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May’s visit to have no positive result for Bahrainis: Analyst

Monday, 05 December 2016 5:44 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 05 December 2016 7:07 PM ]

British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) greets King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa outside 10 Downing Street in London on October 26, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Several rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have urged British Prime Minister Theresa May to raise concerns about the human rights situation in Bahrain as she is set to meet with leaders of the country as well as other regional Arab states in Bahrain's capital, Manama. The country has been resorting to crackdown to silence the voice of dissent since February 2011, when an uprising began against the regime. Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries or got arrested as a result of the Al Khalifa regime’s harsh crackdown on anti-regime activists.

A former Bahraini MP believes Theresa May’s visit will have no positive result for the people of Bahrain because the UK officials have been commending the Al Khalifa regime rather than trying to recommend it to talk to the opposition, whenever they have been in the country.

“The UK Prime Minister is well aware of the demands of the Bahraini people. It is not something extraordinary, just they are seeking to be ruling themselves, they want just democracy and they want the human rights, they want all the torture, the bloodshed to stop in Bahrain,” Jalal Fairooz told Press TV in an interview on Monday.

He also stated Theresa May has called for strengthening relations with Bahrain, saying these ties are “beneficial” to UK especially for selling arms.

He went on to say this is the reason why the prominent human rights groups have sent direct letters to her office, asking her to stop siding with the dictatorial and oppressive regime in Bahrain.

Fairooz further argued the British premier has to stand up for the British ethics of backing “human rights, dignity and freedom”, not supporting the “dictators” and the “tyranny” in Bahrain and other Persian Gulf states.

“She [Theresa May] should not be just looking for some short-term interests for her people by stepping on other people’s interests. She has to see that the situation can be better for all, it can be better for the international security and peace in the region as well,” he said.

According to the analyst, British people and organizations should put pressure on the UK government so that things will not go against Bahrainis’ interests.

May is to attend a meeting of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council heads of state set to begin in Manama on Tuesday.

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