US report on human rights flawed: MoFA

Manama : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has expressed its disappointment over the false information contained in the US Department of State’s 2017 report on human rights in Bahrain as well as its disregard of the progress made by Bahrain in promoting and protecting human rights.

“The report includes names of some individuals involved in criminal cases and refers to them as political or human rights activists despite that they have been convicted of crimes punishable by law and sat for a series of trials that offered all litigation guarantees, including the right to defense and independent judiciary,” the MoFA said.

“What is also regrettable is that the report involves baseless allegations, both in legal terms and in reality, as the Kingdom respects rights and freedoms and provides all means and mechanisms of justice such as the Office of the Ombudsman, the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission (PDRC), the Special Investigation Unit and the National Institute for Human Rights,” the MoFA said. “The report ignores the progressing democratic practices in Bahrain, including the legislative authority‘s practices, freedom of expression in various media, free activities of non-governmental organisations as well respect of other civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights as per the constitution, national legislation and international human rights conventions to which the Kingdom has committed itself,” the MoFA said. 

“The ministry hopes that in future such reports will be more fair and informed, and will obtain information from credible sources, institutions and stakeholders to be neutral and non-selective,” it said.

“We note the great efforts being made by all the authorities in the Kingdom to ensure human rights are respected and protected and are in conformity with the constitution,” the MoFA said, noting the Kingdom’s enjoyment of international community’s appreciation as evident in its election to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations of the Economic and Social Council,” the MoFA said.