Gulf | Bahrain
UK-based bodies 'promote hatred against our regime'
A lawmaker on Wednesday vowed to lobby for parliamentary action against UK-based Bahraini political groups that promote hatred against the regime and the government.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:07 August 7, 2008
Manama: A lawmaker on Wednesday vowed to lobby for parliamentary action against UK-based Bahraini political groups that promote hatred against the regime and the government.
Salafist Independent MP Jasem Al Saidi decided to use his parliamentary power after a statement by Deputy British Ambassador Rupert Potter denying his claims of the supporting role of the UK to those groups.
The Deputy Ambassador described Al Saidi's allegations as baseless and said they could affect the strong ties between the two countries. Potter said the UK does not provide support to organisations that are against Bahrain or to terror cells.
"The statement is weak as the deputy ambassador failed to defend his government and its policy. I will fight through certain parliamentary means to pressure the government to restrict its relations with the UK," Al Saidi told Gulf News. "I was expecting the embassy to convey to the British government my demands to respect Bahrain and its government by not supporting groups that are promoting violence in Bahrain, rather than issuing weak statements."
Political refugees
Al Saidi said parliamentary action should take place as soon as possible as the statement was a clear indication of the rejection of the UK government to change its policy towards Bahrain.
"It is an undeniable fact that Britain has granted many activists UK citizenship and offers them financial assistance for being political refugees."
Al Saidi said his criticisms were not aimed at creating conflict between the two countries but to defend the stability of his country.
"I don't hold British citizens responsible for their government's policy as I'm sure they reject any interference in the affairs of other countries."
He said he had valid evidence of the involvement of those groups in the instability in Bahrain and would soon hand them to the embassy.
He called upon the UK government to implement the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed at the end of 2005 between Bahrain's Minister of Interior with his British counterpart for security cooperation in forensic research, border control, immigration, development of police skills, information exchange and human trafficking.
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