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Written Question
Bahrain: Technical Assistance
Thursday 1st June 2023

Asked by: Richard Burgon (Labour - Leeds East)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to continue to provide technical assistance to the (a) Ministry of Interior, (b) Ministry of Interior Ombudsman and (c) Special Investigations Unit of Bahrain through (i) the Gulf Strategy Fund and (ii) other means.

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

The FCDO supports Bahraini-led reforms in a range of areas, including security and justice. All assistance is delivered through implementing partners under the Gulf Strategy Fund. The latest list of projects in Bahrain for Financial Year 2022/23 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-development-assistance-oda-fcdo-international-programme-spend-objectives-2022-to-2023/fcdo-gulf-strategy-fund-gsf.

The FCDO will continue to support the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Interior's Ombudsman and the Special Investigation Unit of Bahrain in Financial Year 2023/24.


Written Question
Hussein Al-Saadi
Friday 21st October 2022

Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that (1) political prisoner Hussein Al-Saadi has been returned to Jau Prison in Bahrain despite suffering from heart problems and sickle cell disease, and (2) complaints made to Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior Ombudsman have not secured Al-Saadi adequate medical treatment, what urgent representations they will make to the government of Bahrain on this case.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Officials and ministers have regular discussions with senior Bahraini counterparts on human rights issues, including most recently during Lord Ahmad's meeting with the Bahraini Foreign Minister in New York. The Government of Bahrain has been clear that access to medical care for those in detention is guaranteed and provided. We welcome these assurances, urge continued transparency and encourage those with concerns to raise them with the appropriate Bahraini human rights oversight body.


Written Question
Bahrain: Human Rights
Monday 19th July 2021

Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assurances he has sought from the Government of Bahrain on the strengthening of (a) the Bahraini Ministry of Interior Ombudsman and (b) other human rights oversight institutions in that country in response to the provision of support to Bahrain through the Gulf Strategy Fund.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The FCDO's International Programme (IP), and within it the Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF), is a vital tool in promoting positive change and reforms across the world, including in the Gulf. Our programmes help our partners to continue their human rights reform, address key climate change and green growth opportunities and challenges, tackle illicit finance, improve marine conservation, promote economic diversification, promote diversity and inclusion including on LGBTQ+ rights, and develop their institutions.

All cooperation through the International Programme, including the Gulf Strategy Fund, is subject to rigorous risk assessments to ensure all work meets our human rights obligations and our values. The Government does not shy away from raising legitimate human rights concerns, and encourage other states to respect international law.

We now publish an annual summary of the GSF's work on gov.uk. We will not publish further information where doing so presents risks to our staff, programme suppliers and beneficiaries, or which may impact our relationships with our international partners, and therefore our ability to influence their reform efforts. We will provide updates on an annual basis.


Written Question
Bahraini Ministry of Interior Ombudsman
Tuesday 6th July 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the investigation published on 7 June 2021 by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Human Rights Watch on abuses of children in detention and the adequacy of the Bahraini Ministry of Interior Ombudsman, what assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of the Bahraini Ministry of Interior Ombudsman; and whether the Government plans to continue allocating financial support to that Ombudsman through the Gulf Strategy Fund.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

We believe that consistent, positive steps are being made on security and justice reform in Bahrain. Continued progress is in the interest of Bahrain, the UK and the international community. While we recognise that challenges remain, we are clear that stepping back from our engagement would not help to achieve this. Working in cooperation with the UNDP in Bahrain, we plan to continue our support through the Gulf Strategy Fund to strengthen Bahrain's human rights oversight institutions, including the Ombudsman.


Written Question
Bahrain: Capital Punishment
Tuesday 1st September 2020

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Bahraini counterpart on allegations of (a) torture and (b) due process violations in the case of (i) Mohammed Ramadhan and (ii) Husain Moosa who have been sentenced to death in that country; and what recent comparative assessment he has made of the accuracy of (A) Bahrain's Special Investigation Unit, (B) the Bahraini Ombudsman and (C) independent experts at the International Rehabilitation for Torture Victims.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

Lord Ahmad, the Minister of State responsible for human rights, publicly expressed our deep concern at the decision by Bahrain's Court of Cassation to uphold the death penalty verdicts imposed on Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa on 13 July. We have raised both cases at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. The Bahraini Government is fully aware that the UK opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle.

The UK welcomed the investigation by the Ombudsman and Special Investigation Unit into the cases of Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa, ultimately leading to their retrial - a first in Bahrain.

The UK is committed to supporting Bahrain's oversight bodies, including the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman and the independent Special Investigations Unit. We continue to believe that Bahrain is taking steps in the right direction to improve its performance on justice and security issues. The support we provide to these bodies, including in partnership with UN Development Programme, contributes to the ongoing development of their capacity and capability, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16.

The UK Government takes note of a number of sources of information when making assessments on Bahrain. Our latest assessment was published as part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights and Democracy Report in July 2020.


Written Question
Bahrain: Capital Punishment
Monday 20th July 2020

Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the decision by Bahrain’s Court of Cassation to uphold death sentences against Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa on 13 July 2020, if he will suspend Government support for (a) the Bahraini Special Investigations Unit, (b) the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman and (c) other Bahraini institutions accused of complicity in the torture of both men.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

We are deeply concerned that the death penalty verdicts imposed on Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa by Bahrain's Court of Cassation have been upheld. Lord Ahmad, who is the Minister of State responsible for human rights, reinforced this position in his tweet of 14 July. We have raised both cases at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. The Bahraini Government is fully aware that the UK opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle.

The UK welcomed the investigation by the Ombudsman and Special Investigation Unit into the cases of Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa, ultimately leading to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice ordering a retrial - a first in Bahrain.

The UK is committed to supporting Bahrain's oversight bodies, including the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman and the independent Special Investigations Unit. We continue to believe that Bahrain is taking steps in the right direction to improve its record on justice and security issues. The support we provide to these bodies, including in partnership with the UN Development Programme contributing to their work to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 16 (strengthening institutions and increasing access to justice), contributes to the ongoing development of both their capacity and capabilities.


Written Question
Bahrain: Political Prisoners
Thursday 16th January 2020

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to undertake a review of the Government's support for (a) Bahrain’s Special Investigations Unit and (b) the Ombudsman of the Ministry of the Interior, following the death sentences that were handed down on 8 January 2020 to Mohammed Ramadan and Husain Moosa.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The UK welcomed the investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Unit on the cases of Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa and its recommendation that the cases should be re-tried – a first in Bahrain. As I tweeted on 8 January, we are deeply concerned about the death sentences given to Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa. The Government of Bahrain are fully aware that the UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty, in all circumstances. The UK has, and will, continue to monitor the cases closely and raise concerns with senior members of the Bahraini Government.

Bahrain remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Priority Country; there is more to do, but we believe progress will only be made by working with Bahrain. Assistance, which is kept under regular review, is provided in line with international standards, and fully complies with our human rights obligations and the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance process.


Written Question
Bahrain: Political Prisoners
Wednesday 13th February 2019

Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to Answer of 15 November 2018 to Quesrion 188258, whether any steps have been taken on behalf of Bahraini female political prisoners Hajer Mansoor, Najah Yusuf and Medina Ali to ensure that the Bahraini authorities allow them to see their families without the physical barrier which was imposed in September 2018.

Answered by Alistair Burt

As the Honourable Lady will know from answers in this House and the other place, our Embassy in Bahrain and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continue to monitor the cases of Hajer Mansoor, Najah Ahmed Yusuf and Medina Ali.

We continue to encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the relevant human rights oversight bodies. We also continue to encourage these bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such allegations. We understand that the National Institution for Human Rights and the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman are aware of these cases and have been in contact with the three individuals in question.


Written Question
Bahrain: Political Prisoners
Monday 10th December 2018

Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 19 November (HL11289), why the allegations of mistreatment reported by Bahraini female political prisoners, Hajer Mansoor Hassan, Medina Ali and Najah Yusuf, by Isa Town prison authorities have not been reported under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Torture and Mistreatment Reporting Guidance.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the appropriate oversight body. We urge these oversight bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such claims. We understand that the National Institution for Human Rights and the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman are aware of these cases and have been in direct contact with the three individuals.


Written Question
Bahrain: Detainees
Monday 3rd December 2018

Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 26 July 2017 (HL844 and HL845), 8 January (HL4425 and HL4427), 8 May (HL7180 and HL7183), 11 May (HL7811), 18 June (HL8316), 25 June (HL8576 and HL8577), 4 July (HL8871), 25 July (HL9605), 23 October (HL10580, HL10581, HL10582, HL10583, HL10584, and HL10585), and 5 November (HL10908, HL10909, HL10910, and HL10961), what assessment they have made of the UN Committee against Torture’s concluding remarks on the second and third periodic reports of Bahrain, published on 29 May 2017, and its concerns that the Bahraini bodies to which people may file complaints about torture or ill-treatment are “not independent”, have “little or no effect”, and provide “negligible information regarding the outcome of their activities”; and, in the light of those concerns, why they “encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the relevant human rights oversight bodies”.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We believe that the oversight bodies in Bahrain, including the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman, are structured so that they are able to operate independently from the organisations that they oversee. While these bodies still have more to do, they have already demonstrated their abilities including through the prosecution of more than 70 police officers accused of human rights abuses.