UN ‘disturbed’ by Bahrain forces’ violent breakup of jail sit-in

Human rights office calls for thorough investigation into ‘violent repression’ of peaceful sit-in at Jau prison.

The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) has said it is “disturbed” by the “unnecessary and disproportionate” force used by Bahraini police to dismantle a peaceful sit-in at the country’s main prison earlier this month. At a press briefing on Friday, Marta Hurtado, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on Bahrain’s government to immediately launch a “thorough and effective” investigation into the violent repression of the sit-in at Jau prison, located south of the capital, Manama, on April 17. She cited accounts by witnesses who reported that “special forces threw stun grenades and beat detainees on their heads, badly injuring many of them”.