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| Bahrain unrest report expected to criticise government | Bahrain unrest report expected to criticise government |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An independent commission in Bahrain is due to deliver a report on the violent suppression of anti-government protests earlier this year. | An independent commission in Bahrain is due to deliver a report on the violent suppression of anti-government protests earlier this year. |
| The commission, made up of international legal experts, is expected to be highly critical of the Bahraini authorities. | The commission, made up of international legal experts, is expected to be highly critical of the Bahraini authorities. |
| More than 40 people have been killed as security forces clamped down on the protests. | More than 40 people have been killed as security forces clamped down on the protests. |
| The police have also been accused of torturing detained activists. | The police have also been accused of torturing detained activists. |
| The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry was set up in June to investigate alleged human rights violations when the protests were suppressed in February and March 2011. | The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry was set up in June to investigate alleged human rights violations when the protests were suppressed in February and March 2011. |
| The five commissioners, all of whom come from outside Bahrain, can also make recommendations on how to end sectarian tensions. | The five commissioners, all of whom come from outside Bahrain, can also make recommendations on how to end sectarian tensions. |
| The inquiry has interviewed more than 5,000 people, including hundreds who say they were tortured in prison. | The inquiry has interviewed more than 5,000 people, including hundreds who say they were tortured in prison. |
| More than 1,600 people have been arrested during the protests, which have continued sporadically since the peak of the unrest eight months ago. | More than 1,600 people have been arrested during the protests, which have continued sporadically since the peak of the unrest eight months ago. |
| Deep divisions | Deep divisions |
| The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, reporting from Bahrain, says the report is expected to confirm that widespread human rights abuses took place, including the use of torture in interrogations. | The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, reporting from Bahrain, says the report is expected to confirm that widespread human rights abuses took place, including the use of torture in interrogations. |
| Bahrain has a majority Shia Muslim population and the violence has fuelled anger against the ruling Sunni royal family and political elite. | Bahrain has a majority Shia Muslim population and the violence has fuelled anger against the ruling Sunni royal family and political elite. |
| Our correspondent says the mainly Shia protesters will be watching very closely to see how the King reacts when he receives the report. | Our correspondent says the mainly Shia protesters will be watching very closely to see how the King reacts when he receives the report. |
| If the monarch accepts that his government was responsible and acts to change the way the country is run, then the outcome could be positive, our correspondent says. | If the monarch accepts that his government was responsible and acts to change the way the country is run, then the outcome could be positive, our correspondent says. |
| If not, then more violence is likely to lie ahead. | If not, then more violence is likely to lie ahead. |
| In advance of the report's publication, the government of Bahrain has already acknowledged some failings. | In advance of the report's publication, the government of Bahrain has already acknowledged some failings. |
| "Regrettably, there have been instances of excessive force and mistreatment of detainees," it said in a statement on Monday. | "Regrettably, there have been instances of excessive force and mistreatment of detainees," it said in a statement on Monday. |
| A government spokesman, Sheikh Abdulaziz Alkhalifaa, told the BBC: "We are in a very polarised society". | A government spokesman, Sheikh Abdulaziz Alkhalifaa, told the BBC: "We are in a very polarised society". |
| "In order to move forward we need to find out the truth." | "In order to move forward we need to find out the truth." |
| "I think the report will tell us exactly what happened since February and only then can we use this as a road map to bridge the divide between all communities here in the country," he said. | "I think the report will tell us exactly what happened since February and only then can we use this as a road map to bridge the divide between all communities here in the country," he said. |
| Are you in Bahrain? Have you witnessed any of the protests? What are your expectations of the report? Send us your comments using the form below: | |
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