BAHRAIN AGREES TO VAST MAJORITY OF UN RIGHTS RECOMMENDATIONS, REJECTS DEATH PENALTY OVERHAUL

September 19, 2012: Bahrain’s foreign minister says the government has agreed to ease its treatment of political activists and demonstrators while accepting the vast majority of the U.N.’s top human rights body recommendations for improving its treatment of people.
Among the 176 recommendations from the 47-nation Human Rights Council were concerns over the treatment of prisoners and prosecution of human rights activists during the unrest that has hit Bahrain, a key U.S. ally in the Gulf, since early 2011.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa says Bahrain accepts 158 recommendations, including calls for fair trials and improving religious protections.
The Sunni-ruled country, whose Shiite majority is demanding a greater political voice, says it rejects the recommendations for abolishing the death penalty, because those conflict with its constitution. (Sources: Associated Press, 19/09/2012)