Bahrain responds to the UN human rights high commissioner's statement

Bahrain's Permanent Representative to the Geneva-based UN Office and international organisations Dr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri today led the Kingdom's delegation to the 21st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which opened in Geneva. Dr. Bucheeri addressed the opening session, deeply regretting the comments made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the court verdicts, dismissing them as "totally unacceptable" as they lack tangible facts corroborating them and ignore the true situation. He stressed the need to acknowledge Bahrain's unflinching efforts to implement the recommendations featuring in the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), which was issued on November 23, 2011, adding that inaccurate and non-constructive criticism would only undermine the Kingdom's efforts. Dr. Bucheeri underscored the importance of respecting the independence of the judiciary and the court verdicts, pointing out that the accused were guaranteed fair trials in line with Bahrain's constitution, law provisions, international commitments and human rights covenants. He said that Bahrain takes torture claims seriously, citing the establishment of a special unit affiliated with the Public Prosecution to probe alleged cases of torture and inhuman treatment. The probe panel has to date probed 182 cases and referred 14 of them to the Criminal Courts for legal action. "Any confessions extracted under duress, physical or mental torture, humiliation or threats are legally void and null as stipulated in Bahrain's constitution", he said, stressing the right of the accused to challenge the verdicts before the Court of Cassation. Dr. Bucheeri affirmed Bahrain's pride in the independence and fairness of its judiciary, stressing the Kingdom's firm belief in the sovereignty of the law, the separation between powers and non-interference in court rulings.