Co-Chairs to Bahrain: Stay Executions of AlArab and AlMalali

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Reps. Christopher H. Smith and James P. McGovern, Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued the following statement in response to reports of the imminent execution by the state of Bahrain of two Bahraini citizens, Ali AlArab, 25, and Ahmed AlMalali, 24.

"We appeal to the King of Bahrain to stay the executions of Ali AlArab and Ahmed AlMalali, as their confessions appear to have been obtained via the use of torture and without sufficient regard to the due process rights of the accused. We call upon the government of Bahrain to grant them a procedurally-fair and impartial retrial. We also urge the Bahraini government to provide all its citizens with equal protection under the law, including members of the Shia community."

Arrested on February 9, 2017, the two men were convicted of terrorism offenses and sentenced to death by a court on January 31, 2018, in a mass trial marred by allegations of torture and serious due process violations. The death sentences were upheld by the Court of Cassation on May 6, 2019. Under Bahraini law, the king has the power to ratify the sentence, commute it, or grant a pardon.

The bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, composed of members of the U.S. House of Representatives, promotes, defends and advocates for international human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.