By Ena Cefo
A February 11th hill briefing on “How to Bring
Stability to Bahrain” featured Rep. Jim McGovern, Bahraini human rights lawyer
Mohammed al Tajer and Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley. Bahrain has been criticized
for oppressing and jailing human rights activists and passing repressive laws
that increase the sentences for anyone “criticizing” the King and allow
denationalization of anyone who “causes harm” to the interests of the Kingdom
or “acts in a way that contravenes his duty of loyalty to it.” In its blueprint
for US involvement in addressing Bahrain’s human rights violations, HRF
highlighted the dangers of failing to act in Bahrain: exploitation of
sectarian tension by ISIS and other extremists, corruption and continued
instability, widespread protests, falling public support for the United States,
the threat to the U.S. Fifth Naval Fleet in Bahrain, and de facto U.S. support
for an authoritarian government. In order to address the situation, HRF
recommended that the United States play a key role in fighting against
corruption in Bahrain, reforming the Bahraini security force and ending the
punishment of civil society leaders.
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