European Parliament has no legal right to assess human rights in Bahrain: Dhafer Al-Ani

Agencies | Cairo

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Arab Parliament Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs and National Security Committee Chairman Dhafer Al-Ani has condemned the resolution issued by the European Parliament on the situation of human rights in Bahrain.

The resolution was issued by an institution that has no capacity or legal mandate to comment on this issue and there is no text in international parliaments that authorizes a regional parliamentary institution to assess the human rights situation in a country outside its regional scope, Al-Ani said.

"The issuance of this resolution in this way without prior contact with the competent authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to verify the allegations, lies and fabrications it contained reflects the malicious intentions behind its issuance," he said

"Its aim is to discredit the Kingdom, especially since the resolution ignored all the efforts made by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the achievements it has accomplished to promote and protect human rights guaranteed by the constitution, national legislation and international agreements that Bahrain has joined."

Al-Ani stressed that European countries are not immune to human rights violations, as reflected in their policies towards refugees and minorities in European societies.

The European Parliament should focus on such issues that fall within the scope of its mandate and powers instead of involving itself in irresponsible positions that are an unacceptable and a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, he said.

"The European Parliament’s focus on criticizing human rights in Arab countries without any legal or political justifications that give it the right to do so, and its disregard for human rights violations that occur in other countries, including European countries, reveals the falsehood of the mantras that are always preached about its respect for human rights," he said.

The European Parliament policy of double standards in dealing with human rights confirms that it has distanced itself from the principles that stipulate refraining from politicizing human rights issues to achieve political goals and interests.

"The European Parliament needs to review its positions in this regard, respect the internationally recognized rules of parliamentary action and refrain completely and immediately from interfering in the internal affairs of Arab countries," he said.