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UK rejects imposing sanctions against Bahrain

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, May 11, IRNA -- The UK government has rejected imposing sanctions and asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider charges of crimes against humanity against Bahraini leaders following the brutal clampdown on protests as has happened with other Arab states.

“At this present stage, we do not consider travel bans or other charges and moves of that kind to be a proper way forward,” said Foreign Office Minister Lord Howell.

Howell argued that his government continued to believe the way ahead is to have a national dialogue in Bahrain to meet the problems of what he described as “an appalling situation of inter-regional strife between the Shia majority and the Sunni minority that represents the ruling group.”

“This is an intense tension. Its effects are in danger of spreading to other parts of the Middle East, with all kinds of results that we do not want,” he warned.

“Therefore, for the moment, we stick to the view that we must urge these countries, the ruling family and the leaders on both sides-the opposition and the ruling group-to move towards a national dialogue. That is what they say they want and that is what we are urging them to do as hard as we can at the moment.”

The minister was challenged to impose sanctions during a debate in the House of Lords on Tuesday following the arrest and reported torture of medical staff, who are being charged with crimes against the monarchy.

“We are deeply concerned about reports of the severe charges brought against a large number of doctors and nurses by a Bahraini military tribunal. It is essential that medical personnel can treat their patients free from political interference,” Howell said.

“The arrest of doctors and nurses seeking to perform their duties is clearly an appalling situation,” he said, but insisted that “not all aspects of this case are clear at the moment.”

Conservative peer Lord Ribeiro, who is a consultant surgeon by profession, said the minister had a list of 17 doctors detained and that the reports of torture and beatings confirmed the Bahrain regime was “failing in their duty of care to protect doctors and medical staff.”

“The International Code of Medical Ethics, adopted in 1949 and amended in 2006, states: 'A physician shall give emergency care as a humanitarian duty',” he told his fellow peers.

Lib Dem peer Lord Avebury said that unless the detainees are released and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is permitted to carry out an impartial investigation, a “travel ban” should be imposed on leading members of the regime and ICC should be asked to consider charges of “crimes against humanity.”

Former foreign secretary Lord Owen also called on the UK government to use its position in all the international bodies available, including the Security Council, the WHO and all the humanitarian bodies, to raise the issue at the very highest level.

“There is now very clear evidence of targeted action against individuals who are caring for people who come into hospital as a result of demonstrations. The Bahrain Government, who have had good relations with this country over many years, must now listen to those representations,” Owen said.

Howell insisted that the representations the UK are making are “strong” but again insisted for the second time that “not all aspects of this issue and this whole case are entirely clear at the moment.”

“Any interference with those who are trying to dispense treatment - if they are arrested and treated as criminals - would be appalling. All those matters need very close investigation,” he said, but added that he was “not yet convinced” whether it is the right moment to raise them in all the bodies.