Administration Urged to Condemn Attacks on Protesters in Bahrain

Washington, D.C. — Human Rights First today called on the Trump Administration to condemn the actions of Bahraini security forces who reportedly attacked peaceful protesters in the village of Duraz. Local reports indicate that at least one man has been killed and many other injured.

“The security force raid is deeply disturbing, and we urge the Bahraini security forces not to attack peaceful protestors,” said Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley. “It is especially alarming that the raid comes just two days after President Trump met the king of Bahrain and assured him that there would no longer be any strain on the U.S.-Bahrain relationship. President Trump should immediately speak out against these attacks and make clear that repression of peaceful civil society will damage the bilateral relationship with Bahrain.”

President Trump met with the Bahraini king on Sunday during his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he reportedly told the king “We’re going to have a very, very long-term relationship. I look forward to it very much – many of the same things in common.” The Trump Administration has lifted human rights ties imposed by the Obama Administration on the sales of F-16s to Bahrain, despite ongoing targeting and repression of human rights defenders, civil society, and peaceful opposition leaders in Bahrain.

“These latest attacks on peaceful protesters show that the Bahraini regime took Trump’s words Sunday as a signal to intensify its repression without fear of censure,” added Dooley.