Shura Council highlights Bahrain’s rights strides; condemns EU Parliament’s resolution

Manama, Mar.11 (BNA): The Shura Council strongly condemned the European Parliament’s flawed report which contained misinformation and false facts about the human rights situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain. “The report which was published today (Thursday) came in a unilateral view, lacked objectivity and professionalism, and didn’t follow the basic framework of parliamentary work”, it said. The Shura Council rejected the interference of the European Parliament in the internal affairs of the Kingdom and the deliberate falsification of facts which portrays Bahrain in an offensive and reprehensible manner. “This act constitutes a clear violation of the international treaties and conventions, and a clear circumvention of parliamentary norms”, it said in a statement today. It expressed strong dissatisfaction with the European Parliament's discussion of these resolutions that contain lies and irrelevant information, which are not based on any evidence, but rather provocative opinions and that hold suspicious political agendas in order to discredit Bahrain’s reputation. It noted that the resolution approved by the European Parliament overlooked all the bright aspects of Human Rights of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the multiple situations in which Bahrain has proved to accelerate and pioneer in the fields of protecting human rights. The Council affirmed the Kingdom’s full commitment to human rights values and principles instated by the international conventions and agreements that Bahrain signed, which reflects a commendable human right record of Bahrain on regional and international levels. The Kingdom of Bahrain has an advanced legislation system that guarantees the rights of all the people of Bahrain and determines their duties, based on the Constitution and National Action Charter. The Council has amended the Penalty Law and introduced Alternative Penalties Law, which protects the cohesion of society, and enables the inmates to reengage into the community. The Council reflects the efforts made by Bahrain has made to develop a legal framework to protect Children through promulgating the Corrective Justice Law for Children and their Protection from Ill-Treatment and highlights the recent initiative “Open Prison" which is considered a highly advanced jailing system that aims to promote inmates’ rights. In addition, anyone who is following the progress of human rights news will be aware of its presence as a priority for Bahrain, and its effort to protect it through the ongoing programs and initiatives. Amongst Bahrain's initiative to provide 5 types of vaccines (COVID-19) free of charge to citizens and residents alike, as well as providing them to inmates and prisoners who wish to take the vaccine. To conclude, the Council stated that Bahrain is proud to have multiple accomplished and independent human rights organisations like the Commission for Prisoners and Detainees, National Institute for Human Rights, and the Ombudsman. “These institutions work round the clock, to ensure Bahrain applies the highest standards of justice and human rights”, it said. Citing many other civil society organisations that play an important role in raising awareness of the principles and values of human rights.