Resolution on human rights abuses in Bahrain
Date: 1997-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: arms supply, democracy, human rights, regional transport, violence













EUR-Lex - 51997IP0777 - EN






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51997IP0777

Resolution on human rights abuses in Bahrain  


Official Journal C 304 , 06/10/1997 P. 0141 





B4-0777, 0780 and 0802/97Resolution on human rights abuses in BahrainThe European Parliament,A. noting with profound alarm the report published in June 1997 by Human Rights Watch/Middle East entitled 'Routine Abuse, Routine Denial: Civil Rights and the Political Crisis in Bahrain', which documents the continuing political crisis in Bahrain, with associated widespread political repression, torture and abuse of detainees, denial of legal representation and reliance for convictions on uncorroborated confessions, and the Amnesty International report of 16 July 1996, which expresses grave concern at continuing human rights abuses in Bahrain and the absence of the protection of due process, and the report by the UK Parliamentary Rights Group,B. recalling that the Bahraini parliament with its exclusively male representation - women having neither the right to vote nor to stand for election - was dissolved in 1975 and that the ruling Al-Khalifa family has since resisted all calls for the restoration of democratic and constitutional rule,C. recalling that the current political crisis started in the second half of 1994 with widespread demonstrations and petitions calling for the return of constitutional rule, the release of political prisoners and permission to return for hundreds of Bahrainis forcibly exiled or prevented from returning because of their political activities,D. observing with deep regret that these moderate demands have been met with arrests, the torture of detainees and wider use of the state security court, the procedures of which fall far short of accepted international standards for a fair trial and against which there is no right of appeal, despite the imposition of death sentences,E. noting that helicopters and gas supplied from abroad have reportedly been used against civilians,The European Parliament,1. Calls upon the Government of Bahrain to release political prisoners, to facilitate the return of exiles and institute due process of law, according to accepted international standards, and to open negotiations with the opposition forces immediately, with a view to holding democratic elections, open to both sexes, at the earliest opportunity;2. Calls upon European Union Member States to refrain from supplying arms or security support to the Government of Bahrain and requests the Council to take initiatives in order to obtain similar restraint at international level until democratic conditions have been restored;3. Unequivocally condemns all use of unlawful violence, torture and terrorism whether committed by the security forces or any other agents;4. Calls upon the Bahraini authorities to admit internationally respected human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, to the country and allow organizations with similar peaceful democratic concerns to operate there;5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Bahraini Government.