Press Releases

U.S. REP. JIM MCGOVERN CALLS FOR POLITICAL REFORM AND REJECTION OF VIOLENCE IN BAHRAIN

As the Bahraini opposition plans a major demonstration for this Friday, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) called on the Bahraini government to allow Bahrainis to gather peaceably and express their political views. He urged both the Bahraini government and the Bahraini opposition to reject the use of violence.

More than three months have now passed since the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (or Bassiouni Commission) issued a report cataloguing abuses by the Bahraini government and recommending important reforms. While the Bahraini government has taken some limited steps toward reform, Congressman McGovern expressed disappointment that it has not made the most critical changes recommended by the Bassiouni Commission. These necessary reforms include releasing all detainees who have only engaged in peaceful political expression; establishing independent mechanisms for overseeing all detentions, investigating all allegations of torture, and holding accountable civilian and military officials who committed abuses; and reforming the judiciary to ensure that all future trials are fair and follow international standards of due process.

Congressman McGovern urged the Bahraini government to seize the moment to fully implement these - and all other Bassiouni Commission proposals - without delay.