The European Parliament renews its call for the release of Nabeel Rajab

The EuropeanParliament crucially pointed out the extent to which Bahrain tramples on thelaw by keeping Mr. Nabeel Rajab in jail. It highlighted the fact thatnot only does Bahraini domestic law confirms that the latter is legallyeligible for release, but also refers to the fact that his detention hasbeen clearly recognised as arbitrary by the United Nations.

It is clear,from the reading of the European Parliament’s resolution, that continuousrefusal to release Mr. Nabeel Rajab would be additional evidence that, in fact,and despite repeated promises by Bahrain to conform to human rights law,Bahrain offers no credible progress.

“This European position bothclarifies and emphasises how concrete measures regarding the release ofarbitrary detained prisoners, the implementation of the BICI report and theUniversal Periodic Review, and the visit of UN Special Rapporteurs, arerequired for the EU to conclude on credible progress in Bahrain”, said FIDHPresident Karim Lahidji. “No more promises, the European Union nowrequires action”, he added.

“It is vitalfor the EU to keep standing up for what should be evident global principles:The liberation of human rights defenders and an end to impunity - two unkeptpromises following the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry”, said OMCT Secretary General Gerald Staberock. “Progress on human rights willneither be credible nor real for as long as human rights defenders are not freeor cannot work without fear of arrest and if impunity for torture remainspervasive and complete”, he urged.

The Observatory (an FIDH-OMCT joint programme)welcomes the overall picture given by the European Parliament, its call to“release all prisoners of conscience, political activists, journalists, humanrights defenders and peaceful protesters, including Nabeel Rajab, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Ibrahim Sharif, NajiFateel, and Zainab Al-Khawaja”, and its recognition that it is timenow for the European Union as a whole to engage in a stronger way with Bahrain.