CIVICUS joined 31 human rights organisations in a joint letter urging the European Union (EU) to engage Bahraini authorities to call for the immediate and unconditional release of EU-Bahraini nationals Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Sheikh Mohammed Habib Al-Muqdad. They have been arbitrarily detained for 14 years, enduring torture and denial of medical care.
Mr Al-Khawaja, and Mr Al-Muqdad were among the human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and opposition activists arrested and tortured by the Bahraini authorities following a 2011 uprising.
The signatories are concerned about EU’s misleading portrayal of Bahrain’s human rights and democracy. EU’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy 2023, states “Bahrain continued to improve its human rights record, notably in the area of social and economic rights and women’s rights.” The report fails to capture torture and denial of medical care endured by the members of political opposition.
We urge the EU to take action to secure the release of the Danish and Swedish detainees by engaging with the King of Bahrain. We also call on EU to correct reporting on Bahrain’s human rights context and end capital punishment.
EU’s agreements with Bahrain must be contingent on accurate human rights reporting in the country through independent assessments engaging the civil society. Concrete human rights progress in the country depends on the release of those unjustly imprisoned for dissent and conditions where human rights defenders can carry out their peaceful work without fear.
