Special Security Force Command
| قيادة قوة الأمن الخاصة | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1930 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Bahrain |
| Headquarters |
Diwan Fort, Manama 26°13′22.47″N 50°34′33.8″E / 26.2229083°N 50.576056°E |
| Motto | Special Security Forces, Always Forward! |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent department | Ministry of Interior |
| Website | http://www.interior.gov.bh/default_en.aspx |
The Special Security Force Command (Arabic: قيادة قوة الأمن الخاصة) is a paramilitary law enforcement body in Bahrain under the command of the Ministry of the Interior. The SSFC is more commonly referred to as the "Special Security Forces", the "Special Forces", "Bahrain Special Security Forces (BSSF) or as the "riot police" (Arabic: الشغب).
A majority of the personnel of the SSFC are recruited from outside of Bahrain, from Arab countries like Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Pakistan. There are reportedly no Bahraini Shia among the ranks of the SSFC.[1]
Accusations
The Special Security Forces have been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including torture, in trying to suppress opposition political activity in Bahrain.[1][2][3] The SSFC has been at the front line of the Bahrain government's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters during the Bahraini uprising in the Arab Spring.[4]
In November 2007, Bahrain signed a cooperation agreement with France under which French police officers working in the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité have provided training to Bahrain's SSFC.[1] A company of the SSFC were deployed to Afghanistan to provide base security at the United States's Camp Leatherneck.[5][6]
References
- 1 2 3 "Torture Redux". Human Rights Watch. 8 February 2010. p. 5.
- ↑ "Special security forces prevent people from holding public seminar". Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. 26 May 2009.
- ↑ "Security forces Attacked sit-in for detainees of conscience". Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. 19 January 2007.
- ↑ "Brutal crackdown on demonstrators in Bahrain". Front Line (NGO). Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "Bahrain troops to lead Afghan special forces". Gulf Daily News. 24 December 2010.
- ↑ "State Department cables detail U.S. links to Bahrain". The Washington Post. 22 February 2011.