The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) welcomes the resolution on Bahrain passed by the European Parliament on 9 July 2015, outlining the dire human rights situation and calls for urgent action and the release of human rights defenders.  

Resolution, 2015/2758 entitled ‘On Bahrain, in particular the case of Nabeel Rajab’ referred to the case of Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and Co-Founder of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), noting that he has served several prison sentences and is facing further charges related to his right to freedom of expression and is currently risking up to 10 years’ imprisonment for allegedly ‘insulting a statutory body’ and ‘spreading rumours at a time of war’.

It also referred to the “many human rights defenders, such as Naji Fateel, Danish human rights defender Adbulhadi Al-Khawaja, Swedish political activist Mohammed Habib Al-Muqdad and others in the so-called Bahrain 13, who have been detained, subjected to judicial harassment in Bahrain, imprisoned and …serving long or life-long sentences as a direct reprisal for their work in defending human rights.”

The resolution called for the “dropping of charges and immediate and unconditional release of all human rights defenders, political activists and other individuals detained and charged with alleged violations related to the rights of expression, peaceful assembly and association, including Nabeel Rajab, Sheikh Ali Salman and the ‘Bahrain 13’.”

The European Parliament expressed grave concern regarding the misuse of anti-terrorism laws in Bahrain to violate human rights, and condemned the continuing use of torture and other cruel, degrading and inhumane treatment or punishment against prisoners, peaceful protestors and members of the opposition. It encouraged cooperation between Bahrain and UN special Rapporteurs and the guarantee of an impartial and fair judicial system.

The European Parliament also called for a rapid EU collective effort to develop a comprehensive strategy on how the EU and the Commission can push actively for the release of the imprisoned activists and prisoners of conscience. It also called for the Bahrain Government to swiftly implement the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).

Furthermore, the resolution highlighted the fact that since 2011 the Bahraini authorities have been stepping up the use of repressive measures against civil society activists and peaceful opposition.

The GCHR welcomes the European Parliament resolution and calls on the Government of Bahrain to immediately and unconditionally release Abulhadi Al-Khawaja, Nabeel Rajab, Abduljalil Al-Singace, Naji Fteel and all human rights defenders imprisoned in Bahrain as a result of their legitimate and peaceful human rights work. The GCHR urges the European Parliament and all member states to ensure that prompt action is taken to enable human rights defenders to carry out their work in a safe and secure environment and ensure the promotion and protection of human rights in Bahrain.