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Bahrain Seven Years Later

Date:
Location:
2200 Rayburn House Office Building

Announcement

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a briefing on the human rights situation in Bahrain on the seventh anniversary of its pro-democracy uprising.  

Bahrain, host of the headquarters of the United States 5th Fleet, is a majority Shia country ruled by a Sunni monarchy. In February 2011, citizens rose up to protest state corruption, security force abuses, a dysfunctional justice system, and the lack of democracy. The government reacted by arresting, jailing and torturing protestors, including medical personnel. Some people were killed and eventually hundreds were convicted of political charges linked to the protests, including opposition leaders who received life sentences for terrorism. After the fact, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) investigated and issued a report with modest recommendations for reforms that were accepted by the government and became a point of reference for constructive change.

Seven years later, the BICI recommendations have not been fully implemented, and some changes that had been achieved have been rolled back – in particular, in October 2017 Bahrain resumed the practice of trying civilians in military courts. The major opposition political parties have been outlawed, hundreds of people have been stripped of their citizenship, and a conflict that was originally political has become increasingly sectarian. Restrictions on arms transfers imposed by the Obama administration have been lifted by President Trump, as the Bahraini government has increasingly sought to link its internal opposition to Iran.

Panelists will provide a comprehensive update on the current human rights situation, the prospects for democratic reforms and the implications for security and stability in the region.  

This briefing will be open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the interested public, and the media. For any questions, please contact Kimberly Stanton at 202-225-3599 or Kimberly.Stanton@mail.house.gov (for Rep. McGovern) or Matthew Singer at 202-226-3989 or Matthew.Singer@mail.house.gov (for Rep. Hultgren). 

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Randy Hultgren
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Opening Remarks

Panelists

  • Husain Abdulla, Executive Director, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain
  • Maryam al-Khawaja, Human Rights Defender and Independent Consultant, Gulf Center for Human Rights
  • Andrea Prasow, Deputy Washington Director, Human Rights Watch
  • Dwight Bashir, Director of Policy and Research, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
  • Andrew Miller, Deputy Director for Policy, Project on Middle East Democracy

Moderator

  • Brian Dooley, Senior Advisor, Human Rights First

Bios

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
Fax: +1 (202) 226-6584
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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