Bahraini Rights Activists Lobby Capitol Hill

Bahraini Rights Activists Lobby Capitol Hill
18 January, 2013 – Marjan Asi – Press TV, Washington

Activists in Washington have been lobbying Capitol Hill for a more humanitarian approach towards Bahrain. The move comes amid controversy surrounding the U-S selling arms to the government of the of the Persian Gulf kingdom.
A delegation of Bahraini rights activists have been walking the halls of Congress this week to advocate for humanitarian US policies toward its ally Bahrain.

In a series of advocacy efforts, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain has been campaigning to educate Congressional representatives and others within the US government about the dismal human rights record of the Al Khalifah regime.

In recent news of controversial US ties with the island kingdom, documents from the Department of Defense reveal that weapons were sold to the monarchy between February 2011 and February 2012, while it was cracking down on peaceful protesters.

Items sold to the Bahraini regime include ammunition, combat vehicle parts, communication equipment, Blackhawk helicopters and an unidentified missile system.

Though the United States maintains its arms sales are meant for Bahrain’s external defense, Bahraini activists state US weapons have already been used to injure Bahraini dissidents.

Bahraini doctor Qasim Omran, who was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in Bahraini prison for treating injured protesters, witnessed the effects of the Bahraini government’s suppression of protesters.

The group states it will continue its education and advocacy efforts in the US government in hopes of influencing politicians to pressure their ally to curb its rights violations. …source