The United States Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has issued a response to the BICI report, saying it does not go far enough in attempting to rectify the treatment of Shi’ites in Bahrain.
They also called on the Government of Bahrain to rebuild all of the religious structures that they illegally destroyed as well as issuing a formal apology to the Shi’ite Community.
USCIRF Chair, Leonard Leo said, “Most of the BICI findings about the destruction of Shi’a religious structures are detailed and specific, including that the timing of the demolitions was ‘perceived as a collective punishment’ and provoked further tension between the government and the Shi’a population. However, the recommendations are incomplete, and do not help ensure that illegally destroyed religious structures are rebuilt or that the Shi’a community is adequately compensated or restituted for loss of religious materials.”
Read the statement in full here: http://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/press-releases/3682-uscirf-comments-on-bahrain-independent-human-rights-report.html
