Manama: Bahrain police have urged an alleged victim of rape to file a formal complaint that will help conduct a thorough investigation into the case.
Chief of Public Security Maj Gen Tariq Hassan Al Hassan said that the interior ministry was “gravely concerned about an allegation of sexual assault” circulated on social and online media.
According to the allegation, an unidentified woman claims she was abducted by two uniformed members of the Public Security Force, bound and handcuffed and taken to an undisclosed location where one of the police officers sexually assaulted her, the police said on its website.
Al Hassan said that he strongly condemned the reported conduct.
“The conduct as alleged in this case is deeply offensive and contrary to the morals of the Public Security Force and is categorically condemned,” he said on Saturday. “However, in order to conduct a thorough, professional and transparent investigation, the woman in question will have to come forward and make a statement to police. She should contact a police station as soon as possible.”
Al Hassan said that an “initial investigation has been conducted wherein people, including the President of the National Commission of Human Rights, who had discussed the case on the social media, were contacted.”
“None of those interviewed could provide any details, nor the identity of the woman,” Al Hassan said.
The police chief appealed for public help to elucidate the case.
“Anyone with information on the case, or about the woman’s identity, is urged to contact a police directorate or a police station or call 999,” he said.
According to the online report, the woman, 25, was allegedly raped on Friday.
