DUBAI: Bahrain’s interior ministry found police used “excessive force” during efforts to stop Shia Muslims attend a prayer gathering earlier this month, it said yesterday.
On November 9, police fired tear gas and blocked roads to stop thousands of Shias joining prayers led by one of their spiritual leaders - an event which appeared to flout a ban on rallies imposed a few weeks before.
The interior ministry said its own investigation had found that a group of policemen had physically attacked one man, Hassan Mohammed Abdullah, who was trying to attend the meeting in Bani Jamra, a village west of Manama.
The ministry referred the case to the public prosecutor and the police officers will have a court hearing on November 21, it said.
“The Interior Ministry is committed to the proper treatment of all Bahraini citizens according to international human rights standards and best practices,” the statement said.
It gave no details on Abdullah’s injuries or how he was attacked.
The protests led by Shias last year were initially put down by the Sunni Muslim monarchy, with martial law and military help from its Gulf neighbours.
Reuters
