Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
19. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised concerns regarding human rights violations in Bahrain, including the detention of political prisoners and conditions in prisons, directly with Bahraini authorities; if he has raised these issues at UN, EU or other multilateral level; and if he will make a statement on the current situation in Bahrain. [56517/23]
View answerThere are long standing human rights concerns in Bahrain, including freedom of expression, treatment of human rights defenders, conditions of detention, discrimination against the Shia majority and the use of the death penalty. Bahrain has repeatedly stated its commitment to improving its human rights record and safeguarding human rights as enshrined in the Bahraini Constitution, but there are ongoing instances of violations of fundamental freedoms there, including violations of freedom of expression, as well as the targeting of human rights defenders. Ireland attaches a high priority to safeguarding human rights defenders, and continually advocates for freedom for civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling environment, without repression.
We have raised our human rights concerns in Ministerial and diplomatic contacts with Bahrain, and in particular at the UN Human Rights Council.
Most recently, the seventh meeting of the Bahrain-EU Human Rights Dialogue took place in October 2023. The dialogue covered a broad range of topics, such as freedom of expression and association, rule of law, the right to a fair trial, including certain individual cases, and the death penalty. Bahrain invited the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to visit the country.
Ireland and our EU partners welcomed the progress made by Bahrain on women’s rights, as well as the ongoing efforts to promote interfaith dialogue, and to counter human trafficking. The European Union encouraged Bahrain to continue along this path, and to maintain its wider human rights obligations, especially as regards to human rights defenders.
My Department will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain, and to call on the Bahraini Government to deliver on its stated commitment to make progress in relation to human rights. We shall do so both directly with Bahraini officials, as well as at EU and international level, whenever opportunities arise.
