(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Bahraini king vows to change the country's laws and make them more compatible with international standards following the release of the report on the government crackdown on protesters.
Admitting to the use of force against anti-regime protesters, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Wednesday vowed to introduce reforms that would "satisfy" all parties in the country.
"We will introduce and implement reforms that would please all segments of our society," the king said after the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) said that Bahraini security forces had used "excessive force" to suppress the popular uprising in the country, physically and mentally tortured detainees and violated their human rights.
The monarch also vowed to do everything possible to prevent repetition of "those painful events'', adding that officials involved in abuse during a crackdown on anti-government protests would be held accountable and replaced.
Cherif Bassiouni, head of BICI set up by the Bahraini government in June to investigate reports of human rights violations committed by regime forces during the crackdown on anti-regime protesters, presented the summary of the 500-page report at King Hamad's palace in Manama on Wednesday.
The commission has urged the Bahraini government to revise verdicts handed to anti-government protesters in military courts and set up a compensation fund for the victims of the crackdown.
The panel also criticized the government for destroying at least 30 places of worship and dismissing more than 2,000 public sector workers during the crackdown.
Thousands of anti-government protesters have been staging demonstrations in Bahrain since mid-February, demanding political reforms and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family.
International organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the UN human rights agency, have repeatedly accused Manama of violating citizens' rights, citing reports of torture, unfair trials, excessive use of force and violent repression.
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Admitting to the use of force against anti-regime protesters, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Wednesday vowed to introduce reforms that would "satisfy" all parties in the country.
"We will introduce and implement reforms that would please all segments of our society," the king said after the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) said that Bahraini security forces had used "excessive force" to suppress the popular uprising in the country, physically and mentally tortured detainees and violated their human rights.
The monarch also vowed to do everything possible to prevent repetition of "those painful events'', adding that officials involved in abuse during a crackdown on anti-government protests would be held accountable and replaced.
Cherif Bassiouni, head of BICI set up by the Bahraini government in June to investigate reports of human rights violations committed by regime forces during the crackdown on anti-regime protesters, presented the summary of the 500-page report at King Hamad's palace in Manama on Wednesday.
The commission has urged the Bahraini government to revise verdicts handed to anti-government protesters in military courts and set up a compensation fund for the victims of the crackdown.
The panel also criticized the government for destroying at least 30 places of worship and dismissing more than 2,000 public sector workers during the crackdown.
Thousands of anti-government protesters have been staging demonstrations in Bahrain since mid-February, demanding political reforms and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family.
International organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the UN human rights agency, have repeatedly accused Manama of violating citizens' rights, citing reports of torture, unfair trials, excessive use of force and violent repression.
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