Bahrain
House of Lords
Lord Patten (Conservative)
To ask her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the 4 September decision of a Bahraini appeals court to uphold the conviction of opposition figures for allegedly plotting to overthrow the state. [HL2202]
Baroness Warsi (Conservative)
We were very disappointed by the Bahrain civilian court's decision to uphold all the sentences of 13 political activists in Bahrain on 4 September. Reports at the time these individuals were sentenced, acknowledged by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, suggested that some had been abused in detention, denied access to legal counsel and were coerced into confessing.
We urge the Bahraini Government to ensure the human rights and freedoms of their citizens are fully upheld at all times. We are aware that the defendants can now appeal to the Cassation Court. We expect this process to be conducted thoroughly and with urgency, while ensuring due legal process is followed. We will continue to monitor the appeal process very closely.