Bahrain should immediately revoke an order dissolving the Bahrain Human Rights Society’s board of directors and assigning a government-appointed director to run the organization, Human Rights Watch said today. The Development and Social Affairs Ministry order, issued on September 8, 2010, was accompanied by a statement criticizing the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) for “only serving one segment of society,” suggesting that the group defends only the country’s Shi’a population. The ministerial order follows arrests of hundreds of Shi’a opposition leaders and activists and credible allegations that many have been subjected to torture in detention.
“Taking over the Bahrain Human Rights Society is one more sign that the government intends to silence any and all criticism of its abusive human rights practices,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The Bahraini authorities should immediately revoke its takeover order.”
