Amnesty Intl. tells West to stop arming Bahrain

Seventeenth of February, 2011. Bahraini security forces attack protesters in Pearl Square, in the capital Manama.


Most are protesting peacefully, many are volunteer nurses helping attend to the wounded.

But a new report released by Amnesty International has called the use of force by police that day “unwarranted” and in breach of UN standards.

Among the most shocking violence was that used against medical staff. Paramedics told Amnesty how they were dragged from their ambulances and beaten by police when they tried to pick up injured civilians. They said security forces threw tear gas canisters into a medical tent run by volunteers on Pearl square.

According to the United Nations, use of force by security services should be exceptional, and used only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. Amnesty International believes that this was not the case in Pearl Square in February.

Amnesty is also asking Governments in Europe and the US to stop sending weapons to Bahrain and review their arms trading policies, as there's a clear risk of human rights violations. American and French tear gas canisters and rubber ammunition were found at Pearl Square after the attacks in February.

The Amnesty report comes as a three month state of emergency has been declared by the King of Bahrain, who has brought in Saudi troops to help clear protesters. Since the Bahraini uprising started around a month ago approximately two hundred people have been killed in clashes with security forces. Bahraini forces say they are trying to create stability in the country.