July 2020

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for writing to me about Mohammed Ramadhan, Husain Moosa and human rights in Bahrain. I have read your email carefully and noted the key points that you raise.

I appreciate your strength of feeling on this issue, and I am very sympathetic to your concerns. Human rights and democracy are fundamental to the values the UK champions on the world stage, which is why I am glad that Bahrain is a human rights priority country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The UK has been providing a range of technical and practical assistance to the Government of Bahrain since 2013 to bring about improvements in the robustness of their oversight bodies. I believe that working together in this way offers the best opportunity to see the positive changes which the Government of Bahrain has committed to implementing, including on international agendas such as women’s empowerment and combating modern slavery.

The UK's position on the use of the death penalty is longstanding and clear. The UK opposes its use in all circumstances and countries.

I am deeply concerned about the cases of Mohamed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa. The UK has raised and will continue to raise the cases both of Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa at senior levels with the Government of Bahrain. The Government of Bahrain is fully aware that the UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty, in all circumstances. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa publicly stated in January the UK's deep concern that death sentences were handed out. Following the Court of Cessation’s decision on the 13th July, the Government continues to make strong representations at the highest level, as do I.

For more information please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?world_locations%5B%5D=bahrain

I hope this helps to clarify the UK’s commitment to addressing Bahrain’s human rights record. Please be assured that I will continue to follow developments very closely indeed and I will also continue to lobby and engage with the Foreign Secretary and senior Government colleagues on this hugely important issue too.

Thank you again for writing to me.

With best wishes.

Kind regards,

Jonathan Lord MP

Member of Parliament for Woking