Mubasher: Bahrain has condemned a resolution issued against it and its judiciary system by the European Parliament.

The case pertains to Bahrain's decision to incarcerate certain persons, whose imprisonment is seen by the European Parliament as unlawful and a violation of human rights.

“The resolution of the European Parliament reflects a superficial view and completely disregards the challenges facing the region and Bahrain in particular. They include external interference in its internal affairs and the growing violence and terrorism that threaten security and stability and undermine the government’s implementation of programmes of sustainable development as well as the preservation of human rights," the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Bahrain also said that the European Parliament's resolution, which called for releasing prisoners, was based on “false information that completely disregards the progress achieved in promoting and protecting human rights in the country across all the civil, political, economic, social and cultural areas.”

The Kingdom of Bahrain stated that it could not accept any prejudice to the integrity and independence of its judiciary and judicial system.

The case pertains to human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, whose five-year sentence was upheld  by the Bahraini high court, and who according to the European Parliament resolution was accused of "disseminating false rumours in time of war, insulting a neighbouring country, and ‘insulting a statutory body in relation to tweets he posted."

"Whereas these charges are based on provisions that criminalise the right to freedom of expression, protected under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Bahrain ratified in 2006; whereas Mr Rajab is now expected to pursue a final appeal before Bahrain’s Court of Cassation," the European Parliament's statement indicated.

Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that the resolution ought to have called for eliminating violence and respecting human rights such as the right to security and life.

While it condemned the European Parliament's resolution, Bahrain stressed its commitment to respecting and ensuring the respect to human rights and freedoms as per the provisions of the Constitution and the legislation and its international human rights obligations under the human rights conventions it has ratified.  

The Bahraini ministry further stated that it would examine the content of the European resolution and respond in detail at a later time.

Bahrain “assures cooperation with all relevant international bodies and mechanisms, including building on the successes achieved between the kingdom and the European Union and its mechanisms,” the ministry concluded.

The ministry said that it would study the content of the European resolution and respond in detail at a later stage.