MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Bahrain, including those on death row and human rights defenders

9.3.2021 - (2021/2578(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 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Thierry Mariani, Harald Vilimsky
on behalf of the ID Group

B9‑0197/2021

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Bahrain, including those on death row and human rights defenders

(2021/2578(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- Having regard to article 144 of its rules;

- Having regard to the 1966 United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

- Having regard to the United Nations Convention

- Having regard to the resolution of the European Parliament of June 14, 2018 on the human rights situation in Bahrain;

- Having regard to the resolution of the European Parliament of July 7, 2016 on the repression of human rights defenders in Bahrain;

- Having regard to the declaration of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of April 18, 2019;

- Having regard the decision of the Gulf Cooperation Council of March 2011 to intervene in Bahrain and the dispatch of Saudi armed forces;

A. Whereas  since the protests began in Bahrain in February 2011, the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain has engaged in a total and indiscriminate crackdown on mostly peaceful protests;

B. Whereas the Shiite population, despite being the majority in Bahrain, is the object of systematic persecution and discrimination by the government;

C. Whereas the interventions decided by the Gulf Cooperation Council, marked by the troops of Saudi Arabia, since March 2011, have led to a hardening of the repression and the death of several  people;

D. Whereas the special  report of UN Experts in february 2020 is showing mistreatments of political prisoners in bahraini jails amount to torture;

1. Calls for an end to discrimination against Shiite religious leaders, journalists, opposition leaders, and defense lawyers;

2. Hopes that a national political process will be put in place in order to give the political representation of Bahrain a configuration more in tune with its population;

3. Underlines to importance to keep security and stability in the whole region: asks for the withdrawal of Saudi troops and, if necessary, the country's intelligence services; notes also the neighboring countries, including Iran, constant interference in the internal affaires of Bahrain;

4. Deplores the 2017 decision to outlaw all independent media; urges Bahrain to rescind its arbitrary bans on opposition parties, to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly; asks the government of Bahrain to renounce the use of torture; improve its judicial system which lacks of transparency;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, the Government of Bahrain and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.