The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein [6] on June 2 called on the government of Bahrain [7] to investigate the deaths of five protesters that occurred during a security operation last month. The protesters were killed and 286 individuals were arrested when security forces were conducting an operation against a sit-in held by supporters of Sheikh Isa Qassem [8], the highest Shi'ite authority in Bahrain, in his home village of al-Diraz. Those who died were buried without their families' consent and without customary funeral traditions, an act which the High Commissioner called "disturbing." Al Hussein also called for the release of those being detained for "peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly," and for them to be "treated with full respect for their rights, including due process."
From Jurist [9], June 2. Used with permission.
Note: Qassim's supporterrs have staged regular sit-ins since authorities revoked the cleric's citizenship in June 2016. Pictures posted by activists online of the May 23 protest showed at least 10 armored police cars lining up and masked demonstrators erecting road blocks with planks and cinder blocks. (Al Jazeera [10])
