Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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264. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) was arrested by the Bahraini security forces without a warrant after they raided their home; and if he will raise this case with his Bahraini counterpart and call for their immediate and unconditional release. [32837/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the case referenced by the Deputy, and am concerned by reports of this person’s arrest.

Just yesterday, officials from my Department met with their counterparts from the Embassy of Bahrain in London, where they raised Ireland’s concerns about the situation of the individual in question, as well as the human rights situation in Bahrain more generally.

The deterioration of the human rights situation in Bahrain has been the subject of several Questions in this House recently, and continues to be of considerable concern. As I have previously outlined, despite repeatedly stating its commitment to improving its human rights record, the Bahraini Government appears to be targeting those who express disagreement with or criticism of the Government. A number of worrying developments suggest an increasingly restrictive attitude to those opposing or challenging the Government in any way. Statements from the Bahraini Government on its commitment to safeguarding human rights enshrined in the Bahraini Constitution ring hollow when there are so many examples of violations of the most fundamental freedoms, including those of opinion and expression (which includes the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas), thought, conscience and religion, and movement.

Ireland attaches a high priority to safeguarding human rights defenders such as the person referenced by the Deputy. My Department continually advocates for freedom for civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling environment, without repression. Ireland’s concerns about human rights issues and restrictions of civil liberties in Bahrain is regularly conveyed to the Bahraini authorities, including through the Bahraini Embassy in London and through Ireland’s (non-resident) Ambassador to Bahrain.

Officials from my Department also raised ongoing human rights concerns with Bahrain in the context of its Universal Periodic Review, which took place in Geneva in May. In advance of this review, the Irish Mission to the UN in Geneva supported an event by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, where human rights concerns in the Kingdom were discussed. Ireland also made specific reference to Bahrain in our Item 4 (Human Rights situations that require the Council's attention) Statement at the Human Rights Council in Geneva last September, expressing concern about “restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association aimed at silencing the voice of civil society and human rights defenders in countries including Bahrain”.

My Department will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Bahrain, and will utilise every appropriate opportunity to raise Ireland’s concerns with the Bahraini authorities, as it has done on this occasion.