British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced criticism for not addressing Bahrain’s human rights crisis during a meeting with Bahrain’s Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The London-based advocacy group, Bahrain Institute For Rights and Democracy (BIRD), highlighted the failure to bring up the issue of political prisoners during the visit, despite longstanding ties between Bahrain and the UK.
In July, Bahrain was removed from the UK’s list of human rights priority countries shortly after pledging a significant investment in Britain. Despite earlier promises to advocate for political prisoners in Bahrain, Starmer did not mention this crucial issue during the meeting with Al Khalifa.
BIRD’s advocacy director, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, emphasized past commitments made by Starmer when he was in opposition, including efforts to secure the release of imprisoned activist Hassan Mushaim. Alwadaei also raised concerns about Abduljalil al-Singace’s prolonged hunger strike and the imminent execution of several individuals on death row in Bahrain.
‘Urgent Action Needed’
Alwadaei urged Starmer to use his influence to address these human rights violations, emphasizing that lives are at stake. While Starmer’s government aims to secure trade agreements with Gulf countries, including Bahrain, activists stress the importance of prioritizing human rights in diplomatic relations.