Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the proposed constitutional change in Bahrain to allow military courts to try civilians on human rights in that country.

We will be following the legislative process on the proposed constitutional amendment closely. The UK recognises the genuine threat from terrorism which Bahrain faces. We continue to work closely with the Government of Bahrain to encourage progress on human rights, which includes building effective and accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and police and judicial reform. We continue to encourage Bahrain to live up to its international and domestic human rights obligations.