MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Bahrain
25.10.2011
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Mario Mauro, Filip Kaczmarek, Roberta Angelilli, Bernd Posselt, Tunne Kelam, Monica Luisa Macovei, Elena Băsescu, Sari Essayah, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Zuzana Roithová, Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris, Cristian Dan Preda, Thomas Mann, Giovanni La Via, Angelika Niebler, Bogusław Sonik on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0541/2011
B7‑0562/2011
European Parliament resolution on Bahrain
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria, Yemen and Bahrain, in particular that of 7 April 2011 on the situation in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen,
– having regard to its resolution of 24 March 2011 on European Union relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council,
– having regard to the statements by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative (VP/HR) on Bahrain of 10, 12 and 18 March; 3 May and 1 July 2011,
– having regard to the statement of 23 June 2011 by the UN Secretary-General on the sentences imposed on 21 Bahraini political activists, human rights defenders and opposition leaders,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966,
– having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders of 2004, as updated in 2008,
– having regard the Bahrain statement to 65th UN General Assembly on 29 September 2011
– having regard the Doctors without Borders's public briefing paper on health Services paralyzed: Bahrain's military crackdown on Patients on April 2011
– having regard the Convention against Torture ratified by Bahrain in 1998,
– having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas peaceful demonstrators in countries in North Africa and the Middle East have expressed legitimate democratic aspirations and strong calls for institutional, political, economic and social reforms aimed at achieving genuine democracy, fighting corruption and nepotism, ensuring respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, reducing social inequalities and creating better economic and social conditions,
B. whereas the state of national safety in Bahrain was lifted on 1 June 2011 and King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa made a call for a national dialogue, which began on 2 July 2011,
C. whereas on 29 June 2011 an independent commission with an international independent component was set up by King Hamad in order to investigate human rights violations during recent government crackdowns on pro-reform protesters,
D. whereas on 22 May 2011 the death sentences imposed on Ali Abdullah Hassan al-Sankis and Abdulaziz Abdulridha Ibrahim Hussain for killing two policemen during anti-government protests in Bahrain were upheld by the National Safety Court of Appeal; whereas the executions have been postponed until September,
E. whereas 47 Bahraini doctors and nurses have been accused of ‘incitement to overthrow the regime by force’ and are facing trial by a Bahraini military court; whereas the medical professionals treated all injured people equally, in keeping with the ethical code for their profession,
F. whereas following the request from the Bahraini Government foreign forces under the banner of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have been deployed in Bahrain,
G. whereas FIDH’s Deputy Secretary General, Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, who was prevented from leaving the country and remains under threat and harassment by the security forces;
H. whereas on 22 June 2011, 21 prominent Bahraini human rights activists and opponents to the regime were given harsh sentences by the special court which was set up to prosecute those who have voiced their opinion and demanded their basic human rights. 8 of them were given life sentences while 13 were given two to fifteen years in prison; the charges given to the activists seem to be an attempt to punish them merely for their political activities;
I. whereas on 18 August, the Bahraini authorities reversed this decision and has adopted a new Royal decree (decree no. “28” 2011). The first article in the decree states that: “the ordinary courts take over all the cases of misdemeanors and appeals relating to them that were not adjudicated in a final verdict by the National Safety Court;
J. whereas that according to this, it has been decided that the 21 political leaders and human rights activists sentenced on 22 June to harsh prison sentences will appeared before the National Safety Appeal Court on 6 September 2011;
K. whereas following the medical ethic all patients have a right to seek and receive treatment in safe environment and all medical staff have a fundamental duty to administer treatment without discrimination;
L. whereas human rights associations have documented hundreds of detainees, including a number of journalists, bloggers and human rights activists; whereas numerous cases of online censorship and website blocking have been recorded;
M. whereas many human rights activists claims on the repeatedly used of torture and intimidation by security officials;
1. Condemns the repression in Bahrain and urges the immediate and unconditional release of all peaceful demonstrators, including political activists, journalists and human rights defenders, and of the 47 Bahraini doctors and nurses who were acting under professional duty; expresses its strong concern at the life sentences for eight opposition activists and at the 15‑year prison sentences for 13 others;
2. Reiterates its point of view that demonstrators have expressed legitimate democratic aspirations and that the government of Bahrain should engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with all parties without delay or preconditions, in order to bring about the necessary reforms and restore social consensus in the country;
3. Stress that civilians must be tried in civilian courts and that every detained person must be charged with a recognizable criminal offence, with adequate access to a lawyer and enough time to prepare a defence,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); at least 264 cases remain pending, many of which may be tried in the Court of National Safety, effectively a military court,
4. Notes that thousands of employees have allegedly lost their jobs because of their alleged participation in anti-Government protests; calls on the national authorities to order the immediate reintegration of such individuals and to ensure that they are compensated for their lost income,
5. Takes positive note of King Hamad’s decision to set up an independent commission to investigate human rights violations during recent government crackdowns on pro-reform protesters; urges full impartiality and transparency for the commission and calls on the Bahraini Government not to interfere in its work;
6. Welcomes the setting-up of a Ministry for Human Rights and Social Development in Bahrain, and calls on that ministry to act in accordance with international human rights standards and obligations;
7. Urges the immediate and unconditional release of all political activists, journalists, teachers, and human rights defenders and bloggers due to the arbitrary nature of the charges and of the entire proceedings;
8. Calls on the authorities to restore and respect all fundamental freedoms, including the pluralism in the media, freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly;
9. Expresses its concern at the presence of foreign troops under the GCC banner in Bahrain; reiterates its call on the GCC to contribute resources as a regional collective player in order to act constructively and mediate in the interest of peaceful reforms in Bahrain;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the Kingdom of Bahrain.