Mentions:
1: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) agreements have been signed with Jordan and Egypt, but there are further chapters in that process with Bahrain - Speech Link
Correspondence May. 21 2024
Committee: Justice and Home Affairs CommitteeFound: On 1 February 2024, the scheme opened for nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates,
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2024 to Question 24574 on Bahrain: Political Prisoners, which individual cases his Department are monitoring; and whether he has made recent representations to his Bahraini counterpart on their releases.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO continues to discuss human rights regularly with Bahrain, including some individual cases where appropriate and when specific allegations relating to them are raised. Whilst we sometimes comment publicly, we also engage constructively in private. The FCDO has not made recent representations to Bahrain on the release of the individuals mentioned in Question 24574.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2024 to Question 25364 on Bahrain: Official Visits, whether any (a) Departments, (b) agencies and (c) public bodies were responsible for (i) arranging, (ii) coordinating and (iii) advising the meeting between Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HM the King on 3 May 2024.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office had no involvement in the meeting between Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HM the King on 3 May 2024.
Information regarding any other departments, agencies and public bodies involved in arranging, coordinating, or advising this meeting is not held centrally.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2024 to Question 24574 on Bahrain: Political Prisoners, if he will list the individual human rights cases discussed with Bahrain Foreign Minister Al Zayani on 22 April 2024.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's close and long-standing relationship with Bahrain continues to allow for a genuine and mutually beneficial dialogue, including on individual cases we discuss where allegations relating to human rights are made. Whilst we sometimes comment publicly, we most often engage constructively in private and do not as a matter of course release the details of Ministerial discussions with international counterparts.
Written Evidence May. 20 2024
Inquiry: Defending DemocracyFound: These governments are the following: Bahrain China Equatorial Guinea Iran Russia Rwanda Saudi
Mentions:
1: Leo Docherty (Con - Aldershot) I was very pleased recently to visit the magnificent sailors of the Royal Navy stationed in Bahrain. - Speech Link
2: Leo Docherty (Con - Aldershot) Having been in Bahrain and Qatar in recent days, I can report that the morale and conditions of those - Speech Link
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of (a) the statement by Amnesty International entitled Bahrain: human rights activist faces trial in further prosecution for protesting travel ban, published on 3 May 2024, and (b) other reports by human rights organisations on that matter; and if he will make representations to his Bharani counterpart on ensuring that human rights are upheld.
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 and is aware of the report by Amnesty International. We continue to draw upon a range of sources when assessing the situation in Bahrain. The UK remains committed to supporting reforms in Bahrain and to encouraging the government to meet its human rights commitments.
Found: The Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the U nited Arab Emirates (UAE) , Oman,
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether his Department was involved in arranging the meeting between Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HM the King on 3 May 2024.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO was not involved in arranging the meeting referenced between HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and His Majesty The King.