HRC: 35 States Condemn Bahrain Measures against Opposition, Call for Comprehensive Reforms

Thirty-five member states at Human Rights Council in the United Nations Condemned on Thursday the measures taken by the Bahraini authorities against the political opposition factions, calling for comprehensive reforms to stabilize security in the country, as the European Union issued a statement to the HRC, backed by eight countries, including Britain, expressing concerns about stripping political opponents of citizenship.

Permanent Representative of Slovakia Federer Rosucha read the EU statement during the HRC 33rd session, it which he called for stability, reforms and comprehensive reconciliation in Bahrain.

“The European Union is worried about the measures taken against the political opposition in Bahrain, in addition to stripping citizens of nationality,” the statement read, calling on Bahrain to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and ill-treatment to visit the country.

The Slovakian delegate said the EU statement is supported by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and the Republic of Macedonia.

For his part, Britain’s ambassador to the Human Rights Council announced his country’s support to the statement of the European Union, noting Britain’s concern about recent developments in Bahrain and calling on the Al-Khalifa government to guarantee and protect human rights and freedoms of all citizens.