ADHRB raises the Culture of Impunity among officials in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, the gruesome killing of former Saudi official and journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul is a vivid example of culture impunity. While for several years the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman was blamed and accused for the brutal killing. After the release of the US intelligence report it should be clear and beyond the reasonable doubt that the actual person responsible behind giving the orders of the killing is no one but Mohammad bin Salman. What made the Saudi Crown Prince engages in such crime is the believe that government officials can get away with any crimes of human rights just because they can and because they are above any accountability.
In Bahrain, the picture is not very much different. Where we have the son of the king Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa engaged in consistent human rights violations where he personally tortured opposition figures, human rights defenders, and athletes. Instead of investigating the crimes he committed, the Bahraini king promoted him to a higher post in his government. This is yet another example of how culture of impunity has spread in Bahrain among highest officials in the country.
The only way this issue could be addressed comprehensively is when officials like MBS and Nasser bin Hamad face international consequences whether from this body or the security council or the new passed Magnitski Act.
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 Irish TD Tables Question About the Human Rights and Democracy Situation in Bahrain
A member of the Dáil Éireann, Seán Haughey TD, put forward a written question to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, regarding the current situation of human rights and democracy in Bahrain and what Ireland is doing to address it. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) welcomes this parliamentary question and thanks Deputy Haughey for bringing attention to the ongoing human rights abuses and the plight of human rights defenders and political activists in Bahrain.
The question: “…if Ireland is supportive of the promotion of democracy and basic human rights in Bahrain; if Ireland can advance these objectives through the membership of the EU and the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.”
In his response to Deputy Haughey’s question, Minister Simon Coveney stated that “[r]espect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy” and that “[t]he human rights situation in Bahrain remains a matter of serious concern”. Furthermore, Minister Coveney noted that “[a]lthough Bahrain has repeatedly stated its commitment to improving its human rights record and safeguarding human rights as enshrined in the Bahraini Constitution, we [Ireland] are concerned by ongoing instances of violations of fundamental freedoms, including violations of freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the targeting of human rights defenders”. Minister Coveney also noted that Ireland currently “engages on the issue of human rights in Bahrain through the European Union” and that at the EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue, chaired by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore, “[a] number of issues of concern were raised with Bahrain at the forum, including rule of law, prison conditions, right to a fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, death penalty, torture, and the impact of Covid-19 on the human rights situation”. He also stated that Ireland has raised concerns on the human rights situation in the UN Human Rights Council.
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