Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy entitled Bahrain convicts 13 political prisoners in a mass trial amid credible torture allegations, published on 28 September 2023, whether his Department holds information on alleged use of (a) mass trials and (b) torture in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO is aware of reporting about the court proceedings referenced in the press release. We have previously been assured in other cases (where individuals linked to one charge are tried together) that an individual's right to separate legal representation of their choice is guaranteed by law. We continue to encourage allegations of torture or mistreatment to be reported to the appropriate national oversight body whose duty it is to carry out full and independent investigations into such claims.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she held discussions with the Interior Minister of Bahrain on (a) Hassan Mushaima, (b) Abduljalil al-Singace, (c) Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, (d) Abdulwahab Husain, (e) Sheikh Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, (f) Mohammed Ramadhan and (g) Husain Moosa in April 2023.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

The Home Office does not comment on individual cases.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution by the Leader of the House of 22 July 2022, Official Report, column 1133, what recent steps he has taken to encourage the Government of Bahrain to return Dr al-Singace’s research and release him and other political opposition leaders immediately and unconditionally.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our close and long-standing ties with Bahrain allow UK Ministers and senior officials to raise sensitive human rights issues, including individual cases, regularly, privately and effectively. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad raised a range of human rights topics during his visit to Bahrain on Sunday 12 February, including the individual case mentioned. We encourage those with concerns to raise them directly with the appropriate Bahraini oversight body.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2022 to Question 102994 on Bahrain: Political Prisoners, what progress has been made on the human rights of (a) Hassan Mushaima, (b) Abduljalil al-Singace, (c) Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, (d) Abdulwahab Husain, (e) Sheikh Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, (f) Mohammed Ramadhan and (g) Husain Moosa following the Foreign Secretary's meetings on 19 and 20 November 2022.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO continues to follow matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain closely, including some individual cases. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, recently raised a range of human rights concerns during his visit to Bahrain on Sunday 12 February.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2022 to Question 102994, which individual cases were raised during the Foreign Secretary's meetings with (a) the Bahrain Foreign Minister on 19 November 2022 and (b) with HRH the Crown Prince & Prime Minister of Bahrain on 20 November 2022.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the honourable Member to the answer given on 13 December 2022 to Question 102994, the answer can be found on the Q&A web pages on https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-12-05/102994

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2022 to Question 92357 on Bahrain: Political Prisoners, whether he raised (a) human rights and (b) the cases of (i) Hassan Mushaima, (ii) Abduljalil al-Singace, (iii) Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, (iv) Abdulwahab Husain, (v) Sheikh Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, (vi) Mohammed Ramadhan or (vii) Husain Moosa by name during his meeting with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister on 19 November 2022.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to follow developments on matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain. Our close and long-standing ties with Bahrain allow UK Ministers and senior officials to raise sensitive human rights issues, including individual cases, regularly, privately and effectively. The topic of human rights was raised in the Foreign Secretary's meetings with the Bahrain Foreign Minister on 19 November 2022 and with HRH the Crown Prince & Prime Minister of Bahrain on 20 November 2022.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2022 to Question 92357 on Bahrain: Political Prisoners, whether he raised (a) human rights and (b) the cases of (i) Hassan Mushaima, (ii) Abduljalil al-Singace, (iii) Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, (iv) Abdulwahab Husain, (v) Sheikh Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, (vi) Mohammed Ramadhan or (vii) Husain Moosa by name during his meeting with the Prime Minister of Bahrain on 19 November 2022.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to follow developments on matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain. Our close and long-standing ties with Bahrain allow UK Ministers and senior officials to raise sensitive human rights issues, including individual cases, regularly, privately and effectively. The topic of human rights was raised in the Foreign Secretary's meetings with the Bahrain Foreign Minister on 19 November 2022 and with HRH the Crown Prince & Prime Minister of Bahrain on 20 November 2022.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his counterparts in Bahrain to press for the immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned opposition leaders and human rights activists Hassan Mushaima, Abduljalil al-Singace, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Abdulwahab Husain and Sheikh Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Officials and ministers have regular discussions with Bahraini counterparts on human rights issues, most recently the Foreign Secretary's meeting with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani this month in Bahrain. We continue to follow developments on all matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain and discuss individual cases both with the Bahraini Government as well as with the independent oversight bodies when necessary.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to help ensure the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners in Bahrain.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Officials and ministers have regular discussions with senior Bahraini counterparts on human rights issues, most recently during Lord (tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon's meeting with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani in September in New York. We continue to monitor developments on all matters that relate to human rights within Bahrain and discuss individual cases both with the Bahraini Government as well as with the independent oversight bodies.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the report of the United Nations Secretary General, published on 14 September 2022, which names individuals Bahrain has subjected to reprisals, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of that reprisals' report; and what representations he plans to make to his counterparts in the government of Bahrain on (a) the individuals mentioned in that report to be provided with redress and (b) the immediate and unconditional release of (i) Abdulhadi AlKhawaja, (ii) Abduljali AlSingace and (iii) Hassan Mushaima and (c) restoration of citizenship to Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei and the release of his brother in law Sayed Nizar.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

We have noted this report and continue to follow and discuss the cases of Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, Abduljali Al Singace and Hasan Mushaima, amongst others, with the Bahraini Government as well as with the independent human rights oversight bodies. We encourage those with concerns about their detention to raise them as necessary with the relevant oversight bodies.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on taking diplomatic steps to help encourage the Government of Bahrain to release Hasan Mushaima and other political prisoners in Bahrain.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

Officials and ministers have regular discussions with senior Bahraini counterparts on human rights, including most recently during the former Minister for the Middle East's Amanda Milling visit to Bahrain from 2-3 July. We continue to follow and discuss the case of Hassan Mushaima and others, as necessary, with the Bahraini Government as well as with the independent oversight bodies.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Bahraini counterpart on the cases of (a) Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace and (b) Hasan Mushaima.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Officials and ministers have regular discussions with senior Bahraini counterparts on human rights, including most recently during my visit to Bahrain from 2-3 July.

We continue to follow and discuss the cases of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace, Hassan Mushaima and others with the Bahraini Government as well as with the independent oversight bodies. We continue to encourage those with concerns to raise them directly with the appropriate Bahraini oversight body.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will make representations to the Bahrain Government on (a) ending punitive measures against Hassan Mushaima and (b) his immediate and unconditional release.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

We continue to monitor and discuss the case of Hassan Mushaima and others with the Bahraini Government as well as with the independent oversight bodies. We encourage those with concerns to raise them directly with the relevant oversight bodies.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in Bahrain on securing the immediate release of (a) Hasan Mushaima and (b) Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

We continue to monitor and regularly raise the cases of Hasan Mushaima, Dr Abduljalil al-Singace and others with the Bahraini Government as well as with the independent oversight bodies.

The British Ambassador and other international representatives visited Jau prison on 3 May 2021. Officials and ministers regularly discuss human rights issues and individual cases with senior members of the Government of Bahrain, as well as with the independent human rights oversight bodies. The visit by Minister of State for South and Central Asia, UN and the Commonwealth, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad to Bahrain from 13-14 February was such an opportunity. We continue to encourage those with concerns to raise them directly with the relevant oversight bodies.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to help encourage the release of numerous political prisoners in Bahrain.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Officials and ministers regularly discuss human rights issues and individual cases with senior members of the Government of Bahrain, as well as with the independent human rights oversight bodies. The visit by Minister of State for South and Central Asia, UN and the Commonwealth, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad to Bahrain from 13-14 February was such an opportunity. We encourage those with concerns to raise them directly with the relevant oversight bodies.