Human Rights Organizations in Opposition to Bahrain Arms Sale

The decision by the Obama Administration to move forward with a proposed arms sale to Bahrain has been largely criticized by several human rights and international organizations. News of the newly-proposed arms sale surfaced last week surrounded by controversy due to its lack of transparency and explanation.

Freedom House released a statement raising concerns about the message the U.S. is sending to the Bahraini regime and the international community. President of Freedom House David Kramer said that the U.S “should not consider any arms sale” taking into account the absence of  serious reform and continued human rights abuses. “By breaking up the sale of these items into small packages, the Administration is sidestepping the important process of Congressional oversight and public disclosure,” said Charles W. Dunne, director for Middle East and North Africa programs at Freedom House. Dunne went on to say that the “Administration’s assurances” that the sale items will not be used against protesters “does not suffice.”

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) called for transparency regarding the contents of the sale and called the sale “unnecessary.” Chief Policy Officer Hans Hogrefe said the sale of arms at this time is sending the message “that the U.S. will continue to help the Government of Bahrain no matter what it does to its citizens.” Reports of “nightly raids, abductions, and beatings” of peaceful protesters and “intimidation” of medical professionals attempting to assist the wounded have continued to surface. PHR urged the U.S. to “take a strong and unwavering stance” against regimes use of force against civilians.

Additionally, Human Rights First demanded an explanation of “what’s behind” the sale and called on the U.S. to “condemn the ongoing crackdown” as the 1 year anniversary of the unrest approaches. The article stated that the governement is making “pre-emptive strikes” as February 14 nears, citing 29 “night raids” where “masked civilians” broke into homes of villages making unwarranted arrests.”   Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley concluded saying, “it is hard to think of a worse time to transfer military goods to the Bahraini regime.”

Just Foreign Policy has sent an email alert calling for action concerning the proposed sale.