Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission – Hearing Bahrain
Human Rights in Bahrain
Hearing Friday, May 13, 2011 10 AM B-318 Rayburn House Office Building
This hearing will take place at 10 AM on 5/13/2011, in B-318 Rayburn House Office Building.
The Hearing is open to members of Congress, congressional staff, the media and the interested public.
Date Friday, May 13, 2011
Time 10 AM
Location B-318 Rayburn House Office Building
Background *REVISED NOTICE*
Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on the current human rights situation in Bahrain. Since mid-February, reports of human rights violations in Bahrain have increased significantly as Bahraini authorities have attempted to suppress anti-government protests. There have been numerous, credible reports of violence, intimidation, inhumane treatment, and repression directed against peaceful protesters and medical personnel treating injured protesters. Even after protests effectively ended in mid-March, Bahraini security personnel have continued to target the Shi’a community generally and human rights defenders specifically.
This hearing will focus on human rights aspects of the Bahraini government’s response to the February protests. Specifically, the hearing will examine reports of extrajudicial killings, indiscriminate shootings of unarmed peaceful protesters, torture, beatings, arbitrary and warrantless arrests and detentions, and general harassment. While all of these allegations are serious, the targeting of medical personnel is of particular concern.
Witness List Panel I:
Mr. William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State *(declined)*
Mr. Jeffrey D. Feltman, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs,U.S. Department of State *(declined)*
Panel II:
Maryam Al-Khawaja, Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Mr. Joe Stork, Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa Division, Human Rights Watch
Richard Sollom, MA, MPH, Deputy Director at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)
If you have any questions, please contact Mike McVicker (Rep. McGovern) at 202-225-3599.
James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
