A total of 49 complaints of alleged police misconduct were registered last year by a government watchdog.
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) released its latest report yesterday, outlining the agency’s work in investigating allegations of mistreatment by Public Security Forces personnel, including abuse, use of excessive force and torture.
According to the report, the SIU received 49 complaints in 2025 and these were either referred by government bodies or submitted directly by victims or their relatives through websites and email.
The majority of the cases were referred by the Public Prosecution, and among all complaints probed by the SIU team, only 10 were from non-Bahrainis.
In 2024, a total of 39 complaints were received by the government watchdog, involving 51 individuals – 35 of whom were Bahraini and 16 of other nationalities.
The GDN previously reported that the number of claims had fallen from 136 in 2017 to 108 in 2012, 80 in 2019, 67 in 2020 and 2021, 61 in 2022, and 45 in 2023.
The 2025 report shows a breakdown of the SIU’s work as it heard from 52 complainants and 44 witnesses.
A total of 45 accused and 59 suspects were interrogated, while medical examination was conducted in 36 cases by a forensic doctor.
Psychological support was provided in 23 cases while the agency prepared four reports in response to international inquiries received.
The annual assessment by the watchdog shows that it referred three cases involving eight police personnel and one officer to the Interior Ministry’s Police Courts Administration last year.
Separately, investigators referred two cases, involving three police personnel, to the criminal courts.
SIU was informed that “disciplinary sanctions were issued by the Police Courts Administration at the Interior Ministry in three separate cases against nine police members,” states the report.
It adds that sanctions imposed on the above individuals included deferral of promotion, salary deduction and warning.
“The 2025 Annual Report reflects SIU’s firm commitment to the principle of transparency, presenting the details of its work over the past year within the context of its ongoing endeavour to enhance public trust and to entrench the principles of justice and fairness,” said SIU head and acting advocate general Mohamed Al Haza’a in the report.
Mr Al Haza’a
“The Kingdom of Bahrain, guided by its comprehensive national vision, has consistently sought to entrench human rights principles as a fundamental pillar in building a state based on the rule of law and strong institutions.
“This has been achieved through the development of legislation, the enhancement of transparency, and the consolidation of the principle of accountability, in a manner consistent with its international obligations to safeguard human dignity across all practices and fields.”
He added that SIU continues to carry out its mission as an independent judicial body within the criminal justice system, with the protection of rights and freedoms as a central objective.
“This is realised through the investigation and disposition of allegations related to crimes of torture and ill-treatment, in accordance with the highest international standards of documentation and inquiry,” he added.
SIU was established in 2012 following recommendations by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, with a mandate to investigate claims of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment at the hands of the security forces.
To register a complaint, contact 17570097 or 17570065, email-contact@siu.gov.bh.
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