Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what evidence they have, if any,
that the number of human rights abuses in Bahrain has declined in
the last two years; and what assessment they have made of the
impact of their Integrated Activity Fund on human rights in that
country.
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office () (Con) [V]
My Lords, as outlined in the 2020 FCDO Human Rights and Democracy
report, the UK recognises the challenges that remain in Bahrain.
However, along with many international partners, it is our firm
belief that, with a calibrated approach to co-operation, we can
influence and support positive reform. Change takes time but
recent developments in Bahrain, such as the ratification of the
corrective justice law for children and the use of alternative
sentencing, demonstrate that progress is being made.
(LD)
My Lords, the death sentence retrial of Mohamed Ramadan and
Hussain Moosa has been termed “critically flawed” by the
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, as it
relied on a Special Investigations Unit investigation that did
not meet international standards. Will the Minister stop the
shameful defence of the SIU, which does nothing more than
whitewash Bahrain’s existing human rights situation?
(Con) [V]
My Lords, we—the Minister for the Middle East and I—and the
Government are fully aware of the cases that the noble Lord
referred to; indeed, we have engaged outside the Chamber on this
very issue. As the noble Lord will be aware, the death sentence
must be ratified by His Majesty the King of Bahrain. The UK
continues to follow this case closely. We have raised the matter
repeatedly with the Government of Bahrain and will continue to do
so, both in public and privately.
(Lab)
My Lords, I recently raised with the Minister that Bahrain had
detained 13 children, including the seriously ill Sayed Hasan
Ameen. In a Written Answer, painted these children as criminals without
addressing human rights concerns. BIRD and Human Rights Watch
revealed that these children were subjected to physical abuse to
coerce their confessions and that Sayed was detained for eight
days without vital medication. Despite these findings from
credible rights organisations, is the Minister really satisfied
with the assurances from Bahrain on their treatment and that
medical care was provided?
(Con) [V]
I assure the noble Lord that we take this case, as well as any
other case, very seriously. We raise these issues directly with
the Bahrainis. We should also recognise that progress has been
made. I mentioned in my earlier Answer the corrective justice law
for children, which will ensure special courts for children,
alternative sentencing and rehabilitation. I believe that this
brings a positive focus on individual cases. I deal directly with
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch; I raise any cases
raised in those meetings directly with the Bahraini authorities.
(Con) [V]
[Inaudible.]
(Con)
Could the noble Baroness be unmuted, please?
The Lord Speaker ()
The noble Baroness is muted and we cannot hear her. We will have
to move on to the noble Baroness, Lady Northover.
(LD)
My Lords, far from what the Minister has said about progress,
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the UN have all
concluded that human rights abuses have been getting worse in
Bahrain over the past few years. So why do the Government still
fund training for organisations in Bahrain that are implicated in
human rights abuses, such as the Special Investigations Unit?
(Con) [V]
My Lords, through the technical support that the United Kingdom
provides, we have seen real progress on a broad range of human
rights issues. I have referred to the reforms on children, the
unified family law, alternative punishments for adults and the
creation of oversight bodies. Of course, I do not for a moment
accept that the job is done. We continue to work constructively,
and I believe that this is paying dividends, and will continue to
do so.
(Con)
My Lords, the recent publication of the second edition of the
Human Rights and Democracy report by the embassy of Bahrain is
progress. Together with the amazing, life-saving, UK-like vaccine
rollout and being a cornerstone and founding member of the
Abraham Accords with the UAE and Israel, it is real progress. In
acknowledging that there is still much more to be done, does my
noble friend agree that it seems clear that Bahrain is travelling
on the right road?
(Con) [V]
My Lords, suffice to say that I totally agree with my noble
friend. We are seeing progress but there is more to be done, and
we are working constructively and engaging with Bahrain on this
important agenda.
(Non-Afl)
At the start of the 2022 Qatar football World Cup campaign last
night, Norwegian players protested about workers’ rights in
Qatar. Considering that some of the matches may have to be
scheduled in Bahrain because of the increasing size of the World
Cup finals, have our representatives in Bahrain made an
assessment of the situation on workers’ rights in the country
yet?
(Con) [V]
My Lords, we have raised this issue directly and seen real
progress. When it comes to migrant workers, for example, Bahrain
achieved tier 1 status, according to US State Department reports.
Indeed, it convened a cross-government meeting on this very
issue—the first such one in the Middle East. On vaccines, as
raised by my noble friend , we have seen
direct distribution and access to vaccines for migrant workers
so, again, progress on this front is being made directly in
Bahrain.
(LD) [V]
Will the Government advise the Bahrain authorities that the best
way for them to win friends is to train all their security
officers to behave like human beings, and to abolish the barbaric
death penalty, as the state of Virginia did yesterday?
(Con) [V]
We welcome the death penalty being abolished, and of course that
remains the long-standing position of Her Majesty’s Government.
We continue to raise this globally with all partners.
(Non-Afl)
[V]
My Lords, can we stop all exports to Bahrain as a way out of this
big dilemma?
(Con) [V]
My Lords, I think that the noble Lord talked about stopping
exports. I do not believe that that is the correct way forward.
Bahrain is an important partner and, as we have seen on this
important yet sensitive agenda, there has been progress there.
Being a critical and constructive friend is the way forward.
(Con)
[V]
My Lords, the human rights violations in Bahrain are worrying,
but does the Minister agree that the demands to cancel the
Formula 1 race to be held there are not likely to help? Should we
not be encouraging sporting activities between countries in
trying to influence them to eliminate human rights violations?
(Con) [V]
I agree with my noble friend’s approach and, as the UK Human
Rights Minister, that is exactly the approach I adopt.
(GP) [V]
My Lords, following on from the last question, it appears that
the Minister took a different approach in 2012, when he signed a
letter to the Times that backed calls for Formula 1 not to race
in Bahrain due to human rights violations connected to the races
there. Now, almost 60 Members of both Houses of Parliament and
more than 20 NGOs are calling on Formula 1 to establish an
independent commission of inquiry to investigate human rights
abuses linked to its races. Will the Minister now agree to
support that call?
(Con) [V]
My Lords, the noble Baroness referred to a letter from several
years ago. It is right that where we have concerns, we should
raise them, and I align myself with that. However, we have seen
real progress in Bahrain and we should recognise that, while
remaining firm and resolute that we will continue to raise human
rights concerns as and when they arise, as we do directly with
Bahrain both in private and publicly.
(Con)
My Lords, I visited Bahrain on numerous occasions as a Defence
Minister. Through that persistent engagement, I never hesitated
to raise issues such as human rights, as a critical friend. I am
pleased that the Gulf Integrated Activity Fund has been used to
fund some of the independent human rights organisations in
Bahrain, and we have, as my noble friend said, definitely
seen progress, although more needs to be done. What has
particularly impressed me from the UK perspective is the
thoroughness of the OSJA process. Can my noble friend reassure me
that the process is refreshed on a regular basis to ensure that
our funding is not misused?
(Con) [V]
I agree with my noble friend. My right honourable friend
, who is the Minister for the Middle East, will do
exactly that. We look at all funding not only to the Gulf but
elsewhere to ensure that the standards we seek to achieve from
those areas are met and that human rights remain paramount in our
thinking and progress in this respect.
The Lord Speaker ()
The noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, is still with us and so I can ask
her to speak now.
(Con) [V]
My Lords, I am grateful to the Lord Speaker. There is no doubt
that Bahrain still has a mountain to climb on the issue of human
rights. Can my noble friend outline what progress has been made
specifically in the past few years and what the involvement of
the UK has been in specific programmes to assist in bringing
about change?
(Con) [V]
My Lords, it takes a great deal to mute my noble friend and I am
glad that we have heard from her. As I have already articulated,
we have seen the creation of the oversight bodies. The UK has
provided technical support. We have seen alternative sentencing,
where we have shared experience and insights; the Unified Family
Law and the Corrective Justice Law for Children; and the great
progress which has been made on migrants’ rights. However, I
reiterate that important work remains to be done. I know that
this is a concern of many noble Lords and I will continue to
engage with your Lordships’ House and the other place to ensure
that those concerns are expressed directly to the Government of
Bahrain.
