Thank you for contacting me about human rights and religious freedom in Bahrain.
The UK takes the matter of human rights in Bahrain seriously. The Government continues to raise this issue at all levels with the Government of Bahrain, including at the sixth UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting in London in November 2015. The statement on Bahrain at the Human Rights Council on 14 September 2015, which the UK supported, called on the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments.
The UK noted the report by Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain which assesses the progress Bahrain is making against the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report. In 2014, the UN presented similar findings by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. That is why the Government continues to encourage Bahrain to ensure full implementation of the BICI recommendations, as well as those accepted in a UN review, and is offering UK assistance to help it achieve this.
UK support to Bahrain in delivering its ambitious reform programme has a particular focus on the protection of human rights. The UK is supporting the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman, the Prisoners' and Detainees' Rights Commission and National Institute for Human Rights, all of whom provide independent oversight of the behaviour and standards of the police and detention facilities.
The UK believes that governance of Bahrain is a matter for all political parties in Bahrain. That is why it encourages all political parties, including Al Wefaq who boycotted elections in November 2014, to engage constructively in political dialogue in order to reach an inclusive political settlement. Although disappointed by the opposition's decision to boycott the 2014 elections, the UK commended the participation of a broad range of candidates which saw 14 independent Shia candidates win seats, of which three were women.
The Government is aware of and has raised the case of Hassan Mushaima with Bahrain. The UK encourages Bahrain to respect the rights of all peaceful opposition figures and to act proportionately in all such cases to protect the universal rights of freedom of expression and assembly.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
