Question
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the concerns raised in the letter sent by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 6 October regarding t
Answer
The Government is aware of concerns raised regarding the mass trial of Shia clerics in Bahrain. We regularly discuss human rights issues with the Government of Bahrain, including fair trial guarantees and due process. We encourage all countries, including Bahrain, to uphold international human rights commitments.
Verdict: AMBER (35/100)
The question asked for the Government's view on specific concerns raised in a letter about the mass trial of Shia clerics in Bahrain. The reply acknowledges those concerns and says fair trial and due process have been raised with the Bahraini authorities, but it never gives the Government's own assessment of the concerns in the letter. The answer is therefore only partly responsive and mostly general, and the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for a specific position.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the department's assessment or view of the concerns raised in the letter from the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy to the Foreign Secretary dated 6 October (the subject matter of the letter is cut off in the question text provided) | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply acknowledges awareness of concerns about the mass trial of Shia clerics and says fair trial and due process are raised with Bahrain, which gives some indication of the Government's position. However, it never states an assessment or view of the concerns in the BIRD letter itself, and the letter's subject is cut off in the question, so the reply is only a partial, somewhat general response. |