UN Chief Concerned Over Bahrain Protest Ban

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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday expressed concerns over the recent restrictions imposed on public demonstrations and other public gatherings in Bahrain and urged authorities in the Gulf Kingdom to lift those restrictions without delay. "The Secretary-General believes these restrictions could aggravate the situation in the country and urges the Government of Bahrain to lift them without delay," Ban's spokesperson was quoted as saying in a news release issued on Thursday. The spokesperson said the U.N. chief also called on protesters in Bahrain to "ensure that any demonstrations are, in fact, peaceful," and stressd that "recent violence that reportedly killed two police officers is unacceptable." Further, he reiterated his earlier appeal to the Bahraini authorities to "abide fully by international human rights standards, including respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and association." The Secretary-General "reaffirms his belief that there needs to be an all inclusive and meaningful national dialogue that addresses the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis, as this is the only way towards greater stability and prosperity for all Bahrainis," the spokesperson noted. Ban also called on the Bahraini government to "complete the full implementation" of recommendations contained in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which the King of Bahrain established in June 2011 to investigate incidents that occurred during unrest in the tiny Middle-East State that year. The Commission reportedly found that government forces had used excessive force during the protests in February and March 2011, which left at least 35 people dead, including five police officers, reports said. The Commission also found evidences of torturing some detainees.The Commission's 17 recommendations included creation of independent bodies to investigate claims of human rights violations, review of convictions and sentences of individuals detained during the unrest, and avoidance of detention without prompt access to lawyers and without access to the outside world, with all cases of detention subject to effective monitoring by an independent body. On October 30, Bahrain banned all protest gatherings and threatened legal action against groups encouraging demonstrations and clashes. The move is believed to be aimed at crushing the oil-rich Kingdom's anti-government uprising spearheaded by the majority Shia population, who have been complaining about discrimination by the ruling Sunni royal family. It is estimated that at least 60 people have been killed since pro-democracy protests broke out in Bahrain in February 2011 as a fallout of the 'Arab Spring' that saw the toppling of entrenched rulers in North Africa and the Middle East. The Bahraini government had suppressed last year's unrest with the help of troops from other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) States. Nevertheless, the country continues to witness frequent protests staged by the Opposition and Bahrain's Shia majority, who have long been complaining about discrimination in housing and government jobs. They have been demanding greater political rights and want the Sunni monarchy to hand over most of its powers to the elected Parliament.