Cameron, stop supporting Bahrain tyranny

By Paddy McGuffin in Britain:

Cameron urged to stand up to Bahrain

Thursday 23 August 2012

Amnesty International urged David Cameron today to tell the Bahraini royal family that Britain will not “stand idly by” while the regime continues to jail human rights campaigners.

It made the call as the PM met King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa at No 10 against the backdrop of a crackdown on dissent in Bahrain which has seen numerous activists jailed.

Amnesty UK director Kate Allen said: “There’s been a facade of supposed reform in Bahrain in recent months, but the reality is that the country’s courts have been jailing human rights defenders and peaceful protesters.

“We want Mr Cameron to make it crystal clear that the UK will not stand idly by while Bahrain proceeds to lock up its dissidents.”

Bahrain Centre for Human Rights president Nabeel Rajab was sentenced to three years in prison last week after being found guilty of taking part in an “illegal gathering” and other charges related to a protest in the Bahraini capital Manama in February.

Amnesty described his jailing as a “dark day for justice in Bahrain.”

Bahrain rights activist Nabeel Rajab acquitted over tweet, still in jail: here.

Bahraini human rights activist sentenced to three years: here.

Overturn Charges Against Human Rights Activist in Bahrain: here.

Independent UN experts call for end to persecution of rights defenders in Bahrain: here.

An Invisible Nation: The Gulf’s Stateless Communities: here.