Bahrain
(asked on 26th February 2015) - View Source
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he and Ministers in his Department have made to their counterparts in Bahrain on the use of torture in that country.
This question was answered on 5th March 2015
The UK regularly discusses issues of reform with the government of Bahrain. In January, My Rt Hon and noble Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Baroness Anelay met the Bahraini justice minister and discussed the importance of holding police officers accused of mistreatment to account. Our Ambassador to Bahrain has raised our concerns over allegations of torture and mistreatment with Bahraini ministers. In addition to voicing these concerns, the UK is providing practical assistance to the Government of Bahrain to prevent the use of torture and to address allegations of its use. In particular, the UK is providing support to the Ministry of Interior’s Ombudsman and the Special Investigations Unit, both of whom have responsibility for investigating allegations against security personnel. When allegations are made, we continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to investigate promptly, thoroughly and impartially and hold any person found guilty of such charges accountable.
The UK regularly discusses issues of reform with the government of Bahrain. In January, My Rt Hon and noble Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Baroness Anelay met the Bahraini justice minister and discussed the importance of holding police officers accused of mistreatment to account. Our Ambassador to Bahrain has raised our concerns over allegations of torture and mistreatment with Bahraini ministers. In addition to voicing these concerns, the UK is providing practical assistance to the Government of Bahrain to prevent the use of torture and to address allegations of its use. In particular, the UK is providing support to the Ministry of Interior’s Ombudsman and the Special Investigations Unit, both of whom have responsibility for investigating allegations against security personnel. When allegations are made, we continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to investigate promptly, thoroughly and impartially and hold any person found guilty of such charges accountable.