UN Commissioner Calls for Investigation into Deaths of Bahraini Protesters

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday called for an investigation into the attack by Bahraini security forces that resulted in the deaths of five people last month and expressed concern over what has been described as the repression and detention of dissenters in Bahrain. According to Reuters, the Bahraini government stated that on May 23, police raided a village called Diraz in the outskirts of Manama and arrested several individuals suspected of being members of armed groups or wanted for security-related crimes. However, Shia political activists have accused the Sunni Bahraini government of using excessive repression to intimidate Shia citizens and their religious leader, Ayatollah Isa Qassim, who lives in Diraz and was supported by the people's sit-in. During the confrontation between the people and the advancing police forces, which used tear gas and rubber bullets, five people were killed and 286 were arrested. Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated: 'I urge the Bahraini government to conduct necessary investigations into the events of May 23 and specifically into the deaths of individuals, ensuring that the results are made public and that those responsible are held accountable.' He further added: 'I call on the Bahraini government to take a different path, one of dialogue and engagement, while ensuring accountability in cases of violence, regardless of who the perpetrator is.' The Bahraini government has not yet responded to this statement but has consistently denied targeting Shia citizens or institutional violations of human rights standards. Bahrain, with the help of neighboring countries, particularly forces dispatched by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, suppressed widespread Shia protests for political participation in 2011. Since then, violent incidents in Bahrain, including shootings at anti-government protesters and attacks by armed groups on state forces, have continued. The government claims that dissenters, with Iranian support, are the main perpetrators of violence in Bahrain. However, the Iranian government has always denied intervening in Bahrain's internal affairs or supporting armed groups active in that country.