Bahrain refutes UNHCHR charges

Geneva  : The Permanent Representative of the Kingdom, Ambassador Dr. Yousef Abdul Karim Bucheeri has refuted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights allegations during a public debate under item 2 of the 36th session of the Human Rights Council currently held in Geneva. 

He said the High Commissioner’s statement on the Kingdom of Bahrain lack credibility and are derived from sources that lack objectivity, which are incompatible with the Bahraini reality and ignores the achievements of the international community. 

The Kingdom of Bahrain has repeatedly affirmed during the sessions of the Council its position on these empty claims, which are irrelevant. The Constitution and national legislation guarantee the freedom of opinion, expression and political participation, thus giving civil society a wide range of freedoms and active participation in political and civil life. 

The claim that there is a growing narrowing of civil society organizations and political action is totally untrue in the evidence of the full exercise of civil and political rights.

Legislative and media activities have a free climate, law enforcement officials are bound by specific safeguards in cases of arrest and investigation, access to justice for all, and independent national mechanisms for redress and accountability.