Brussels, 07/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament called on Thursday 7 July for an end to be brought to all acts of violence, harassment and intimidation, “including at judicial level”, and to the censorship of human rights defenders, political opponents, peaceful protesters and civil society actors by state authorities and the security forces and services in Bahrain.
In a joint resolution by the ECR, Greens/EFA, EFDD, EPP, S&D and ALDE Groups, MEPs call for “the immediate and unconditional release” of Nabeel Rajab and other human rights defenders imprisoned and for all charges against them to be dropped.
“It is unacceptable for representatives of civil society and the media to be prevented from participating in the work of international bodies”, MEPs add, condemning the imposition of travel bans on the delegation of human rights activists on their way to attend the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Parliament insists that the Bahraini authorities respect the fundamental human and political rights of Bahraini civil society representatives.
MEPs insist on an immediate halt to the suppression of different political opinions in the country and the repression of their leading representatives, regardless of their political or religious affiliation. They are particularly critical of the use being made of revocation of nationality “as a means of political pressure and punishment”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)