Rapporteur’s cancelled visit to Bahrain. Costa Rica appealed to all states that have pending visit requests from Special Procedures to allow their visit.Mr. Mendez stressed that States who practice torture and refuse to be part of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) will be pursued by international law.The Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders Margaret Sekaggya mentioned Bahrain among the States that violate rights of human rights defenders and adopt impunity to violators. She also said she was deeply disturbed by cases of reprisal against and use of courts to prosecute human rights defenders in some countries.Bahrain has been criticized by the Bassiouni report to have, and remains to, used the judiciary to attack and retaliate of the opposition. The report, which was accepted by the king in November 2011, also confirmed a “culture of impunity” that has protected killers and human rights violators./129