Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any assessment was made of reports linking Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al’Khalifa to the torture of political dissidents in Bahrain before the Prime Minister met with Sheikh Nasser on 27 May 2022.

The alleged involvement of Sheikh Nasser in the torture of political dissidents in Bahrain was previously brought to the attention of the Metropolitan Police Service, which concluded there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a realistic prospect of prosecution. We take allegations or concerns of torture and mistreatment very seriously and will follow up with action, as appropriate. The UK Government unreservedly condemns the use of torture.