Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to help prevent renewed political violence in Bahrain, in the light of recent reports of executions, arrests and deprivations of citizenship in that country.

We continue to urge the Government of Bahrain to guarantee and protect political freedoms for all its citizens. We also work closely with the Government of Bahrain to encourage progress on human rights and to encourage the development of effective and accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law and justice reform. In particular the UK continues to support oversight institutions, such as the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman and the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission, in order to provide independent oversight of police behaviour and detention standards.

The Government of Bahrain is fully aware of our opposition to the use of capital sentences in all circumstances. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this in his public statement on 15 January. We will continue to raise this issue, and other human rights concerns, with the Bahraini authorities.