• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

UK MPs call for arms embargo on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, May 24, IRNA -- A group of MPs, led by Labour representative Katy Clark, are calling on the UK government to pressure Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to end “their repressive measures” in Bahrain by suspending arms sales to both countries.

In an Early Day Motion (EDM) raised in parliament, the MPs “strongly” condemned the continuing repressive measures taken against those involved in pro-democracy protests by the regime of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Bahrain.

They expressed “serious concern” that around 30 demonstrators are reported to have been killed by Government forces, including at least three children, one of whom, Ahmed Shams, was shot in the head while playing outside his home.

The EDM, raised by Clark, also said the MPs were “deeply worried” at reports of sexual abuse of schoolgirls in the country and “troubled” at the death penalty awarded to four demonstrators for the murder of two policemen despite concerns raised by human rights organisations about the fairness of the trial.

Other abuses included the “continuing imprisonment, sacking from their jobs, and harassment of those suspected of involvement in pro-democracy protests.”

Clark also spoke out against the bulldozing of ancient mosques and other places of worship and of cultural importance by the regime's forces and condemned the continuing presence of troops from Saudi Arabia in the country.

Her EDM called on the UK government “to put every diplomatic pressure possible on their Bahraini and Saudi counterparts, including an immediate suspension of the sale of arms to both countries, to end their repressive measures and move towards giving the people in Bahrain a greater say in their own affairs.”

In an interview with IRNA last week, Foreign Office spokesman Barry Marston said the UK had so far revoked 23 single licences and 16 open licences for Bahrain,

The cancelled licences cover equipment that could be used for riot control, including tear gas, crowd control ammunition, assault rifles, body armour, radio communications equipment, and components for military utility vehicles.

But Marston disputed testimony from protesters that British arms have been used against demonstrations, saying he had “no evidence to suggest that United Kingdom supplied equipment has been used during the recent protests in Bahrain.”