Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012
23. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to support imprisoned Irish trained doctors in Bahrain who have had their appeals rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44907/12]
View answer38. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent decision of Bahrain's highest court which upheld the jail terms issued against nine medics convicted for their role in last year's pro-democracy uprising, especially the case of Dr. Ali al-Ekry, who was trained here; and if he has raised these cases with the Bahraini Government. [44820/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 38 together.
The Government has made clear its concerns on this case at every opportunity to the Bahraini authorities. We have repeatedly raised this case with the Bahraini Ambassador in London and through our Ambassador in Riyadh who is accredited to Bahrain. Officials in my Department again conveyed our strong concerns to the Bahraini authorities through diplomatic channels after the Court of Cassation’s decision on 1 October to uphold the prison sentences against a number of doctors, including some who trained in Ireland.
Given the great concerns and doubts which have surrounded the case of the medics from the start, and particularly in light of the well-documented reports of ill-treatment to which many of those originally detained were subject, I believe that the Bahraini Government should consider exercising clemency and releasing those medical professionals who have now been imprisoned. Such an act of clemency would also be very much in the wider interests of promoting urgently needed reconciliation and national dialogue within Bahrain. I therefore urge King Hamad and the Bahrain Government to take account of the widespread international concerns which exist and to agree to release those now imprisoned following the verdict in the Court of Cassation.
I also again urge the Bahraini authorities to follow up on the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry Report, particularly the recommendation that an independent and impartial body should conduct effective investigations of all allegations of torture in detention. I believe that such investigations would demonstrate Bahrain’s determination to ensure mistreatment in custody cannot happen again, and would contribute to initiating a genuine process of reform.
