The Ministry of Human Rights and Social Development on Thursday clarified that the Irish delegation had entered into Bahrain as tourist and not as a fact finding mission. The Ministry issued a statement regarding incorrect local newspapers’ reports pertaining to some questions raised in the aftermath of the Irish delegation’s report published on the Irish Medical Times after their visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Following is the statement: “In the beginning, we would like to point out the Irish delegation had not obtained any prior permission from the Bahraini authorities before embarking on their visit to Bahrain or any permission to conduct the interviews they intended with officials in the Kingdom of Bahrain in accordance with international protocols applicable in this respect. The Irish delegation entered into the Kingdom within a touristic visit. Then they requested to conduct interviews with some officials. The Bahraini authorities responded to their request emanating from our belief that transparency constitutes the main essence of all work in the Bahraini government.”
“The Irish delegation evoked some worries inside the Bahraini community when they conducted their conference without a permit and built their conclusions on personal deductions and failed to verify accuracy of the articles especially as they have been in the Kingdom only one day: so how can they find out the truth about matters within such short time. Moreover, the delegation gave statements to the Irish newspaper in which they deliberately used words and expressions which insulted the person of the Minister when they said that the delegation politely listened to the minister’s speech. Politeness was mutual on the part of both sides. Also, the delegation alleged that the accusations against the medical doctors were made by the minister although they knew that this comes within exclusive jurisdiction of the Public Prosecution. What the minster retold to the delegation was merely a repetition of the accusations for which they doctors had already been referred before the criminal court,” the statement added.
“With reference to the interview of the minister of human rights and social development by the Irish delegation, some questions were raised from the Irish delegation regarding cases pending deliberation before the courts of law. This necessitated confining the discussion within legally allowable boundaries in this respect in the matter of some charges made against some of the doctors which not yet been adjudicated. The ministry would like to inform that the charges are there; otherwise these doctors would not have been referred before the judiciary. However, the matter of adjudication comes within jurisdiction of the judicial powers. Hence, the minister’s speech to the Irish delegation was confined to these limits and she did not issue charges emanating from her personally as she was just clarifying the charges for which the doctors were referred before the criminal court.”
“The allegation that the Irish delegation’s rejection of the minister of human rights and social development charges against the doctors: the issue of the accusation comes only under the jurisdiction of the judiciary powers. The executive authorities do not have any jurisdiction in this matter. Concisely, the matter of the Irish delegation’s rejection of these charges or lack of rejection is absolutely out the question. This cannot be discussed meanwhile the cases are being deliberated in the competent courts.”
“The Irish delegation’s act of demanding the release of the doctors who have been detained on criminal charges which are still being deliberated in the courts before issuance of any verdicts is considered unacceptable both in terms of sovereignty and law.
Regarding the delegation’s allegation that detainees are being maltreated and claiming that such allegation is documented through serious clues: the Bahraini judicial authorities, each judicial authority within its domain, welcome all evidences or documents which may prove such allegations. We do not accept sheer allegations without specific proofs that what is exactly what happened during the interview and we do hereby remind that the Kingdom of Bahrain is compliant with the Anti-Torture Treaty we joined in 1998.
“However, regarding the delegation’s claim that one of the detainees was in serious condition, the minister’s reply was that the ministry was going to consider this matter with the concerned authorities. However, regarding the allegation that the minister denied the delegation’s request to visit the detainees on criminal charges: the ministry would like to confirm that we are not the authorized vested to issue permits for such visit. The Bahraini law stipulated the requisite official procedures in such cases and vested the judiciary powers to enforce them,” it said.
“The Government of Bahrain is taken by surprise now that the Irish delegation has made these misstatements especially as we had treated them in the same way as the rest of international delegates despite the fact that the Irish delegation had not obtained any prior permission – that is before coming to Bahrain – in order to conduct these interviews,” it added.