MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Human Rights violations in Bahrain

13.3.2012

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Charles Tannock, Paweł Robert Kowal, Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Ashley Fox on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0171/2012

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B7‑0174/2012

European Parliament resolution on Human Rights violations in Bahrain

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria, Yemen and Bahrain, in particular that of 7 April 2011http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2011-0475+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN - def_1_1#def_1_1 on the situation in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen and that of 7 July 2011 on the situation in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain in the context of the situation in the Arab World and North Africa,

–   having regard to its resolution of 24 March 2011 on European Union relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council,

–   having regard to the statements by its President of 12 April 2011 on the death of two Bahraini civic activists and of 28 April 2011 condemning the death sentences handed down to four Bahrainis for participating in peaceful protests,,

–   having regard to the Hearing on Bahrain in the European Parliament Human Rights Subcommittee on 3 October 2011,

–   having regard to the statements by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative (VP/HR) on Bahrain of 10, 12 and 18 March 2011; 3 May and 1 July 2011; 31 August 2011 and 8 and 30 September 2011, and the statements by the VP/HR on the situation in Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain at the European Parliament on 12 October 2011,

–   having regard to the press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain on 5 October 2011 and the statement issued by the Bahrain Ministry of Health on the Sentencing of Doctors, Nurses and Medics on 30 September 2011,

–   having, regard to the statement by the Bahraini Public Prosecutor regarding the retrial of doctors previously prosecuted in military trials issued on 23 October 2011

–   having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Arab Charter on Human Rights, to all of which Bahrain is a party,

–   having regard to Article 19(d) of Bahrain's Constitution,

–   having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders of 2004, as updated in 2008,

–   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

–   having to the 1949 Geneva Convention,

–   having regard to the '2012' Human Rights Watch report 2012 'No justice in Bahrain; Unfair Trial in military and civilian courts',

–   having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. whereas on 14 February 2011 pro-democracy protests began in Bahrain when protesters took to the streets of Manama calling for democratic reforms; whereas the demonstrations excessive force was used by security forces to curb protests leading to the deaths of over 50 protesters and the injury of hundreds more;

B.  whereas during the 2011 pro-democracy protests, hundreds of opposition leaders, pro-democracy activists, teachers, medical workers and students were arrested and held without access to legal counsel and were reported to be subjected to ill treatment and torture; whereas the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the takeover by security forces of medical facilities and arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of medical personnel as shocking and illegal;

C. whereas more than 4000 people, including teachers, students and nurses, have been dismissed from university or employments because due to their participation in the anti-government protests in 2011;

D. whereas to mark the one year anniversary of the start of pro-democracy protests, hundreds of people protested on the streets of Manama and were subsequently dispersed by the use of tear gas;

E.  whereas a three month 'State of National Safety' was establishment by Royal Decree on March 15 thereby established special military courts, called 'National Safety Courts' to investigate and prosecute crimes that threatened the safety of the state; whereas these military courts, comprised of a military officer and two civilian judges, tried hundreds of Bahrainis arrested during the course of democratic protests;

F.  whereas the state of national safety in Bahrain was lifted on 1 June 2011 and on 2 July 2011 King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa launched a National Dialogue to address the concerns of Bahraini citizens in the wake of recent events; whereas recommendations resulting from the Dialogue have been handed over to the King;

 

G. whereas on 23 November 2011 the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry presented its findings to the King of Bahrain; whereas the report concluded that excessive force had been used against protesters, that torture was widespread and that many people were on trial or had been sentenced to prison terms for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly;

H. whereas a number of recommendations were made in the BICI report including; making subject to review in ordinary courts all convictions and sentences rendered by the National Security Courts; the implementation of public order training for the public security forces, in accordance with UN best practices; the review and convictions and commute sentences of all persons charged with offences involving political expression, not consisting of advocacy of violence;

1.  Condemns unequivocally the repression of citizens in Bahrain which led to dozens of deaths and injuries and urges the immediate and unconditional release of all peaceful demonstrators, political activists, human rights defenders, doctors and paramedics, bloggers and journalists and expresses its solidarity with the families of all the victims;

 

2.  Reiterates its view that demonstrators have the right to peacefully express their legitimate democratic aspirations;

 

3.  Welcomes the findings of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry of 22 November as a positive step in seeking redress for crimes committed during the brutal repression of pro-democracy protests;

 

4.  Calls on the King of Bahrain and the Government of Bahrain to implement necessary reforms and recommendation contained within the BICI report and to encourage national reconciliation and restore social consensus in the country;

 

5.  Welcomes efforts by King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa to launch a National Dialogue to address the concerns of Bahraini citizens in the wake of last year's events; Highlights that King Hamad Ben Issa Al Khalifa of Bahrain has publicly pledged to undertake reforms to achieve national reconciliation; urges, in this respect, Bahrain's authorities not to miss this opportunity to find lasting reform that can contribute to the stability of the Kingdom of Bahrain;

 

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.  Underlines the importance of reconciliation as an essential part of reform in Bahrain's diverse society in which the rights of each citizen should be equally guaranteed in both the letter and the practice of the law;

 

9.  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 and the Government and Parliament of the Kingdom of Bahrain.