US Wrongly Resumes Military Aid to Bahrain

Washington

In response to the United States announcing its resumption of military aid to Bahrain, Freedom House issued the following statement:

"The Obama Administration’s  decision to lift the hold on military assistance to Bahrain cannot be attributed to improvements in political rights or civil liberties in Bahrain because no such improvements exist," said Mark P. Lagon, president  of Freedom House. ”Thousands of Bahrainis remain imprisoned  for voicing opposition to the government, and reports of torture are widespread. If anything, punishment and discrimination for ordinary Bahrainis is deepening.   As a result of its latest decision, the United States has stepped away from trying to improve respect there for fundamental human rights."

Bahrain is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2015, Freedom of the Press 2014, and in Freedom on the Net 2014.