Bahrain NGOs slam rights groups

Manama, June 11, 2011

Six Bahraini non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have condemned statements by international rights bodies following anti-government protests in the kingdom.

World human rights organisations and international figures have made statements on matters 'on which they are neither fully informed nor on which there has been consensus that may justify their judgements', the groups said.

Recent occurrences were neither an aggression nor a targeting of any particular sect, they clarified in a statement yesterday.

The six groups - Bahrain Jurists Society, Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society, National Action Charter Society, National Dialogue Society, Constitutional Assembly Society and Islamic Ranks Society - also outlined the kingdom's democratic and economic growth under reforms launched by His Majesty King Hamad.

Bahrain is a dynamic, multi-ethnic and pluralist society that has made 'substantial and striking progress in the field of human rights in both legislation and practice', the groups said.

The NGOs' statement comes as Bahrain is gearing up for a comprehensive national dialogue, without pre-conditions, on reforms.-TradeArabia News Service

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