The once massive pro-democracy protests in Bahrain has been reduced to small clashes between youth and police in predominantly Shia areas.

Security forces have allegedly launched a brutal crackdown on protesters with beatings and sweeping arrests. Nearly 1000 demonstrators have been imprisoned, among them doctors, artists and lawyers.

The UN High Commissioner for Human rights Navi Pillay says severe torture is being used against prisoners, and he is calling on the Bahraini government to stop intimidating and harassing human rights defenders and political activists.

May Welsh reports.

[May 6, 2011]