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B7-0416/2013
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Bahrain

10.9.2013 - (2013/2830(RSP))

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

Véronique De Keyser, Ana Gomes, Pino Arlacchi, Mojca Kleva Kekuš, Antigoni Papadopoulou, Joanna Senyszyn on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0410/2013

Förfarande : 2013/2830(RSP)
Dokumentgång i plenum
Dokumentgång :  
B7-0416/2013
Ingivna texter :
B7-0416/2013
Antagna texter :

B7‑0416/2013

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Bahrain

(2013/2830(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- Having regard to its report of 24 March 2011 on EU relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council;

- Having regard to the statements by the Vice-President of the Commission/High

Representative (VP/HR) on Bahrain , in particular of 1 July 2013, November 2011 on the publication of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), of 5 September 2012 on the decisions of the Bahraini Court of Appeal on the cases of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and 19 other individuals, and of 23 November 2012 on the first anniversary of the publication of the BICI's report, the statements by her spokesperson of 13 February 2012 on the anniversary of the unrest in Bahrain, of 10 April 2012 on the situation of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja in Bahrain, of 16 August 2012 on the sentencing of Nabeel Rajab in Bahrain;

 

- Having regard to the Council conclusions on Bahrain of 24 May, 12 April, 21 March 2011; February 2011,

 

- Having regard to the visit of a delegation of its Subcommittee on Human Rights to Bahrain on 19 and 20 December 2012 and to the press statement issued by that delegation,

 

- Having regard to the Hearing on Bahrain in the European Parliament Human Rights Subcommittee on 3 October 2011;

 

- Having regard to the report of the Bahrain Independent commission of inquiry of the 23d November 2011;

- Having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948;

- Having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders of 2004 as updated in 2008;

- Having regard to the Human Rights Watch Report " Interfere, Restrict, Control” on the restrictive laws and policies that stifle civic and political groups and trade unions, June 2013

 

- Having regard to the 1975 United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Arab Charter on Human Rights all of which Bahrain is a party to;

 

- Having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966;

 

- Having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure;

 

A. whereas the human rights situation in Bahrain remains critical in the wake of the crackdown on recent pro-democracy protesters in August 2013; whereas many recent actions of the Bahraini Government continue seriously to violate and restrict the rights and freedoms of segments of the Bahraini people, particularly the right of individuals to peaceful protest, free speech and digital freedom;

 

B. whereas the , appointed by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, concluded in 2011 that security forces had used excessive force against peaceful protesters during demonstrations, and had arbitrarily arrested, detained, tortured, ill-treated, and denied them fair trials;

 

 

D. whereas despite the fact authorities did investigate some low-ranking security officials in connection with torture allegations, protest leaders remain behind bars and no high-ranking officials have been held responsible for abuses. whereas during 2012 protests security forces used excessive force to disperse anti-government protests and authorities jailed human rights defenders and people who participated in peaceful demonstrations or criticized officials

 

E. whereas the government dissolved an Islamic opposition party.

 

F. whereas in August 2013 two new emergency decrees have been issued by the King of Bahrain, which include the banning of all protests

 

G. whereas it has been reported that Hussain Hubail, a 20-year-old cameraman, and Mohammad Hassan Sudayf, a 26-year-old blogger and translator, arrested separately on 31 July were tortured when they were held incommunicado in the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID).

 

H. whereas the Bahraini Cassation Court has decided to uphold the convictions against Mahdi ‘Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila al-Salman, the former president and vice-president of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association who were sentenced to 10 and three years imprisonment respectively on September 2011 after they called a teachers strike.; whereas they were charged with halting the educational process, inciting hatred of the regime, attempting to overthrow the ruling system by force.

 

I. whereas in August 2013 the Bahrain Opposition, the National Democratic Opposition Parties introduces its vision for political reconciliation calling for to foster national unity, to open the media for all civil and political powers without discrimination or exclusion, to free all prisoners of conscience according to the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, to end violations, illegal arrests and home raids by the security apparatuses, condemning violence and counter-violence from any side, to allow all participating parties in the dialogue access to media.

 

 

1. Reiterates strongly its demand to the authorities to stop all forms of repression, prosecution, detention and torture of peaceful demonstrators, human rights activists and journalists and respect the freedom of assembly and expression, both online and offline;

 

2. 

3. 

 

4. Calls on the Bahraini authorities to fully implement the recommendations by the Bahraini Independent Commission of Inquiry; recognizes that some efforts have been undertaken with this respect, nevertheless stresses that more has to be done in improving human rights situation in the country

 

5. Calls on the Bahraini government to implement the necessary democratic reforms, encourage an inclusive and constructive national dialogue and reconciliation; which must encompass the release and subsequent participation of political prisoners;

 

 

6. Naji Fateel, Zainab Al-Khawaja

 

7. Urges for the conduct of independent, effective and transparent investigations, by an independent body, into all allegations of torture and other ill- treatment, and make the results public;

8. Calls on the Government of Bahrain to take all necessary steps to guarantee the competence, independence and impartiality of the judiciary in Bahrain and to ensure that it acts in full accordance with international human rights standards, and in particular to ensure that the courts cannot be used for political purposes or to sanction the legitimate exercise of universally guaranteed rights and freedoms; calls on the Bahraini Government to strengthen the rights of defendants, inter alia by ensuring that they enjoy fair trial guarantees, allowing them effectively to challenge the evidence against them, providing for independent judicial oversight of the grounds for detention and ensuring that detainees are protected from abusive treatment during criminal investigations

9. Calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to work together to develop a clear strategy for how the EU will, both publicly and privately, actively push for the release of the imprisoned activists; calls on the VP/HR to work with the Member States to ensure the adoption of Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on the human rights situation in Bahrain, which should include a specific call for the immediate and unconditional release of the imprisoned activists;

 

10. Recommends the Human Rights Council to set up a monitoring mechanism with the mandate to follow the implementation of the BICI recommendations and the overall resolution of the human rights crisis.

 

11.