Pre-BICI Report Remarks

Today marks a transition in Bahrain, to the better or worse, as the Bahrain Independent Commission for Inquiry submits its report in a celebrated press conference. This could be a two-way path that could lead to reform if the government holds those accused of crimes reported in this report accountable or lets it slide by as a mere recommendation as has been the case with previous committees.

There has been a great interaction with both of the release of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report and the Shadow Report completed by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and the Bahrain Human Rights Society. However, I intend to study the BICI report more carefully as I read through the 501 pages so that I am not merely a critique but can also embrace the good things I have heard of being mentioned in it. Nonetheless, this was and is not my main concern with such a controversial human rights report in a country like Bahrain. My concerns reside in the mere fact that whether this report should be casted among the many camouflage moves by the Bahraini government, as witnessed several times in the history of Bahrain to revoke accusations and seize control once again. Or is it to be implemented through an independent committee consisting of all segments of the Bahraini society, since there is not much credibility to the current government with its background of oppression and abuse of power.

I cannot say that I am in favor or support of this committee, with the great respect to the time and efforts they put in pursuing justice, mainly because it was appointed by the king under great publicity to advocate for Bahrain’s image, specifically between its partners in the west. But I can say one thing, I will read this report in detail each day revealing my impressions of each part of it and noting any contradictions, general statements or misleading facts.

The BICI did its part of reporting and recommending to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, but it is first and most the responsibility of the king to secure the safety of those prosecuted, tortured, raped, abducted, terrorized, harassed and accused of crimes uncalled for under “national safety” clauses. 

~Salam