Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
arrested a number of people at military checkpoints. A total of 100 persons
were arrested by BDF personnel. The Military Prosecution was responsible
for investigating and questioning suspects arrested pursuant to Royal Decree
No. 18 of 2011 and for initiating criminal proceedings before the National
Safety Courts. The Military Prosecution is also responsible for overseeing the
appropriateness of the circumstances of detention in the Military Corrections
Facility in Al Qurain.
2. The Ministry of Interior
144. The MoI is the main organ responsible for the maintenance of order
and security in Bahrain. The MoI is governed by a number of laws and
regulations, the most important of which is Emiri Decree Law No. 3 of 1982
on the Organisation of the Public Security Forces. According to Decree Law
No. 3, the Public Security Forces are a “regular armed service within the
Ministry of Interior that is responsible for the maintenance of public order,
security and morals inside Bahrain, and the protection of lives, persons and
property.” 213
145. The organisational structure of the MoI has been revised on a number
of occasions. The current structure is based on Royal Decree No. 69 of 2004,
which was amended a number of times thereafter. According to Emiri Decree
Law No. 3 of 1982, Royal Decree No. 69 of 2004 and other applicable
legislation, the MoI is headed by the Minister of Interior, an office currently
held by Lieutenant General Sheikh Rashed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. A number
of division chiefs report directly to the Minister of Interior, the most important
of whom is the Commander of the Public Security Forces. The Public
Security Forces, as noted above, are the principal law enforcement arm of the
MoI. The other MoI divisions that report to the Minister of Interior are the
General Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Forensic Evidence (CID),
the General Directorate for Nationality, Passports and Residency, the Customs
Directorate, the Inspector General and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of
Interior.
146. Of the various MoI divisions, two are particularly relevant to the
events of February and March 2011. These are the Public Security Forces
(PSF) and the CID. The PSF are commanded by General Tarek Mubarak bin
Dayna and include all MoI field units responsible for maintaining order and
security in Bahrain. The following units and departments are among those
that report directly to the PSF command: (1) the police departments of the five
governorates of Bahrain (Manama, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Janubiyah and
Wusta); the Special Forces Department; the Special Protections Department;
the Counter Terrorism Centre; the Traffic Police; the Operations Department;
and the Coast Guard.
147. Units of the PSF were involved to a significant extent in the events of
February and March 2011. Specifically, PSF units undertook riot control
operations throughout Bahrain. Most PSF personnel were equipped with body
213 Emiri Decree Law No. 3 of 1982, art 1.
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