Bahrain Mirror: Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin expressed his country's concerns about human rights in Bahrain, discrimination against the Shiite majority, and use of death penalty.

Martin stressed, in a statement, that "there are long-standing concerns about human rights in Bahrain, including freedom of expression, treatment of human rights defenders, conditions of detention, discrimination against the Shiite majority, and the use of death penalty."

He added: "We have raised our concerns about human rights in ministerial and diplomatic contacts with Bahrain, especially in the United Nations Human Rights Council," calling on Bahrain to "stick to its commitments on women's rights and combating human trafficking."

He stressed that "the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain and call on the Bahraini government to fulfill its stated commitment to making progress with regard to human rights," adding that "We will do this directly with Bahraini officials, as well as at the European Union and international levels, whenever the opportunity arises."

Arabic Version