<p dir="ltr">Today marks the International Day of Non-Violence, which coincides with the anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the spiritual leader of India, who worked to spread the culture of civil rights around the world as a result of the struggle he led.</p>
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On this day, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) would like to join the democratic and human rights world in celebrating this anniversary which will promote respect, human rights and principles that encourage the renunciation of violence and hatred.</p>
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It is very unfortunate that this anniversary is passing amid the increasing violence in Bahrain in various forms, especially the violence faced by people exercising their rights such as the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.<br />
BCHR continues to record cases of ill-treatment and torture of persons arrested for expressing their opinions or for issues related to freedom of expression such as peaceful protests.</p>
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On this occasion, BCHR would like to reiterate its call on the Bahraini authorities to stop using violence in all its forms and to hold accountable the perpetrators of these violations, which are rejected by all human rights principles, covenants and international conventions that work on the principle of non-violence.</p>