Bahrain urged to probe charges against Flaifel

New York-based Human Rights Watch has urged the Bahraini government to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged human rights violations against a detained former top security officer.

In a letter, a copy of which was sent to Gulf News yesterday, Hanny Megally Executive director, Middle East and North Africa Division, appealed to His Majesty the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to direct the government to "conduct a full and impartial investigation into allegations that Colonel Adel Flaifel engaged routinely in the torture and ill-treatment of persons taken into custody by the security services over a period of many years."

Flaifel, a former officer at the now-disbanded Security Intelligence Service, is currently detai-ned on charges of fraud and embezzlement.

Describing the case as an urgent matter", the letter urged the government to "respond positively to requests by many Bahrainis to conduct investigation that would include the testimonies of Bahrainis who allege that they were victims of torture committed by and under the authority of Col. Flaifel."