A New Ruler and The Repeal of The State Security Law
After the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa succeeded his father Sheikh Isa Bin Sulman Al Khalifa in 1999, the use of torture appeared to decline dramatically. Only isolated incidents were reported and conditions of detention improved. This was attributed to the introduction of some crucial reforms. In October 2001, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention visited Bahrain for the first time. Although it confirmed the condemnatory decisions and opinions it had previously made in relation to the state security laws with further investigations, it congratulated Bahrain on “the decisive scale and scope of the reforms that have been undertaken and the accompanying acts of clemency” following the repeal of the State Security laws and the release of political prisoners. It viewed the repeal of the state security laws as amounting to “a major political shift in favour of human rights”. It also noted that “Not all the instruments currently in force are flawed, the problem lies rather in their practical application”. Much depended on the willingness of the authorities to pursue the reform process and ensure that existing safeguards were effectively implemented in practice.
Read more about this topic: Torture In Bahrain
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