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Human Rights in Bahrain

Date:
Location:
B-318 Rayburn House Office Building

Hearing Notice

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on the current human rights situation in Bahrain. Since mid-February, reports of human rights violations in Bahrain have increased significantly as Bahraini authorities have attempted to suppress anti-government protests. There have been numerous, credible reports of violence, intimidation, inhumane treatment, and repression directed against peaceful protesters and medical personnel treating injured protesters. Even after protests effectively ended in mid-March, Bahraini security personnel have continued to target the Shi’a community generally and human rights defenders specifically.

This hearing will focus on human rights aspects of the Bahraini government’s response to the February protests. Specifically, the hearing will examine reports of extrajudicial killings, indiscriminate shootings of unarmed peaceful protesters, torture, beatings, arbitrary and warrantless arrests and detentions, and general harassment. While all of these allegations are serious, the targeting of medical personnel is of particular concern.

If you have any questions, please contact Mike McVicker (Rep. McGovern) at 202-225-3599.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chairman, TLHRC
 
Witnesses

Opening Remarks

Witnesses

Panel I

  • Mr. William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State (declined)*
  • Mr. Jeffrey D. Feltman, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State (declined)*

Panel II

  • Maryam Al-Khawaja, Bahrain Center for Human Rights
  • Mr. Joe Stork, Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa Division, Human Rights Watch
    Written testimony
  • Richard Sollom, MA, MPH, Deputy Director at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)
    Written testimony
Meeting Documents

Transcript

Video

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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