Bahrain Mirror: The European Parliament adopted an urgency resolution on Thursday (July 9, 2015), calling for the immediate release of the leader of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Sheikh Ali Salman, and the president of Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, along with the "Bahrain 13" prisoners.

The Parliament called for "the immediate and unconditional release of all human rights defenders, political activists and other individuals detained and charged with alleged violations related to the rights of expression, peaceful assembly and association."

The resolution published on the European Parliament's website urged the Bahraini government "to put an end to all human rights abuses and to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, in line with Bahrain's international human rights obligations."

The resolution also urged "the Bahraini government to swiftly implement all the recommendations in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) as well as recommendations made by other UN mechanisms."

The Parliament further expressed its "grave concern regarding the misuse of anti-terrorism laws in Bahrain to violate human rights, including through the revocation of nationality," while condemning "the continuing use of torture and other cruel, degrading treatment."

The European parliament encouraged the Government of Bahrain "to cooperate with the UN special rapporteurs and to issue a standing invitation to them," and urged it "to take all steps to guarantee an impartial and fair judicial system."

It also called on the Bahraini authorities "to pursue the national consensus dialogue with a view to finding lasting and inclusive national reconciliation and sustainable political solutions for the crisis."

"EU-Bahrain human rights dialogue cannot replace a comprehensive dialogue between the government and the opposition in Bahrain itself," the European Parliament resolution further read.

The Arabic Issue