Bahrain Mirror: The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office voiced its concern over measures taken by the government in 2016 which further restricted some civil liberties, including freedom of expression and assembly.

"These include the dissolution of the main Shia opposition political society in Bahrain, Al Wefaq; the arrest of prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab in relation to tweets issued in 2015; and the announced revocation of citizenship of Bahraini Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim," the UK Foreign Office said in its annual 2016 Report on Human Rights and Democracy.

The report also said that the UK is "concerned over the alleged prevention of some Bahraini activists from travelling to the UN Human Rights Council in June and September 2016."

"We also have concerns over the deprivation of citizenship where this renders individuals stateless. The UK Government has discussed its human rights concerns with the Government of Bahrain both in public and in private," the report further added.

Moreover, the UK Foreign Office praised in its report Bahrain's progressive status in "women's rights, political representation, labour rights, religious tolerance and institutional accountability."

Arabic Version