DUBAI: Bahrain has criticized as misleading a Human Rights Watch report accusing the Kingdom’s authorities of torturing detainees during interrogation and granting security officials impunity.

The report, published Monday, is “misleading, unbalanced and controversial,” said Information Minister Isa Al-Hammadi in remarks on the official BNA news agency. It is “based on false information.”

Bahrain has established “independent national watchdogs to probe any alleged illegal practices involving detainees, inmates or others,” said Al-Hammadi, adding that such action is taken “seriously” by the kingdom.

“We have a clear policy of cooperation with international organizations which are willing to do so,” he said, adding that “Bahrain is no need for politicized watchdogs which work through an agenda,” apparently referring to HRW.

In another statement on BNA, the government said it was “reviewing” the content of HRW’s report, “including a series of anonymous allegations it contains, and recommendations.”

It urged HRW to provide the three institutions, controlled by the Interior Ministry and public prosecutor, “with sufficient information to enable them to conduct effective investigations.”