Human Rights First Welcomes Political Prisoner Releases in Bahrain

Human Rights First today welcomed news from Bahrain that hundreds more prisoners are to be freed, and urged the Manama government to continue the momentum on releasing political prisoners.

“We have campaigned for over a decade for the release of those unjustly jailed in Bahrain, and these new developments are to be encouraged and welcomed,” said Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley. “If Bahrain is now addressing its human rights problems with real action rather than cosmetic reforms, we have to say this is progress.”

Human Rights First noted that many more prisoners are yet to be released who should never have been jailed, including leading human rights defenders Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and Abduljalil Al Singace, and activists including Hassan Mushaima Sheikh Ali Salman.

Today’s releases follow hundreds of prisoners freed last month. It is so far unclear how many of those due to be released imminently are political prisoners.

Human Rights First has campaigned for the release of activists since 2011, when many were jailed in the aftermath of popular protests for democracy. Human Rights First has testified about prominent and lesser known activists jailed in Bahrain in the U.S. Congress and in European Parliaments, and consistently raised their cases with the UN.

Human Rights First joined dozens of other NGOs in a letter released today to UN member states before a General Assembly debate tomorrow themed: “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.” The letter urges States to raise the cases of prominent activists still in jail in Bahrain.

“Bahrain has shown it’s capable of releasing large numbers of political prisoners,” said Dooley. “Now it’s found the political will to move in the right direction it should keep going.”