[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 25 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING LIBERTY IN BAHRAIN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TED S. YOHO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 15, 2013

  Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, two years ago this month the people of Bahrain 
began a movement to seek constitutional reforms where power was shared 
with the people. They took to the streets impassioned by a desire to 
make sure that government serves the people, not the other way around. 
They yearned for the fundamental human right of freedom and aspired to 
have reforms that would grant them constitutional rights and self-
governance.
  Earlier this week, I met with three human rights defenders from 
Bahrain and they told me about some of the terrible atrocities that 
have occurred in their country as a response to the protests. They 
spoke of repression, harassment, and imprisonment. I fear that these 
responses not only threaten stability in the region but send a signal 
of oppressed liberty throughout the world. I was struck by the bravery 
of these young people and applaud their quest for liberty.
  Our Constitution is critically important to us. The Bahraini people 
do not have that all important safeguard to their freedoms and they 
understandably want it. As Americans, we should welcome the Bahraini 
people's self-desire to have constitutional reforms and not take action 
to hinder it.
  While I respect our history with Bahrain and our mutual foreign 
policy interests in the region, their government's actions over the 
last two years trouble me. It is my hope that the government of Bahrain 
takes the steps that they have promised their citizens and move towards 
the constitutional reforms that are so desperately desired by the 
people.

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