Little Satan UK reaffirms support for despotic Bahraini regime

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has met his Bahraini counterpart, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, reaffirming London’s support for the Arab country’s dictatorship while it faces accusations of human rights violations.

At a meeting in Britain’s Foreign Office on November 20, the UK government reiterated its backing for the ruling regime of the tiny Persian Gulf island despite Al Khalifa brutal crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in the region.

The Two sides signed a memorandum of understanding, established a joint work team, discussed bilateral issues, pledged to bolster their relations and committed to promote security and financial co-operation.

Speaking after the meeting, the British Foreign Secretary described the UK’s relation with the Arab kingdom as “strong and deep-rooted”, hailing the Bahraini regime for what he claimed to be efforts to address concerns about human rights.

However, a study by the Amnesty International titled “Bahrain: Reform Shelved, Repression Unleashed”, found that the human rights situation in the tiny Persian Gulf island state has deteriorated “markedly”.

Earlier in October, London and Manama also signed a strategic defense treaty, which made Britain responsible for maintaining security and stability in the Arab country by providing backing for its dictatorial regime.

Bahrain, the home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been the scene of anti-regime demonstrations since February 2011, in which scores of people have been killed and many others arrested in the violent Saudi-backed crackdown.