‘Excessive force’ used in Bahrain crackdown

BAHRAIN’S security forces used excessive force to suppress protests earlier this year, including torture and forced confessions, an inquiry panel charged with investigating abuses said.

The panel, led by Egyptian-American international law expert Cherif Bassiouni, was formed and funded by Bahrain’s government five months ago to address charges of human rights abuses during the crackdown.

“In many cases security agencies in the government of Bahrain resorted to excessive and unnecessary force,” Bassiouni said in a speech at the royal palace, adding that many detainees were subjected to torture and other forms of abuse.