Manama: Bahrain’s foreign ministry on Tuesday told countries and international organisations to abide by the charter of the United Nations and refrain from interfering in its domestic affairs.
Manama has been requested to release an activist, Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, sentenced to life in prison on charges of attempting to topple the political regime by force and who went on hunger strike for weeks.
However, Bahrain said that his case was being reviewed by the cassation court and a verdict is expected on April 23.
A request made by Denmark last week on the account that Al Khawaja also has the Danish nationality, was rejected by the high judicial council after it argued that his case did not meet the required conditions for extradition.
“The Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates its respect for the principles of human rights and freedoms within the framework of law and order and justice,” the ministry said in a statement.
“However, it expresses its deep regret for the remarks made by a number of countries based on incorrect information and baseless allegations aimed at creating chaos and spreading terrorism and instability… Bahrain calls on all countries to respect its sovereignty and to abstain from interfering in its domestic affairs,” the statement said.
The ministry said that its local, regional and international policy was guided by four major principles enshrined in international politics and relations, human rights and justice.
“The first principle is that all Bahraini citizens enjoyed full citizenship rights and are subject to the provisions of the Bahraini laws, without discrimination on the account of race, sex, religion or sect,” the ministry said.
According to the statement, the rule of law and justice is the highest principle in dealing with any citizen and no sovereign state can allow any other country to interfere in matters related to justice or in cases that are the prerogatives of the of the judicial system.
“Bahrain is proud of its transparent and independent justice system and urges everybody to respect it,” the statement said.
The ministry said that no other country had the right to request the release of a Bahrain-based national or foreigner who was sentenced by a court of law for committing a felony.
“Such a request is against international laws and every resident who lives in Bahrain has to comply with the law and order of the country.”
“Bahrain as a country that believes in the principles of the United Nations and based on the fact that it is independent and sovereign and that it supports peace, it stresses the significance of Article Two of the United Nations Charter that states that nothing contained in the Charter shall authorise the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter,” the ministry said.
