BAHRAIN (No. 2)

Motion Text

That this House notes with dismay that during 1997 human rights violations have continued to take place in Bahrain despite condemnation by international human rights agencies; is gravely concerned that, since December 1994, those participating in popular demonstrations, calling for democratic reforms and the reinstatement of the 1973 constitution, have faced violent repression, extrajudicial killings; and arbitrary detention under the unconstitutional 1974 State Security Act, which allows detention without charge or trial for up to three years; is appalled that detainees are held incommunicado, denied access to families, lawyers and doctors, and face torture and ill-treatment, and even death while in custody; calls on the Bahrain Government to abolish the State Security Court, where trials are held in camera and whose procedures violate basic human rights; urges Bahrain to introduce fair public trials and due process of law according to accepted international standards; and calls on the Bahrain Government to bring to an end these human rights abuses, to immediately release all political prisoners, and to allow the hundreds of Bahrainis forcibly exiled because of their political activities to return safely to their homeland.