Amnesty International says rights violated in Bahrain despite reform promises

Manama, April 17 (ANI): Despite promises of reforms, human rights are still being violated in Bahrain, according to Amnesty International.

Amid preparations in the country for the Grand Prix, Amnesty has warned, 'no-one should be under any illusions that the country's human rights crisis is over', BBC reports.

"The authorities are trying to portray the country as being on the road to reform, but we continue to receive reports of torture and use of unnecessary and excessive force against protests," said Amnesty's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

However, Amnesty has urged security forces to respect international human rights law even though they are sometimes faced with uncontrollable violence.

There have been violent clashes between police and protesters on the outskirts of the capital Manama as Bahrain has been preparing for Formula 1 Grand Prix .

Demonstrators have called for the sporting event to be cancelled and have sprayed walls with anti-Formula 1 graffiti.

In London, two protesters climbed on the roof of Bahrain's embassy on Monday, to draw attention to the destiny of imprisoned opposition activists.

"The establishment of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry was a real breakthrough and raised expectations that things would be different in Bahrain. It is time for the Bahraini government to match its public pronouncements with genuine actions," said Sahraoui.

The human rights group has also asked the Bahraini government to release all prisoners of conscience and to arrest people suspected of carrying out torture and abuses.

Amnesty, giving example of the cases of eight policemen who were still performing duties even after being charged with the death of protesters, said that only point to a handful of low-ranking officers who have been put on trial. (ANI)