News story

UK welcomes announcement of a National Dialogue and the lifting of the State of National Safety in Bahrain

Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt said it is now critical that there is concrete change and genuine political reform, to ensure long term stability in Bahrain.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said:

“We welcome the King’s announcement of a National Dialogue and the lifting of the State of National Safety. It’s now critical that there is concrete change and genuine political reform, the only way to ensuring long term stability.

We remain deeply concerned by reports of human rights abuses, including the recent arrests of protestors and medical staff and the nature of the charges brought against them. We continue strongly to urge the Government of Bahrain to meet all its human rights obligations and uphold political freedoms, equal access to justice and the rule of law.”

Published 1 June 2011