Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Bahrain about the detention of Ali al-Hajee.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are aware of the arrest of Ali Al-Hajee on 28 February 2025 and subsequent release. When appropriate, including in instances where there are allegations of Human Rights infringements, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office follows and discusses individual cases with the Bahraini Government and with the independent oversight bodies, which have been established to deal with such matters.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the award of Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order to King Hamad of Bahrain was proposed by the Government.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Awards in the Royal Victorian Order are made personally by The King. With advice from His Majesty's Government, The King invested King Hamad of Bahrain with his Honorary Knighthood at Windsor Castle on 11 November 2024 in the year of his Silver Jubilee.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure the release of imprisoned human rights defenders and political activists in Bahrain; and what discussions they have had with Bahrain, if any, about the cases of (1) Abduljalil Al-Singace, (2) Hasan Mushaima, and (3) Sheikh Ali Salman.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We continue to follow and discuss the cases of Abduljalil Al Singace, Hasan Mushaima and Sheikh Ali Salman with the Bahraini Government, as well as with the independent oversight bodies, where appropriate.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, concerning the ongoing imprisonment of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja in Bahrain; and whether they plan to endorse calls for his unconditional release.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK continues to follow and discuss the case of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja with the Bahraini Government. The UK remains committed to supporting reforms in Bahrain and to encouraging the government to meet its human rights commitments.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports of human rights abuses in Bahrain’s Jau Prison, including arbitrary solitary confinement, physical assaults, and the prolonged use of shackles causing injury; what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain regarding these alleged violations; and what assessment they have made of the role played by Brigadier Abdulsalam Al Oraifi, the Director General of Reformation and Rehabilitation in Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK maintains a dialogue with Bahrain on issues including detention and prison conditions at Jau. We encourage individuals alleging concerns about treatment in detention to report them to Bahrain's independent oversight bodies, which are established to deal with such matters.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any taxpayer-funded training has been provided to Brigadier Abdulsalam Al Oraifi, the Director General of Reformation and Rehabilitation in Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior in the past ten years; and, if so, what assessment they have made of allegations he has been implicated in human rights abuses.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not provide direct funding to the Bahraini government or related security bodies or individuals. All FCDO-funded projects are delivered through implementing partners who provide training or technical assistance to local beneficiaries. Implementing partners have provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Interior in the last ten years. The FCDO does not hold records of individuals within the Ministry who have received technical assistance.
All cooperation through FCDO-funded programmes is subject to rigorous risk assessments, both at the outset and on an ongoing basis, to ensure all work meets our human rights obligations and values. We encourage individuals alleging concerns about treatment in detention to report them to Bahrain's independent oversight bodies, which are established to deal with such matters.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 16 December 2024 (HL3009), whether the review mentioned in the Answer has been concluded; and, if so, whether any further consideration has been given to making some or all of its findings public.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The review of the Gulf Strategy Fund's FY2023/24 thematic summary and how the data will be published from FY2024/25 is ongoing. Once agreement is reached on how we can best present Gulf Strategy Fund data in future, we will action the agreed approach.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 6 November (HL1953), whether the review mentioned in the Answer has been conducted; if not, when it is expected to conclude; and whether its findings will be made publicly available in the interests of transparency.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As mentioned in my answer to HL1953, the FCDO is committed to transparency. We are currently reviewing how to improve the quality of transparency data published about the Gulf Strategy Fund, to build on the Thematic Summaries already published annually to Gov.uk. Publication of the summary for 2023/24 will follow this review. The review is underway and is expected to conclude in January 2025, it is in the form of advice which is internal to the FCDO and will not be published.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Government Ministers and officials (1) were consulted, (2) were informed, and (3) provided advice, on the appointment of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order; and, if so, when.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Awards in the Royal Victorian Order are made personally by The King. With advice from His Majesty's Government, The King invested King Hamad of Bahrain with his Honorary Knighthood at Windsor Castle on 11 November 2024 in the year of his Silver Jubilee.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions to re-accredit the National Institute for Human Rights of Bahrain with “B” status; and what are the implications of that for their funding for the National Institute for Human Rights of Bahrain under the Gulf Strategy Fund.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK plays no role in recommendations made by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. The Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) does not provide direct funding to the Bahrain National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR). All GSF projects are delivered through implementing partners who provide training or technical assistance to local beneficiaries.