Queries at UK Parliament on Human Rights in Bahrain

During the past weeks, the British Parliament witnessed a number of discussions about Bahrain. The discussions generally reflect the interest of the British Government and MPs in Bahrain, as well as the kingdom’s importance in British politics. The questions posed by MPs to the British government, identify the areas of interest in Bahrain’s affairs, while the responses by the British Foreign Office reflect UK’s vision and its approach towards the human rights dossier.

(Ian Lucas (MP), January 25, 2016): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support the extension of democracy in Bahrain.

	Tobias Elwood, British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(Tobias Ellwood, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, February 2, 2016): Governance of Bahrain is a matter for all political parties in Bahrain. We encourage all political parties, to engage constructively in political dialogue in order to reach an inclusive political settlement. Although we were disappointed by the opposition’s decision to boycott the 2014 elections, we commended the participation of a broad range of candidates which saw 14 independent Shia candidates win seats, of which three were women. We regularly discuss human rights and reform with the Government of Bahrain including at the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting which was most recently held in November 2015.

Reform programme activities delivered through the Causeway Institute have used lessons from Northern Ireland to improve community outreach and communication – particularly to a youth audience.

(Ian Lucas (MP) and Kate Hoey (MP) January 25, 2016): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Bahraini government on Mr Hassan Mushaima receiving appropriate medical treatment while in custody.

(Tobias Ellwood February 2, 2016): We are aware of the case of Hassam Mushiema and we have raised it with the Government of Bahrain. We continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments and to appropriately address all reports of ill-treatment of detainees. We also encourage all those with concerns about their treatment in detention to report these directly to the Ombudsman.

(Ian Lucas (MP), January 25, 2016): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Bahrain.

(Mr. Tobias Ellwood February 2, 2016): We regularly discuss human rights and reform with the Government of Bahrain including at the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting which was most recently held in November 2015. The UK continues to encourage the Government of Bahrain to meet its human rights obligations and to honour all conventions to which it is a party. We welcome the progress made by Bahrain on their reform programme particularly in the areas of youth justice, the establishment and increasing effectiveness of the Ombudsman’s office, the Prisoner and Detainees’ Rights Commission and the reformed National Institute of Human Rights. We continue to work with the Government of Bahrain to ensure momentum and progress on its reforms, for the benefit of all Bahrainis.

(Kate Hoey (MP), January 25, 2016): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the report of Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain on the Bahraini government’s implementation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report.

(Tobias Ellwood February 2, 2016): We have noted the report by Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain which assesses the progress the Government of Bahrain is making against the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry Report (BICI). In June 2014, the UN Human Rights Council presented similar findings by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. That is why we continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to ensure full implementation of the BICI recommendations, as well as those accepted in their UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review, and we are offering UK assistance to help them achieve this.

(Kate Hoey (MP), January 25, 2016): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of political prisoners in Bahrain.

(Tobias Ellwood February 2, 2016): We do not hold such details. However, we regularly discuss human rights and reform with the Government of Bahrain - including at the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting, which was most recently held in November 2015. If we have specific concerns around specific cases, we raise these with the Government of Bahrain.