BAHRAINI men have been raped, tortured with electric shocks and beaten by government security forces holding them without charge in recent weeks, The Times of London reports.

The men's shocking testimonies came as the country prepared to lift its state emergency, put in place in March, after pro-democracy demonstrators occupied the Pearl Roundabout in the center of the capital, Manama, and clashed with police.

In six interviews conducted secretly in Bahrain within the last week, Shiite Muslim men, whose identities have been protected, said that police loyal to the ruling Sunni regime picked them up from the streets and detained and tortured them.

Local human rights activists believe that the abuse the men suffered is widespread in the country's jails.

Hundreds were detained after the Government clamped down on the protests, during which at least 30 people died and more than 500 were injured.

"They tried to hurt us in places that people couldn't see, in ways that wouldn't leave evidence. But you can always see," according to Mahmoud, 20, who claims he was not involved in the protests or political activity.



He added that his jailers "shamed" him, forcing him to strip naked and taunting him for hours before raping him.

"The Government wants to torture and abuse, and then they want to hide it all," Mahmoud said.



"They think they can scare us into not talking. But I can never forget what they did to me. I want the world to know the true face of Bahrain."

"The Bahraini Government is on a campaign of terror," according to a human rights worker, who did not want to be named.



"They think they can scare the people into silence. But as you can see, this is not working."

Bahrain is due to lift emergency laws imposed March 14.



About 1000 troops from Bahrain's neighbors, most of whom are Saudi, are helping to keep order in the country.

No date for their withdrawal has been set.

Originally published as Men raped, tortured in Bahrain