State Minister for Information Affairs stresses Bahrain human rights strides

Manama, April 13 (BNA)-- State Minister for Information Affairs Samira Ibrahim bin Rajab slammed attempts to downplay Bahrain's human rights strides. "Bahrain has made essential and tangible reforms in the human rights field," she said, describing attempts to tarnish Bahrain's image as politically-motivated and have nothing to do with reality. Speaking at the weekly press conference, held after the cabinet meeting, she stressed Bahrain's confident steps in developing legislations, laws and practices, which she said, are part of the development process of concepts and ways of dealing with human rights issues within an international perspective. She added there is a ministry in charge of the human rights issues and Bahrain is keen to ensure compatibility of its legislations with the international conventions it has signed. "Bahrain has always been and will ever remain committed to humanitarian values which have been put into practice on the ground throughout history," she said, stressing Bahrain's constant progress in the human rights field and unflinching adherence to international covenants in this respect. As for Bahrain's Anti-terrorism Law, the minister said Bahrain's legislations in this regard are no different from those in democratic countries. "We are working steadily to upgrade our legislations to ensure their compatibility with conventions and agreements signed by Bahrain, and there will be no article contravening them." "Ever since the reform project was launched, we ushered in a phase of modernisation within the perspective of democratic change and international obligations." "We will always honour those obligations and our legislations will never fall behind with them," she asserted. Concerning regulations to protect the security officers, she stressed commitment to international standards, adding that terrorism does not differentiate between a security officer or any other person. "Everyone has to assume his duty in protecting the Bahraini society from terrorism." A O Q