Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Bahraini authorities on the Bahraini Court of Appeal's decision to uphold the sentence against the human rights activist Nabeel Rajab.

Our Embassy in Bahrain has closely monitored the trials of Mr Rajab. Officials from the Embassy regularly attend Mr Rajab's court hearings, including the latest appeal verdict hearing. We have raised this case at senior levels. I am aware that there is now an opportunity for Mr Rajab's legal team to apply to the Court of Cassation to hear an appeal on this latest sentence. Our officials will continue to monitor the case closely.

I expressed my concerns on the sentence in my written statement of 21 February. I also reiterated the UK's call for Bahrain to protect freedom of expression for all its citizens, in line with their international obligations.