Katy Clark MP
A British Member of Parliament has called on the UK Government to review it’s relationship with Bahrain and ensure human rights concerns are central to any dealings with the Government of Bahrain.
Katy Clark, Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, has tabled an Early Day Motion to Parliament citing the recent report of Physicians for Human Rights on tear gas use in Bahrain. The motion is currently signed by 13 other MP’s from across the political spectrum and “calls on the Government (UK) to ensure that human rights concerns form the centre-point of all discussions with the Bahraini government until such time that the human rights situation in that country improves.”
In a statement Katy Clark highlighted the recent upholding of sentences against 13 opposition figures as proof of a lack of reforms. She said, “The most recent decision by the Bahraini court of appeal demonstrates that any reforms in the Kingdom have merely been cosmetic and that harsh reprisals continue to take place.”
She also accused the British Government of double standards on Bahrain saying, “While the Government was at the forefront of efforts to oppose the repressive Gaddafi regime in Libya and is currently providing support to the Free Syrian Army in its attempts to oust Assad it has repeatedly failed to support those in Bahrain campaigning for greater freedom and democracy.”
Adding, “This double-standard must not be allowed to continue and the British Government should now place respect for human rights ahead of its desire to get back to business as usual with Bahrain.”
