What did the investigation into Bahrain’s 2011 protests find about the treatment of detainees?

In November 2011, an independent investigation commissioned by the Bahraini government into the state's response to the Arab Spring protests concluded that security forces had used excessive force to suppress demonstrations. Regarding the treatment of those taken into custody, the report explicitly found that some detainees had been subjected to torture while held by security forces.123

While the government accepted these findings and implemented some of the commission's recommendations—such as reinstating certain workers and increasing oversight—the report also highlighted a broader pattern of intimidation, including the use of secret detention and quick trials in military courts for opposition supporters and activists. Despite the investigation's conclusions, reports indicated that the government continued many of the abusive practices identified in the findings, including the ongoing imprisonment of opposition activists.13