B4-0208 and 0276/95

Resolution on the continued human rights violations in Bahrain

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the numerous protests since 5 December 1994, in which large parts of the population of Bahrain have been peacefully engaging to demand the establishment of constitutional democracy, the participation of women in the political process, a solution to unemployment, the release of political detainees and prisoners and the return of all deportees,

B. shocked that the Bahrain Government has resorted to the ruthless use of force by the security forces resulting in several deaths, many injuries, the detention of hundreds of persons and the deportation of prominent personalities,

C. shocked that the security forces in Bahrain are to a large extent directed by a British officer, Ian Henderson,

D. stressing that the Government of Bahrain resorted to the Decree Law on State Security of 22 October 1974, which entitles the Minister of the Interior to detain political suspects for up to three years without trial; recalling that the National Assembly, dissolved in 1975, refused to pass the State Security Law and that, since laws required their approval under the constitution, the State Security Law is of doubtful legality,

E. drawing attention to the admission of the Ministry of the Interior that 400-500 prisoners have been held under the State Security Law,

F. shocked by the deaths which have resulted from this repression, and from the repeated use of firearms on crowds of civilians,

G. shocked that the families and lawyers of those injured and detained are not allowed by law to visit them in hospital or in prison,

H. alarmed by the numerous reports of torture of prisoners, which in the case of Mr Husain Qambar was fatal, and by the dismissal of Dr Habib Traif and his Irish wife from the military hospital for giving medical treatment to wounded people at their home,

I. believing that the only motive for this wave of repression is the anger of the authorities that a petition calling for the restoration of the constitution suspended in 1975 was sponsored by 14 people representing both the Shia and Sunni communities and secularists, and was signed by a woman, Dr Moneera Fakhroo, who represents the movement for women's rights,

The European Parliament,

1. Affirms its full support for the people of Bahrain who are demonstrating for their political, economic and social rights;

2. Condemns the response of the security forces to the demonstrations and demands that the Government release all political prisoners;

3. Further demands that the Government of Bahrain declare its commitment to the restoration of the constitution and to the holding of free and fair general elections, and that it abolish the State Security Law and other legal provisions which restrict liberties and human rights;

4. Demands that an independent inquiry be opened into allegations of murder and torture;

5. Calls on the Bahraini Government to allow the hundreds of Bahrainis deported or living in exile for political reasons to return to their native land;

6. Calls on the British Government to order Ian Henderson to leave Bahrain;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the British Government, the Government of Bahrain and the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.