Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 22 January (HL340), what assessment they have made of whether the trial of Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa in Bahrain (1) was fair, and (2) met international standards.

The UK continues to encourage the Government of Bahrain to follow due process in all cases and meet its international and domestic human rights commitments.

The right to a fair trial is enshrined in the constitution of Bahrain. Bahrain stated publically both the original conviction in 2014 and any rejection of appeals, such as the verdict announced on January 8 2020, must be agreed unanimously by the judges, and in accordance with international law and human rights standards including the United Nations Safeguards. These include a requirement for the court to base its decision on receipt of clear and convincing evidence which leaves “no room for an alternative explanation of the facts”.

British Embassy officials were in attendance of the retrial. The case, which is ongoing, has not yet reached a final verdict as it will now be considered in the Court of Cassation. We continue to monitor the case.

The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa recently publicly stated that, we are deeply concerned that the death penalty has been issued to Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa.

The Government of Bahrain is fully aware that the UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty, in all circumstances.