Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Bahraini counterpart on the recent arrest, detention and alleged torture of a group of women accused of organising a public referendum.

I am aware of the arrest of 15 women on 16 November on suspicion of disrupting the electoral process, belonging to an illegal group and calling for the overthrow of the Government of Bahrain. I understand that all of them have now been released, but investigations into 12 individuals continue. Our Embassy in Bahrain will monitor these cases.

The Government stands firmly against torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment. We remain concerned by continuing allegations of torture and mistreatment in Bahrain, and continue to urge the Government of Bahrain to investigate any such allegations promptly, thoroughly and impartially.