The Ministry stressed that keeping sustainable contact with all various international human rights organizations, particularly in regard of the information it issues on the Bahraini human rights conditions, and called for the need to have accuracy concerning the information contained in the official data, for this step reflects the professionalism of the Amnesty International and the way it establishes its human rights stances.
The ministry has replied for the report of the Amnesty International, in relation to the Amnesty International’s stance on the recent human rights developments in Bahrain, particularly in the light of the government’s implementation of the recommendations issued by the National Assembly, which reflect the public will to enforce law against violators.
The statement of the ministry to Amnesty International included that Kingdom of Bahrain always seeks preserving the principle of protecting human rights and reinforcing it, therefore civil society organizations are considered an important partner in reinforcing human rights in case they are committed to neutrality, and credibility.
The ministry highlighted for Amnesty International that after the escalation and increase of violence attacks and terrorism, varying their means and targeting public and private interests as well as threatening the safety of citizens and residents, of which led to the rise of the public demands for the Legislative Authority to take speedy and deterrent procedures to confront the growing terrorism and preserve civil safety in Bahrain. Therefore, the National Assembly issued its recommendations in response of those prerequisites.
The ministry added
The Judiciary also states that there is no authority whatsoever over the judge in his judgment, no interference in the course of justice, the law ensures the independence of judiciary and clarifies such ensuring of judges and their rulings.
The ministry has also corrected some misinformation contained in the statement of Amnesty International, for all the recommendations issued by the National Assembly concerning the amendment of the law to protect society from terrorist acts were contained in the statement.
Among the recommendations included in the statement, the recommendation related to not compromising with the fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of opinion in a way which balances between the application of law and the preservation of human rights, as well as other themes related to encouraging national dialogue, and preserving national cohesion.
Also, among the recommendations, the inauguration of programmes for rehabilitation of young people who were not exploited in crimes, as well as the recommendation concerned with highlighting the danger of terrorism, and its impact on the stability and economy of society, and discarding any issues related to it in the framework of Bahrain’s commitment to activating the Security Council’s Resolution No (1373) issued in 2001.
The ministry also stressed in its reply that naturalization is a sovereign issue in the first place, which is regulated by national legislation, and the state has the upper decision in this regard, as long as it is not arbitrary and based on the legal and realistic justification, and it is, in the meantime, consistent with the international legal norms in this regard.
In reference to what has been mentioned, Kingdom of Bahrain’s toppling of the nationality comes in consistence with the international acts for human rights in case it is based on a true law and it is not arbitrary.
In regard of the standoffs in the Capital City, Manama, the ministry pointed out in the statement that it is consistent with the international act for civil and political rights in articles 21 and 22 (2), of which Bahrain joined in accordance with law No. (56) for 2006, therefore, developing the regulations to practice this right is needed as long as the regulations are in accordance with the law and the necessity to preserve national security, or public order, or public safety, or public health, or public morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
Also, if there were no annoyances for any human rights activists or defenders of human rights, as they, like everyone else in Bahrain, are subject to the rule of law, and accountability if violating its provisions.
The ministry also pointed out in the statement, the establishment of the Ombudsman at the Interior Ministry to be administratively and financially independent, and in implementation of the recommendation of Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, and its serious intention to take all measures to preserve human rights.
The ministry included in the statement that a special unit for investigation related to the Public Prosecution was established, which is considered a part of the judiciary in the Kingdom, in the areas of accountability of the crime of torturing. Also, the amendments of the Penal Code were contained in the statement, which identifies the crime of torture in accordance with the international standards, stipulating that such crime is not cancelled because of the elapse of time, as a full protection for the victims of such heinous crime.
It is worth mentioning that an official letter has been sent by Minister of Human Rights to the officials in the Amnesty International to clarify the facts and reveal the fallacies included in the Amnesty International’s report.