Bahraini regime only preaches democracy: Author

Press TV has conducted an interview with Nasser al-Omari, an author and political commentator, to ask for his take on a recent report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) censuring Bahrain’s Al Khalifa regime for “mistreatment and torture” of detainees during interrogations.

What follows is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: The report by the rights group says the techniques employed by the Bahraini regime violate its “obligations as a state party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.” This is while the Bahraini regime claims it is promoting democracy in the country. What’s your take on that?

Omari: Well, it is a strategy on the part of the Bahraini regime. They talk democracy to the world, they preach reform to the world, and in the meanwhile, they are playing a double-game with the Bahraini people.

The report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) group is very damning. As early as March, there are reports of torture, reports of mistreatment of prisoners and now we know that Bahraini regime is going after activists. These [are] unreasonable prison sentences. Even journalists have been sentenced to long-term jails.

This regime is playing a double-game and unfortunately the West is plying its game.

Press TV: You talked about the West. Can you also talk about the UK? Before this report, they said that there is a reform process going on and they happily opened up that £15 million army base for the first time in 40 years. This is all appears to be for arms sales. Is it just arms sales that rank so high that they can trample any democracy or human rights?

Omari: Well, it is that. According to the strategic and defense report, they are actually praising Saudi Arabia for being a player in the Middle East. And you know these regimes play a very important role in the strategic interests of these Western governments. It is hypocritical on the part of the West to breach democracy to the Bahraini people and to the Saudis, when they are engaged in supporting these regimes openly. And it is also a shame that the West is calling on the Arabs and Muslims to put an end to terrorism when Bahrainis are being tortured at the hands of these regimes that are supported by the West and then we wonder where extremism comes from. I think extremism can be traced to the decisions of the British government and unfortunately to some American administrations.

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